Lydden Vale
Gardening Club
You don't need to have a large garden
to be interested in plants and like
growing them. Window sills, pots and
containers and house plants can
provide year round scope for the
enthusiast. So why don't you come
along and meet us?
Anyone interested in joining, please contact: Antony Parson Lydden Vale Gardening Club on Facebook
Buckland Newton Community Website
in the heart of rural Dorset
The Lydden Vale Gardening Club meets on the second
Wednesday of each month between September and April in the
Buckland Newton Village Hall enjoying a mixture of talks from
guest speakers, practical sessions where you can learn top tips for
all things gardening. During the summer months we visit award
winning gardens, garden centres and enjoy Alfresco Social
evenings.
We welcome all ages and levels of experience and are keen for all
generations to benefit from the enjoyment of gardening. If you live
in Buckland Newton, Pulham, Glanvilles Wootton, Kings Stag,
Alton Pancras or neighbouring parishes and if you’re interested in
having a fine garden or rewilding, planting or harvesting the results
of your labours, or simply visiting gardens and learning about the
history of gardening, we would love you to have you with us.
If you are not already a member of the Club and are interested in
gardening and think you might like to join, we would love to hear
from you. Please do get in touch by emailing Jan at
greystonebn@yahoo.co.uk or Antony at
Bladeley365@outlook.com
LAST MONTH - The March talk by Mike Burks of Castle Gardens,
as always, was entertaining as well as informative. The subject
“Weed Control” may have sounded dry but was anything but, and
many of us learnt a new word, ALLELOPATHY. Mike gave
examples of the naturally occurring ALLELOPATHIC chemical
which can inhibit the growth of neighbouring plants and therefore
can be used to deter certain weeds e.g. Tagetes minuta, a Mexican
marigold versus Ground elder, Calendula (Pot marigold) v
Marestail. These are not overnight cures but can show results long
term with patience and replanting's.
(However inevitably, as managing director of Castle Gardens Mike
was obliged to bring a range of ‘over the counter’ weed killers!)
LOOKING AHEAD….Forty members are now signed up for a visit
to The Newt** on 6th May.
And to prepare for this, we look forward to a talk on 8th April by
Head of Programming, Arthur Cole. He will outline its history, from
the days of the Hobhouse Family living at Hadspen House to its
more recent transformation, begun in 2019, to the gardening
phenomenon that is The Newt.
There are many advantages to club membership, including
benefits from being part of Castle Gardens Gold Club, along with
special rates for visits. For example, normal entrance to The Newt
costs the proverbial ‘arm and a leg’ but for LVGC members the
entrance fees in May will be subsidised from club funds, there
being no coach visit this year. This benefit will also apply to the
June visit to the very special Walled Garden at Upper Sydling
House.
NB. Those on the list for the May visit will be receiving an email
requesting Payment before or at the April meeting, to qualify for
the special group rate.
The next Meeting on Wednesday 8th April at 7pm for 7.30pm
Whether or not you are coming on the visit we hope to see a good
number at what promises to be a most interesting talk.
As usual we welcome nonmembers at £3pp.
**For those unfamiliar with The Newt
It is a working country estate between Bruton and Castle Cary. Set
amid farmland, woodland, orchards and lakes, is the original
Georgian manor house, stable yard and farm buildings, as well as
acres of formal gardens with a renowned horticultural history.
The latest incarnation has been created by Italo-French architect
Patrice Taravella, who believes a garden should be both beautiful
and useful. Mixing ornamental and productive elements, the
gardens are a feast for the eyes and stomach. At their core sits the
Parabola, a walled garden concealing an apple tree maze; at their
edges, diverse woodland provides a sheltered habitat for native
wildlife.
Jan Burnett
If you are interested in gardening, enjoy good talks, seeing other
gardens as well as your own, or experience problems with your
own garden that you would like to share and would welcome
advice on, the Gardening Club could be for you. Feel free to
contact Antony at Bladeley365@outlook.com or talk to Jan on
01300 348627.
