Past Monthly - meetings we have enjoyed recently
Fri 10th April 2026
Aprils talk by Jonathan Mitchell, on Gardening for Climate Resilience & Biodiversity, was compelling & inspiring.
We learnt not to rush to tidy our gardens,
• to delay cutting back,
• to ditch chemicals & allow beneficial predators to manage pests.
• to add a pond & create as many diverse areas as possible,
• To embrace the weeds & build compost heaps,
The teepee compost heaps were such a simple yet brilliant idea for storing compost, & creating a lovely habitat for lots of insects.
Fri 20th March 2026
Thank you to everyone who attended the February meeting featuring Home Grown Soft Fruit with Pauline Harper. The session was very informative and interesting, with plenty of useful tips.
Who knew how versatile waste coffee beans are for soft fruit plants?
They have proven to be an invaluable slug deterrent on dahlias.
However, Pauline advised that coffee beans also provide essential nutrients, serve as a slow-release nitrogen source, improve soil structure, and create a favourable acidic environment.
Fri 20th February 2026 "Flowers & Ruins in the South of France" by Rosemary Ward.
Thanks to all who attended our meeting on Friday; we had an engaging talk about the South of France.
Along with the region's stunning Roman ruins, aqueducts, bridges, & Castles, Southern France is exceptionally rich in wildflower diversity.
It boasts a spectacle of colour that changes throughout the seasons. The region's unique blend of Mediterranean, Alpine, and rural landscapes creates ideal habitats for thousands of flowering plant and tree species.
While many of them might not survive in our climate, it was exciting to discover that a few are tough enough to thrive in our own gardens.
