April Newsletter

Welcome to the April newsletter for details of forthcoming events.

Monthly Meetings

Steve Edney – 17^th April at 7.30pm

On April 17^th Steve Edney will join us and talk about his Jungle Journey with exotics.

You may remember Steve was the head gardener at the Salutation Garden for some years and is a well-known garden designer and nurseryman.  He’s also a Chelsea Gold award.

Mandy Rickard – 15^th May at 7.30pm

Mandy is a medical herbalist, aromatherapist and botanical maker, with a license to grow and produce herbal medicines for her clinic and patients, together with a slowly growing range of soap and skincare. 

As well as treating patients she also runs regular herbal workshops at Belmont House and gardens, for adults and a new scheme in Faversham, now a worldwide venture, the junior herbalists club teaching children 7 and over how to safely grow, use and make herbal remedies for themselves and family. 

Molly Hollman – 19^th June at 7.30pm

Molly is an award-winning photographer who specialises in flower, plant and insect photography, particularly close-up. She is a member of the Professional Garden Photographers Association (PGPA), the Guild of Photographers (with whom she won the ‘Flora and Plants’ category in 2021 and the Insects category in 2022) and the Societies of Photographers (she won the ‘Natural World – Botanical and Fungi’ category last year).

We have now started to have a small raffle at each of our monthly meetings, any contributions towards this are welcome, and remember to bring a spare £1 to have a go.

Spring Show

Our Spring Show took place on 23^rd March. It was a great success with some 140 entries into the classes by 42 people.  The daffodils and other spring flowers were amazing and home economics, handicrafts floral art and the children’s classes were very good.  The judges are delighted with the standard of the entries.  Our visitors appeared to enjoy seeing all and taking part in the tombola and buying plants.  As usual, Carolyn on the refreshments did extremely well – she must be congratulated.

The winner of the Floral Art trophy, the Kathleen Clegg cup, was Anne Austen and Anne also won the Karenna Challenge Bowl for the most points in the floral art classes.  Other entries were very beautiful, and it was difficult for the Judge to decide.

Fred White carried away the trophies for the daffodil classes and won the Best Bloom in the show and the Best Vase. Well done Fred.

Alison Stork won the Star Baker Apron with her rhubarb and rose cupcakes – a great achievement.

The over 8’s prize went to Lily Foulkes and the under 8’s was won by Henry Foulkes with Grace Biggar, Olivia Biggar and Joseph Foulkes coming joint second.  It is good to see how children enjoy the Show as much as the grown-ups.