Past Monthly - meetings we have enjoyed recently
Sun 14th June 2026
We had a wonderful afternoon on Sunday, June 14th, at the Old Manor Farmhouse, Swanton Abbott. Drs. Paul & Sian Everden were warm & welcoming hosts.
The gardens are absolutely stunning & truly inspiring. With immaculate knot gardens, beautiful herbaceous borders, well-kept lawns, gorgeous clematis & rose walkways, along with a delightful spiral wildflower meadow & insect-friendly gabions, it’s no surprise that they have won numerous awards & are recognised as one of the nation’s favourite gardens.
We picked up many gardening tips, including how to care for box hedges & pollard trees.
It was a memorable visit to a very special place.
Fri 15th May 2026
We had a fantastic evening at the Museum of the Broads. The weather was perfect.
A huge shoutout to everyone who brought food. The spread was absolutely delicious, as always. With 42 of us attending, a few had to step back due to battery issues on their boat. However, the Museum of the Broads very kindly provided vouchers for those individuals to take the trip whenever they’d like.
A big thanks to them for that lovely gesture.
Stalham Spring Show April 18th 2026
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped, participated in, and visited the Stalham Spring Show on Saturday, April 18th. The support provided by all involved is greatly appreciated, and every contribution played a vital role in making the event a success.
The day was beautiful and sunny, attracting a great turnout at the Poppy Centre. There were many impressive exhibits, including art, crafts, baking, photography, flowers, and vegetables. as well as some really inspiring poems, short stories and miniature gardens in the Juniors section. Well done to everyone! Your efforts created a truly stunning display.
You can view all the photos from the event here
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.
