Meeting Reports – Bridport Gardening Club

A new Outings Co-Ordinator Needed

Monday July 17, 2023 Chris Senior Meeting Reports

Our Outings play an important and vital part in the activities of the club. They enhance the enjoyment of membership; gives members an opportunity to meet socially with like-minded people; and builds on our experience of gardens and gardening. Sibyl has been organising Club outings for the past five years. She has now taken on the position as Secretary so needs to handover to someone new. The Outings Coordinator job description is posted below. Please consider carefully whether you will[…]

Summer Show – Saturday 3rd September

Tuesday August 30, 2022 Chris Senior Meeting Reports

Our Summer Show takes place this Saturday, have a look at your schedule, see what you’ve got growing in your garden / veg plot and get your entries in by 5pm on Wednesday . Those rooted cuttings, excess produce, and spare plants can be brought to the hall at 6:00pm on Friday or from 8:30am on Saturday morning, this time we are supporting Living Tree in their 10th year. Best wishes, and looking forward to seeing you suitably hatted, Margaret[…]

Garden Clubs meet – Digitally

Saturday March 13, 2021 Chris Senior Meeting Reports, News

On March 10th a collective of Garden Clubs met digitally from across the country; Wales, Derbyshire, Dorset and elsewhere joined together to see and hear the remarkable story behind the RHS new venture near Manchester, RHS Bridgewater – headed up by Marcus Chiltern Jones of the RHS who enthusiastically gave his presentation. Started by Francis Egerton 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, called the Canal Duke as his nearby canal was dug on his orders to service and transport the nearby coal[…]

Meetings go Digital

Sunday February 21, 2021 Chris Senior Meeting Reports, News

In February 2021 we were able to meet for the first time in a year – on line – to view and hear a talk entitled Delightful, Delovely , Deranged by Nancy Stevens in Glasgow. Her audience in the balmy south enjoyed seeing and hearing about some of the amazing wonders of nature. The Japanese hold Iris celebrations where weddings are conducted whilst couples are rowed through waterways lined with Iris. Hydrangeas in all their glory, flowering at the start of the rainy season, attract[…]

A Brief History of the Veitch Nurseries of Exeter and Chelsea

Tuesday February 25, 2020 Chris Senior Meeting Reports

At the February 2020 meeting Caradoc Doy fascinated his audience with a brief history of the Veitch Nurseries of Exeter and Chelsea. Run by the family over two hundred years and five generations, it began in a small way on the Killerton Estate, where John Beech trialled new trees for the estate and to sell. Son-in-law James Veitch opened a shop in Exeter, then as the business grew James Junior established a nursery on the KIngs Road. The[…]

Christmas 2019 activities with the Gardening Club

Wednesday December 11, 2019 Chris Senior Meeting Reports

The annual Christmas shopping outing headed for Salisbury to coincide with the Christmas market in the square. There were fewer stalls from Europe this year, but delicious and attractive purchases could be still made from the colourful kiosks. A very windswept Highland’s End hosted the club Christmas dinner, attended by over seventy guests. A lovely meal and convivial company was much enjoyed by everyone including our guests of honour, our patrons, Clive and Diana Groves. Sue Langdon’s huge raffle concluded[…]

Images of Dartmoor

Wednesday December 11, 2019 Chris Senior Meeting Reports

Tony Burges’ talk in November 2019 took his audience on a tour of the moors through all seasons; from spring bluebells to snowy peat-bogs and rocky tors. He shared his interest in Ancient History and also delighted his audience with myths and ‘fairy doings’ in the wilderness. Tony was born and bred in Devon and his passion for Devon & Cornwall was inspired while he was on Dartmoor training to become a Royal Marine.

What to do if you’re not receiving Gardening Club Emails

Wednesday November 27, 2019 Chris Senior Meeting Reports

Several members are reporting that they no longer receive Gardening Club emails. The most likely reason is that they are going straight to Spam or Junk mail. This is what to do if you spot a “bridportgardeningclub@gmail.com” address amongst your Spam/Junk mail: Tick the box next to it – then: a) You will now see the option to move it to your Inbox. b) Also, there is usually a ‘This is not Spam’ button you should click which, hopefully, will[…]

British Bees

Thursday July 18, 2019 Chris Senior Meeting Reports

We were treated to a beautifully illustrated talk by Briget Strawbridge Howard in July. It was surprising to learn how many species we have in Britain, the varied forms they take and fascinating to hear the complex life cycle of some. The decline in the insect population is due to a number of factors; gardeners can provide vital nectar and pollen by planting blooms of differing shapes and depths, flowering all through the year, from early bulbs to winter ivies.

Trekking in the Himalayas

Thursday June 20, 2019 Chris Senior Meeting Reports

An entertaining evening was much enjoyed when our Patron,Clive Groves, came to speak on “Trekking in the Himalayas through the Eyes of a Nurseryman”. Following retirement in 2010, Clive, together with Diana, journeyed to Costa Rica, for an enjoyable trek despite adverse conditions. In the Himalayas they both achieved the climb up to Everest Base Camp. Altitude sickness, perilously narrow paths, cold, snow, ice and “yak attack” were all overcome. The reward was breathtaking beauty and finding plants growing in[…]