Hello again everyone.
Another month has slipped away and – for those who celebrate – happy St David’s Day.
I think its been a fairly quiet month, well mine has been. I’m starting to think about what I will grow this year and sowing some seeds….goodness knows if they will grow! Those who attended the AGM should have some onion seeds. Good luck with those. I hope to see your magnificent results in the Members Only class at the summer show.
Saturday 8th March 2.00pm onwards at The Butts, Clearwell. GL16 8PW Fruit Tree Pruning Help to prune a mixture of fruit trees in a small orchard. No experience necessary — guidance will be provided. Flat ground and the trees are not too tall. Some trees will need a hard prune to rejuvenate. Later in the year we will return to the orchard to harvest the fruit for pressing. Many thanks to Julia Brindley for donating her fruit to the Society.
There is no talk this month as we have….
Tuesday 11th March 7.00 for 7.30pm – BGS ANNUAL MEAL at THE MINERS ARMS, The Bay, Whitecroft. GL15 PE ///trail.resemble.joints
Our annual social get-together over food in a local family-run free house pub. Freshly cooked food, served in a clean and welcoming environment with roaring log fires. Big car park and easy to find this year! I hope you have already booked.
YOUNG GARDENERS’ WORKSHOP
The first workshop of 2025 was held recently. It was about Buzz Club projects and involved Bug Bunkers and identifying insects in our gardens, we also made elastic band powered racing woodlice. So, altogether it was good fun.
Future dates are: Friday 25th April – Wednesday 28th May – Friday 25th July – Friday 8th August –
Wednesday 29th October. Booking is essential as space is limited.
Each event will be advertised closer to the time.
BGS BGS PEAT FREE COMPOST OFFER.
This year we will be offering Coco & Coir’s All Purpose Compost (75L) to members.
This was recommended by Which? as a ‘Best Buy & Great Value’ for both sowing seeds and raising young plants.
Which? hasn’t tested Coco & Coir for growing on plants in containers. However, this is one of the recommended uses on the Coco & Coir website, and so hopefully it will perform well in containers too.
• £9.10 for a 5kg block which expands to 75l of compost.
• Closing date for orders and payments is Tuesday 11th March. Collection of compost from 31st March.
• The simplest way to order is via this link: BGS Compost Order Form
• You can also order via email to breamgardeningsociety@gmail.com or in person at the annual meal.
• Payment by bank transfer to ‘Bream Gardening Society’ is preferred.
• Alternatively, cash or card payment at the annual meal.
Order now because they sell-out fast and can take over 3 months to restock!
If you need more information, click on the product information sheet….. Product information sheet
BACS details : Bream Gardening Society: Sort Code: 30-95-29: account no: 00026942
OTHER EVENTS
A great time was had on 22nd February at Yorkley Community Centre for the Seed Swap & Shop. Thanks to everyone who supported the event. Thanks to Wendy from Dean Meadows Group who gave a super-informative talk on wildflower meadows, Susan Young for her wealth of knowledge about beans and Yorkley Mend & Repair Cafe for their expert skills in sharpening all our gardening tools.
ADAM ALEXANDER’S NEW BOOK
Adam Alexander’s new book is launched at the Library in Chepstow on 27th March. You are very welcome. Details on the Chepstow book shop website.
Across the world, chefs, farmers, plant scientists and backyard growers are doing something extraordinary: creating new generations of fruit, vegetables and cereals, all bred specifically to flourish locally, taste delicious, and contribute to our food future. In The Accidental Seed Heroes, Adam Alexander dons his seed detective homburg to meet these twenty-first century seed heroes, who are not only championing traditional varieties but also breeding delicious new ones that will help create a sustainable future for our planet. We don’t all need to become backyard breeders or even, like Adam, accidental ones
WOOLASTON AMATEUR GARDEN SOCIETY Thursday 6th March – 7.30pm at Woolaston Memorial Hall. Talk by Gareth Davies “The Magic of Roses”. Details below.
NORTHWOOD GREEN GARDENING CLUB have been in touch to invite our members on their coach trip to Wisley to see the Spring bulbs on Saturday 12th April. They will be leaving Westbury on Severn at 7.45am and aim to get back to Westbury around 7pm. Price £32. Please book by 13th March. Contact Sharon Ingham on 07889 198790 or Tim Johnson on 07554 243606 for more information
KEN POWER’S GARDENING WORKSHOPS Gardening Step by Step and Gardening Biodiversity.
This year, Ken is offering a choice of two workshops for beginners and above.
The courses are FREE; £3/day for good coffee and cake!
Maximum of 12 people per course, and so book early to avoid disappointment.
Bookings: Ken Power, 01452 790802 or kjaypower@gmail.com
Address: 1 Lynes Cottage, Taynton, GL19 3AP
GARDENING STEP BY STEP
Two morning seminars with practical activities.
Saturday 26th April and Sunday 27th April.
9:00am – 12:30pm (Coffee 10:30am)
Composting, soil types, no dig, pH, propagation, organic biochar etc.
GARDENING BIODIVERSITY
Two morning seminars with practical activities
Saturday 24th May and Sunday 25th May
9:00am – 12:30pm (Coffee 10:30am)
Stepping into the garden we will explore an ecological web of life.
All those plants and animals living together and others ‘raining’ down upon us.
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I think that is about it for now. I know there is a temptation to get all the gardening done quickly, but pace yourself. Tomorrow is another day.
Best wishes
Margaret 1st March 2025~~~~~~~~