FILKINS & BROUGHTON POGGS GARDENING CLUB 2009
Filkins and Broughton Poggs are beautiful villages at all times of the year. We are lucky to live here and to enjoy seeing so many lovely and well-cared for gardens. The Gardening Club is an informal group of people who usually meet in each others’ homes or gardens and enjoy going out together to visit other gardens. The members have decided that, in order to continue to operate in this way, the size of the membership would have to be restricted. However, the Club is anxious not to exclude anyone living in Filkins or Broughton Poggs who would like to be involved. Therefore, we have a core membership group and also run a Guest List. This List is for people who would like to be invited to activities such as meetings in the Village Hall or to join in activities or outings where numbers are not limited.
To illustrate the nature of the Filkins and Broughton Poggs Gardening Club, I have outlined some of our activities this year. For more information please contact any member of the Club or Chris Woodford on 01367 860319 or me on 01367 860282 or lucillejonesathome1@btinternet.com.
Happy gardening
Lucille Jones(Co-ordinator)
Once again, we have had a busy and interesting year. We had a good turn out for our Planning Meeting in January, where various ideas were put forward for the coming year and this was followed by a further meeting to finalise details for activities to take place early in 2009.
 
Early flowers in the village
We started with our Club’s first coach trip.This was to Lambeth Palace, the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury.At the beginning of May about thirty members and friends were given a tour of the Palace itself by our very own 'local guide' Gill who had also arranged for us to be shown the gardens by the Palace's Head Gardener. This is one of the largest private gardens in London and contained fascinating and unusual planting. From the Palace we went next door into the National Gardening Museum which was very interesting and where we had a marvellous vegetarian lunch.
 
Lambeth Palace Garden An ancient fig tree outside the Palace
Auriculas at the Garden Museum
As usual, members worked very hard andthe Annual Plant Sale held later in May, was once again a huge success. Sufficient money was raised to give funds to the Village Hall Committee to support the renovation of the kitchen and to buy plants and bulbs for the small garden area outside the Village Hall.
In July several members of the Club planted up terracotta pots to decorate the tables for Filkins Feast and in August we spent a wonderful afternoon at Filkins Mill listening to the amusing “Anecdotes of a Flower Arranger”, Elizabeth and Mary showed us some exquisite flower displays which were then raffled off. What talent we have in the village.
 
September saw a bumper number of gardeners flocking to Broughton Poggs Mill to listen to Charlie telling us all about composting! What an interesting and inspiring job he did too. By the end of the afternoon he had us all convinced and rushing off to buy our 'waste mulchers' and setting up suitable containers in which to start our composting. It all sounded so easy. The talk was followed by a visit to observe the contents of the compost bins, a trip around Charlie and Avril's beautiful garden and the usual tea and cakes. There was a big "Thank You" to Charlie for such a fascinating talk and to Avril for her hospitality.
  
Learning about composting
Finally, the members of the Gardening Club joined with the WI in October to celebrate the fruit, flowers and vegetables of autumn and harvest with a Fayre in the Village Hall. Activities included apple pressing, learning about bees and opportunities for children to be creative with fruit and vegetables.
  
Activities of the Gardening Club in 2008
As usual, the Gardening Club year started in January with a cosy, fireside meeting at the home of one of the members. Favourite books were brought along and described and there was considerable discussion about future plans with an interesting programme agreed for the year.
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A wintry day in Broughton Poggs |
After that, members immediately got busy growing, dividing and potting up plants and herbs and collecting together items for the Annual Plant Sale. In April members met for another enjoyable afternoon of planning and discussion about the Sale and other activities.
The members put in a great deal of hard work for the Annual Plant Sale which was held in Filkins Village Hall on 3rd May and was a great success.
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Preparing for the Sale |
Excellent refreshments as usual |
Many people reported having an enjoyable morning spending their money, talking plants and sampling the refreshments. Almost everything was sold and sufficient money was raised to meet the aim of being able to purchase a new water heating system to make hot drinks in Filkins Village Hall.
In June members had a wonderful afternoon at the nearby garden of Judith Hahn. This was a real treat for plants people and there was a great deal to see. The highlight of the visit was the amazing variety of herbs growing in the walled Herb Garden. If other Clubs wish to know about visiting the garden or anyone wishes to find out about the Herb Cookery Schools, Judith can be e-mailed on media.advantage@virgin.net.
The owners of two delightful gardens in Filkins kindly invited members to visit them in July. This proved to be a very interesting and enjoyable afternoon.
The following month a “Garden Safari” was organised and members went to each others’ gardens and admired and discussed plants and planting.
In September a large group had an interesting drive over the Cotswolds to Bricklehampton Hall overlooking Bredon Hill in Worcestershire. After a talk about the history of the Hall and its grounds there was a guided walk around the gardens and, finally, a delightful Afternoon Tea.
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View to the Hall |
Cones on the Cedar of Lebanon |
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View to Bredon Hill |
The gardening year ended for the members of the Club with a successful first venture into holding an Open Meeting. Chris Carter of Colvin and Moggridge, long-established Landscape Architects in Filkins, gave a fascinating talk about some of the gardens with which he has been involved. Photographs of challenging sites were followed by ones showing their transformation into gardens of great beauty and interest. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
We have already held our first meeting of 2009 when 21 Members met to discuss and plan the months ahead, over a cup of tea and piece of cake. An event to look forward to is a trip to Lambeth Palace in May, which is being organised by one of our members.
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