WAGS NEWS October 2004

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Chairman's Piece

I think I began my last dissertation to members by remarking upon how much had happened during the previous three months and here I am again thinking the same thoughts. WAGS is a very busy and active organization.

It has been pleasing to see some new members coming along and also to welcome back old members that we haven't seen for a while. I hope you will all keep coming. We are a friendly group, and are always pleased to see you at the store and supporting us at our various meetings, trips and functions. It is a pleasure to know and talk to so many friendly people and the committee and I are very grateful for all the help and support you give us at the Band Concert and the Show.

I do hope you have had a good gardening season this year. We seem to have had excellent crops from most of the produce we grew. So we are very satisfied in spite of some difficulties at the start making us rather late with some of planting. Flowers have been good too, but again I am behind with the cuttings. No doubt most things will get done eventually. Have a restful Autumn and Winter but don't forget to put in your seed orders before Christmans to get maximum discount.

Contributions to the Newsletter

We welcome contributions from members; e.g. places you have visited which may be interesting to others; tips on growing; places you would like to visit; moans about what we do and don't do. In fact almost anything. I was quite appalled and very saddened when I read the July newsletter to see that apart from Johnny Talbot's contribution, everything else had been written by the Novell family. Come on members, put pen to paper. I'm sure you can do better than this.

The Cuckoo Pen Nursery at Benson has a new owner who would welcome a visit by members to see their collection of plants on offer. They are also offering a discount on production of your current membership card. Please see notice board. Talking of which we do try to keep this up to date so don't forget to look at the boards for information and bargains when visiting the Store.

Iris Novell

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Trips & Catering

Trips for 2005
My plan for the coach trips for 2005 is for three trips.

The first, I propose for late April, to Eltham Palace and Gardens. As you may remember this was cancelled last Summer due to lack of support. Many who had signed up were disappointed at its cancellation. It is a palace of Henry VIII’s that fell into disuse and disrepair, until both house and garden were restored by Stephen and Virginia Courtauld, the shipping family, in the 1930’s in the Art Deco style.

The second outing I propose is to the Old Walled Garden Centre at West Wycombe on a Wednesday/Thursday in mid July. Originally created by the Dashwood family in the 18th Century to supply fresh fruit and vegetables to the estate and villagers, it also fell into disrepair. Plant and Harvest now own the garden and are in the process of restoring it to its former glory. I am told that it is more a garden centre than a finished garden.

Finally I suggest as the third trip on a Sunday in September or October to Painshill Park, just outside Egham in Surrey. This really is a spectacular park laid out between 1738 and 1773 by the Hon. Charles Hamilton, then a young nobleman returned from his Grand Tour of Europe. I understand that the Autumn colours are dazzling.

I hope this proposed programme is of interest. However I still would appreciate suggestions for future visits.

If any more club members, families or friends would like to book please contact John Talbot, (see address and 'phone no. in the printed edition of this newsletter) or leave a message in the Store

John Talbot

Catering

I would especially like to thank all the generous ladies who have spent time baking such lovely cakes for both the Band Concert and the Show. They were greatly appreciated by the public and we were able to make an excellent profit to donate to charity. We have donated £200 to the Thames Valley Air Ambulance.

Iris Novell