Category: Garden Group

What an amazing day we all had on 3^rd August. The Garden Group went to Queen’s Park at Loughborough and then to Gates Garden Centre. The park at Loughborough was so beautiful, full of flower beds of so many colourful flowers and hanging baskets – it was breathtaking. The children’s playground was full of happy children.

There are some memorials, not only for the World Wars but for the Covid Pandemic, for Loughborough’s War Dog and Loughborough’s War Horse too. There is also Britain’s biggest bell in the park which was made in Loughborough.

There is a most unusual clock which is called the Hope Bell and has the poem “Immortality” engraved on the gold ribbon around it. It was very moving. This park is well worth a visit. But take a £1 coin with you for the loo!

Onwards to the Garden Centre, a VERY large Garden Centre with an enormous number of plants, trees, pots, seeds and everything you need for the garden, as well as a coffee shop and restaurant of course. Not only that but a retail outlet too for a bit of retail therapy. I couldn’t believe how big the place was. We all had a great day out.

Thanks to Pam Farrell for this report and for the photographs.

The next meeting is on 7^th September at the JGC and will be a talk on flowers beginning with S.

The October meeting at the JGC is on the 5^th and will be a talk by the lovely Lizzie Impey from Ravenshead.

All are welcome.

Anne

Last month members listened to a talk about Ramblers, Scramblers and Climbers which can be used in any size of garden. If your garden is small then you can grow plants upwards, in pots. The group heard about the many different plants that can grow both with and without supports.

We were pleased to welcome new members to this group which is an open group so all are welcome. Just come along and join us.

The August meeting is a trip to Queen’s Park in Loughborough followed by a visit to Gates Garden Centre.

Anne

Last month members enjoyed a trip to the allotments at St Ann’s in Nottingham. It was a very interesting visit, full of history. There are 75 acres of allotments, which includes 32 miles of hedges that need trimming and cutting. Sounds like a lot of work! There is one allotment that has been kept as it was when they were set up, with a small building where the families used to spend weekends as they tended their rented plots. Apparently, some families even lived there completely when they were homeless. 

The site has some areas now where horticulture students can study and learn all about plants and their growing needs. There’s a classroom, greenhouse and beds to trial different plants and shrubs. Although it was forecast to be a very wet day the rain held off and we enjoyed a dry wander around the site.

The next meeting is a talk about Ramblers, Scramblers and Climbers at the JGC, all are welcome.

The August meeting is a trip to Queen’s Park in Loughborough followed by a visit to Gates Garden Centre.

Anne

June’s meeting will be a trip, on Monday the first, to St Ann’s Allotments in Nottingham, more about that in the next newsletter. There was no May meeting as it was a Bank Holiday.

Enjoy your plots as they flourish in this warm weather!

Anne

Last month, members enjoyed a beautiful day out at Lamport Hall in Northamptonshire. It has a large hall full of interesting paintings and objects. The volunteers really know their information and obviously enjoy sharing with visitors. It is well worth a visit.

We also enjoyed a walk around the extensive gardens and had the Stables to ourselves to eat our packed lunches. The Hall is not open on Monday and Tuesday apart from booked groups so we were well looked after.

There is no meeting in May as it is the Bank Holiday and June’s meeting is a trip to St Ann’s Allotments in Nottingham. Please let us have your name if you are interested.

Anne Wilkinson