CLUB NEWS

Chetnole and Leigh Garden Club

The Garden Club was first established circa 1982 with its first AGM in 1983. Four of the original members still live locally and join us at our monthly meetings. It is an active, vibrant and inclusive club with over 80 members.

The club covers a wide range of topics, not exclusively plants, such as climate change, protecting our wildlife, reducing/reusing/ recycling myriad items (e.g. using an old pair of walking boots as a plant container in the garden), as well as tools and methods of planting and gardening. It is a garden club, but it isn’t just a garden club. During the last year it has remained active despite being unable to meet, with newsletters, surveys of the local flora and fauna, photographs of gardens instead of Open Gardens, plant and seed swaps as well as a recent visit to Castle Gardens. Members have supported one another during this difficult time and maintained those all important social contacts.

In ‘normal’ times the club usually meets monthly on a Monday evening in Chetnole Village Hall at 7.30pm. A programme of talks is published annually after the AGM in October. As part of the membership, there is a discount evening at Castle Gardens once a year, usually in March, as well as vouchers offering discounts on bulbs in the autumn. Normally there are two social events, in summer and at Christmas, plus two organised visits, one to a local garden of interest and one further away. Biennially, we organise an Open Gardens event either in Chetnole or Leigh to raise funds for a local charity.

The last year has seen some villagers moving to other areas and new people coming into our active communities. We look forward to meeting and welcoming new members to the club as restrictions are gradually lifted and we begin our 2021-2022 programme later this year. Further details and information can be found on www.leighvillage.org.uk. You are welcome to email a member of the committee on kozowyk@btinternet.com. Michele Aldhouse (Chair)

Wriggle Valley Women’s Group

I hope everyone has had a good month getting out and about a little more.

John and I are looking forward to welcoming you all to Rimpton Cottage on 20 July at 6.30pm. Please bring a plate of food to share; if you are on a special diet, please come and bring your own plate of goodies. Your friends or relations are very welcome too as they might like to join the group in the future - the more the merrier. Bring some warm clothes as we hope to be outside. Would you please confirm your visit? Thank you.