Riseley Gardening Club

Sunday

Visit to Warden Abbey Vineyard

Tuesday 15 September 2015

We have organized a tour of the Warden Abbey Vineyard, Old Warden, Bedfordshire, www.wardenvineyard.org.ukon Tuesday 15 September in the afternoon. The tour is booked for 2.30 and we will organize shared transport. We also hope to go somewhere local for tea after the tour. The cost is £8 per person payable on the day.

The vineyard is run by Bedford Rural Communities Charity:

“The tour takes about 1.5 - 2 hours and includes: a walk and talk around the vineyard discussing the history of the vineyard from its medieval origins to modern times, the varieties of vines and their care, the challenges of growing vines in our climate, and the modern English wine industry, as well as our community vineyard project and the special role played by our volunteers. You can even join in with the day's seasonal task if you like, then round off your visit with a tasting of a couple of our wines. If you would like to take a bottle or two home with you (!), our wines will be available to buy at the end of your tour (cash or cheque only please).

Other information for your visit

• Please note there is no winery on the site.

• The vineyard is on a gentle slope and the ground is uneven. The walk may not be suitable for people with limited mobility. Please bring suitable footwear and outdoor clothing as the weather may be unpredictable.

• We have plenty of parking for cars and minibuses, but the site is not suitable for coaches.

• The vineyard is strictly not open to the public except for pre-booked tours.”

Please let Sue Davies know by Friday 11 September if you would like to come to Warden Abbey and whether you can offer or require transport.

Wednesday

Pruning – practical demonstration by Geoff Hodge

Thursday 12 March 7.30pm Village Hall

Geoff Hodge, freelance writer and broadcaster will come and talk to us about pruning. Geoff has written several books including 2 on pruning, so we should get some good advice from him. Come along and learn how to deal with those thorny problems! Club members free, guests £2.00. Refreshments will be provided.

Visit to Cambridge Botanical Gardens

Wednesday 15 April

The Riseley WEA Group is planning a visit to Cambridge Botanical Gardens on 15 April. Andrew Sankey who is giving this term’s lecture on Plant Hunters will lead the guided tour of the gardens. Details of the costs involved e.g. coach, entrance fees and departure times will be given in due course. Any members of the Gardening Club who are interested in joining the trip please contact Mike Knight on 708518, who is the organiser.

Future dates:

Primrose and Bluebell Walk followed by lunch – provisionally 23 April

Sunday 10 May 2015 – guided visit to the Swiss Garden at Old Warden – shared transport

Visit to Kelmarsh Hall – details to be confirmed

Friday 10 July 2015 – Village Garden Walk and Social

For more information contact Sue Davies, 708614,sue@daviesps.co.uk

Tuesday

Olive Grove Nurseries – guided tour

Thursday 26 June 2014

We have arranged a guided tour of the Olive Grove Nurseries, Oundle Road, Polebrook, PE8 5LQ, http://www.olivegrovenurseries.co.uk/ . Stockists of a large range of Olive Trees, Architectural Plants, Hardy Palm Trees, Mediterranean Shrubs, Exotics, Hardy Tropicals and large, mature Specimen Trees, their 6-acre site also has an Italian style plaza/show area reflecting the style, experience and feel of a typical Mediterranean plant nursery. "The Olive Branch" is a Mediterranean themed coffee bar, Italian ice cream parlour and fine food delicatessen. The guided tour has been booked for 11am and lunch can be bought in The Olive Branch after the tour. If you would like to join us on this tour please let Ann Clark know by 22 June – 709439, annbarasiclark@btinternet.com . Shared transport leaving Riseley at about 10am.

Garden Walk and Social

Friday 11 July

This year’s social will be hosted by Julia Jarman at Oakwood, High Street, Riseley. We will visit a number of gardens before gathering at Oakwood for cheese and wine. Please note the date – an invitation will be sent out at the end of June when we will need to know numbers for the evening.

Sunday

Snowdrops at Caldecott

Thursday 20 February 2014

We are planning a visit to see the snowdrops at the Parish Church of St John The Baptist in Chelveston cum Caldecott, followed by a pub lunch at The White Horse at Tilbrook. We plan to leave Riseley around 11 am and arrive at The White Horse in time for a 12.30 lunch having visited the church. Shared transport. Please contact Sue Davies if you would like to join us. If you are unable to come on 20 February, but would like to see the snowdrops, the open days will be 15th & 16th February (opening times 10 - 4.and 11- 4.00p.m. respectively). Light lunches - tea and cakes will be available to purchase. Also Snowdrops and Aconites.

Permaculture – a talk by Jane Perrone,

Thursday 27 March, 7.30 Village Hall

Jane Perrone, Gardening Editor of The Guardian newspaper will give us an overview of the principles of permaculture, followed by more detailed examples of permaculture projects you could try in any garden such as a herb spiral, hugelkultur (making a raised bed using logs as a source of nutrition). Refreshments will be provided. Members free, guests £2.00

Bluebell Walk – late April/early May

Andrew Gell has kindly agreed to lead a bluebell walk. The exact date will be decided at the end of March – depending on the bluebells!

Herbs – 27 May, Riseley Village Hall.

Tuesday 27 May – joint meeting with Riseley Historical Society. Lynne Tann-Watson will come and talk to us about Herbs - their history, companion planting and culinary uses

Update – October 2013

Riseley Gardening Club AGM

Thursday24 October – 7.30pm Riseley Village Hall

The AGM of Riseley Gardening Club will be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 24 October 2013. Tea, coffee and cake will be served. If you are able to contribute homemade cakes for the evening, please contact Sue Draper 708874. The formal meeting will by followed by a picture quiz and raffle.

We are seeking nominations for the committee for the year 2013/14. The committee consists of: Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and 3 other members. Members of the club may nominate any consenting member for these positions, to serve until the Annual General Meeting in 2014. All nominations must be made in writing – signed by proposer and seconder (both being members of the club) and received by the secretary (Ann Clark, 24 Rotten Row, Riseley) prior to the meeting.

Subscriptions will also be due on 24 October – rate to be determined at the AGM.

Thompson and Morgan Seed Catalogue will be available at the AGM or contact Sue Davies for your copy – 50% off seeds, 20% off seed potatoes, fruit, onion sets, bulbs and sundries.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

I wish to Nominate …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… as

Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Committee Member* of the Riseley Gardening Club

*Delete as applicable

Proposed ………………………………………………….. Seconded …..………………………………………………………

For further information contact Sue Davies 708614, email:sue@daviesps.co.uk

Friday

Update – May 2013

Robin Bletsoe - Wrest Park Gardens & Landscapes

Thursday 30 May – 8pm Riseley Village Hall

Robin Bletsoe, professional gardener, will give an illustrated talk on Wrest Park and Gardens. This should prove interesting and could lead to a visit later in the year. Refreshments. Members free, guests £2.00.

BBC Gardeners’ World Live – Thursday 13 June

NEC Birmingham - Shared transport

Why not join us to visit BBC Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC Birmingham 13 June. Every year BBC Gardeners’ World Live and the RHS bring an exciting collection of Show Gardens to life in a celebration of how imagination and creativity can transform any type of outdoor space. There is also plenty of shopping to be done at BBC Gardeners' World Live, from picking up unique gifts from the Craft Pavilion, to discovering the latest gardening gadgets and accessories in Gardeners' Crescent. If you would like to join this trip please let Sue know.

Riseley Gardening Club Social and Garden Walk – Friday 12 July

Please put this date in your diary – more details to follow!

Coach Trip to Bressingham Gardens

Riseley WI are offering a coach trip to Bressingham Gardens via Bury St Edmunds. The cost of the Coach will be £15 per person. Individuals will pay for attractions at Bressingham as they wish. If you would like to join the trip please contact Judith Wright – 708412.

Update – April 2013

Michael Hurley - From Field to Plate

Thursday 11 April - 8pm Riseley Village Hall

Michael Hurley from the Sharnbrook Farm Shop will come to answer our questions: What do our cows eat? What are they injected with? Can we really trace a calf to our Sunday roast? Is local beef really better? Refreshments and raffle. Members free, guests £1.00

Visit to Frosts Garden Centre, Brampton - “The Wonders of the Garden”

Thursday 18 April 11am

A short talk on “The Wonders of the Garden” followed by a tour of the garden centre. We will then be free to look around and have lunch. Shared transport. If you would like to join the trip please phone or email Sue Davies – 708614 sue@daviesps.co.uk.