Welcome to the January 2026 BGS newsletter. This is quite a meaty edition, as we have lots of things in February and March which need to be booked in January. Please keep going right to the end, there are several attached documents for you to use.
I promise February will be smaller.
I hope you are enjoying the new format and the fact that it now comes in the form of an email (rather than as a document attached to an email). The benefit of this format is that the text will “self format” so that it can be read on any sized screen (e.g. phone) and also that it makes for a much smaller email.
The disadvantage is that what you see depends on the settings of your email browser. Pictures may appear as photos in the correct place, or links to photographs that you can open, or not at all. If you need any assistance with this please feel free to contact me and I’ll try to help.
Any feedback on the style and/or content would be gratefully received. Please send it to secretaryBGS100@gmail.com or just tell me if you see me around.
You might consider looking for further news on our website https://www.breamgardeners.net/ and/or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/176206266119926/ .
Many thanks
John Theo
Events at a glance
Sunday
25th January 10am – 12pm Bream Sports Club Table Top Sale
- BGS will have a small stall at this event
Sunday
25th January 3 – 5pm Bream Sports Club Jigsaw Puzzle Race - BGS will have teams competing at this event
Sunday
1st February – – Closing date for orders and bookings: - Seed, seed potato and compost orders
- Painswick Rococo Garden trip
Tuesday
10th February 7.30 – 10pm Bream Sports Club AGM
Closing date for bookings for our annual meal March 3rd
Saturday14th February 9.30am – 2pm Meet at West Dean Centre Trip to Painswick Rococo Garden
Saturday
21st February 12.30 – 3pm Yorkley Community Centre FoD Seed Swap & Shop
Jane’s Jottings
I find Jan a peaceful month, a relief after the Dec madness and spring is surely on its way. Hoorayyy!
I’ve started some gentle clearing, mainly in the areas where I know I have bulbs coming up, especially snowdrops ~ there’s no point if they’re buried under so much flotsam you can’t see them and our snowdrops order has arrived so I’m deciding where to put this year’s bundle. There will be some spares if you didn’t order ….
More clearing and mulching the veg beds and Jan is a good month to start sowing things that need an early start such as celery, sweet peppers, chillies and aubergines.
Oh and, if you haven’t done it yet, get those old Hellebore leaves cut off ~ but beware, don’t cut off the new flower stems.
Happy January
Jane
BGS news
BGS wall calendar
We mentioned last month that we are planning to produce a BGS wall calendar for sale at the Autumn Show – a perfect Christmas gift. We want to feature members’ photographs and need to start collecting them now and throughout the year.
Sandra Walding, the photography judge we use for our shows, has agreed to select the 13 best submitted (12 months and a cover) to be included. The general theme is, of course, BGS activities, gardening and/ or nature throughout the year.
We will be identifying the photographers with their pictures so, if you want to feature in the calendar, please submit your photographs to secretarybgs100@gmail.com. We’d particularly welcome photographs which represent Autumn/Winter (which you maybe took last year?) as we’ll be in the process of selection and printing in October/November/December this year and won’t be able to include new pictures taken at that time.
Your photos should be in landscape format and will be printed at approximately A4 size. BGS reserves the right to crop your images and use basic digital enhancements to ensure that they are looking their best in the calendar. If you have any questions at all, please just ask.
Heritage seed & seed potato orders
BGS will soon be placing a group order for seed potatoes from Dundry Nurseries, a traditional family-owned nursery and garden centre located between Gloucester and Cheltenham. They are famous for their seed potato selection and they are proud to offer almost 100 varieties this year! All of their seed potatoes are sold loose, and so you are able to order exactly the number of tubers you require.
We will also be placing a group order with heritage seed supplier Adam Alexander, The Seed Detective. Adam has been collecting unusual, rare and endangered vegetable seeds from around the world for over 30 years. In 2021, he showed BGS around his garden in Itton where he propagates orphan vegetables for the Heritage Seed Library. Adam’s seeds do not have a fixed price, but he would welcome a donation of £1 for each packet ordered.
Please email your completed seed & seed potato order form (see form attached in Excel or pdf format as you prefer), or simply a list of your requirements, to secretarybgs100@gmail.com by Sunday 1st February 2026.
Discounted peat-free compost for members
A reminder that we are offering Coco & Coir’s peat-free composts to members again this year at a discount of approximately 25% on the list price.
Their All Purpose Compost was recommended by Which? as a ‘Best Buy & Great Value’ for both sowing seeds and raising young plants. It out-performed both peat-free and traditional peat-based composts in Which’s trials.
For those that would prefer an organic peat-free compost, we are also offering a version without added fertiliser.
Please follow this link Peat-free Compost – Order form 2026 to place your order by Sunday 1st February 2026.
Snowdrops ‘in the green’
Jane Carr will be taking delivery of some 7000 snowdrops ordered by members this week. She will be in touch with those who asked for them in due course.
Tender Shoots seed discounts
We have rejoined Tender Shoots for another year. This gives members access to online talks about all manner of interesting topics as well as a variety of other benefits including discounted seeds.
Our members are entitled to discounts at
- Suttons (50% off seeds, plus 20% off other items, using discount code SUGS251P)
- Kings Seeds (50% off seeds purchased via this link www.kingsseeds.com/Secure/Register?ur=KA1229 you will need to register to gain thew discount)
- Plant World Seeds (20% off their wonderfully rare collection of seeds, plus purchase 2 of the same item & get a 3rd free, using code TSGC20).
You can see more details about the Tender Shoots talks and other benefits by logging into their website: Private Login – Tender Shoots Garden Club Network. Press the purple button and enter the password spud. (Please remember that this password, and the associated discounts, are only valid for BGS members.)
AGM
Our AGM will take place on 10th February. You will be receiving calling notices, agenda, minutes of last year’s meeting etc. etc. towards the end of January.
This is a reminder that, as usual, the whole Committee will stand down at the meeting and we will elect a new one.
All current members and officers have indicated their willingness to stand for reelection (with the exception of Margaret Kidby who has decided to stand down after more years service to the society than most of us can remember. We will be celebrating this at the meeting.)
(The years of service – not the departing or our inability to remember!)(Obviously.)
If you would like to stand for election to join the committee, either as one of the elected officers (President, Chair, Secretary or Treasurer) or as an ‘ordinary’ committee member, you would be welcome. Please write to SecretaryBGS100@gmail.com if you would like more information or to let us know of your intention to stand. (There is no requirement to let us know you are planning to stand – it is just more convenient for organising the meeting.)
BGS visit to Painswick Rococo Garden
Following on from Dominic Hamilton’s excellent presentation on the Rococo Garden last year, we are planning a visit on Saturday 14th February – snowdrop time. As well as snowdrops, there will be great views and the beautiful structures within the garden can be seen at their best. The garden is situated in a hidden valley with uneven and sometimes steep paths. But there are some handrails and plenty of benches!
We will be travelling by car share from the West Dean Centre, Bream. (Other pickup locations by request.)
Booking is essential. Please follow this link and complete the Rococo Garden – Booking form by 1st February 2026. Alternatively, contact Diana at bgsprogsec@gmail.com.
Annual BGS meal
The March general meeting will be the annual meal this year as usual. This year it will be at The Rising Sun in Bream, Tuesday 10th March, 7.00 for 7.30pm.
Please see the menu and booking form attached.
Please make menu choices and return with payment either by email to breamgardeningsociety@gmail.com or bring your form to the AGM.
Payment is by bank transfer or cash/card at the AGM, as detailed on the booking form.
Other news
Bream Sports Club events
Bream Sports Club are holding two fundraising events on Sunday 25th January. The sports club generously houses our storage containers on their site and provides an excellent venue for our annual Summer Show, and so we are keen to support their events in return.
We will have a stall at their Table Top Sale from 10am – 12pm. As well as seeds and perhaps a few plants, we will be selling items made by the BGS Textile Crafts Group.
Then, from 3pm in the afternoon, we will have teams competing in the Jigsaw Puzzle Race. Entry costs £4 per person and the winning team will take home half of the prize pot. If you would like to join one of our BGS teams, please contact secretarybgs100@gmail.com. Alternatively, if you would like to enter your own team of up to 4 players, please message Bream Sports Club directly.
Flower Arranging Classes
Alwyn Page, our flower arranging judge and longtime friend of the Society, has asked us to publicise dates for her classes in 2026. These are leisure classes, suitable for all levels of experience. Professional tuition plus fun with flowers guaranteed!
Alwyn offers a choice of two venues:
- West Dean Centre, Bream, GL15 6JW; Wednesday, 10.30am – 12.30pm
- The Village Hall, Llanishen, NP16 6QA; Friday, 1.30 – 3.30pm
Classes begin in the first week in February and cost £44 per student for a 4 week term.
Early booking is essential. For more information see here Flower Arranging Classes Spring 2026
To book a place, please contact Alwyn directly: 01291 62529 or alwynpage-flowercraft@hotmail.co.uk
FONOP coach trip to the RHS Malvern Spring Show
Friends of Newport’s Ornamental Parks (FONOP) is organising a coach trip to the Malvern Show on Friday 8th May. FONOP trips have been recommended by a BGS member and are very well organised. The trip costs £45 per person including show entry. The nearest pickup point to Bream is Monmouth Car Park.
If you are interested in joining this trip, please send your completed Malvern booking form (attached) directly to Michelle Beddoe at gardener1@ntlworld.com or 4 Tunnel Terrace, Newport, South Wales, NP204BT by 14th February 2026.
FoD Swap & Shop
The second FoD Seed Swap & Shop is coming up soon on Saturday 21st February at Yorkley Community Centre. And it’s going to be even better than last year! As well as leftover and collected seed, we’ve had lots of lovely new seeds donated to us by well known seed companies.
If you have any seeds that you would like to donate to the seed swap but are unable to make it to the event, please bring them along to the AGM on Tuesday 10th February.
We should be very grateful if you would publicise this event. I’ve attached a poster.
If you would like to volunteer to help at the swap, please contact secretarybgs100@gmail.com. Thank you.
RHS Badminton Flower Show – volunteering opportunities
Badminton Estate is seeking volunteers to support their garden tours during the RHS Badminton Flower Show, taking place between 8th–12th July. Volunteers will benefit from free entry to the RHS Badminton Flower Show on volunteer days.
Further information about the role and how to apply is available here RHS Badminton Flow Show Volunteering Opportunities
Members’ Sales and Wants
For sale
Surplus BGS equipment: Ground cover fabric – various widths and lengths
Secondhand, but clean and in good condition – until a couple of years ago it was used as tableclothing on the show benches at BGS shows. GroundTex-style woven fabric.
Heavy duty – suitable as a weed control membrane or below ground as a stabilising and separating membrane under gravel driveways, paths and decks.
We have numerous lengths available as follows. For convenience we have indicated a ‘guide price’, based on 25p/square metre (what second hand ground cover fabric sells for on Ebay). Please feel free to offer whatever you wish – especially if you want to buy the whole lot!!
Please make offers by email to Secretarybgs100@gmail.com. Best offer received before the end of January gets them.
Roll number Length (m) width (m) Guide price
1 2 1.6 £0.80
2 3 1.6 £1.20
3 3.5 1.6 £1.40
4 3.5 1.6 £1.40
5 3.6 1.6 £1.44
6 7 4 £7.00
7 9 1.6 £3.60
8 9.5 1.6 £3.80
9 15.5 1.6 £6.20
Total £26.04
Surplus BGS equipment: Knauf insulation – new, still in packaging
1 roll of Knauf LR44. Loft Roll 44 – Glass Mineral Wool | Knauf Insulation Glass mineral wool with Ecose plant-based binder.
Designed for insulating cold pitched roofs at ceiling level. Non-combustible – Euroclass A1.
Thickness: 100mm. Length x width: 12.18 x 1.14 m. Area per pack:13.89 m2.
Thermal conductivity: 0.044 W/mK. Thermal resistance: 2.25 m2K/W.
(Costs £60 per roll new from Travers Perkins)
Please make offers for this item by email to Secretarybgs100@gmail.com. Best offer received before the end of January gets it.
Surplus BGS equipment: Trailer
Early notice that we plan to sell our small road trailer.
It is currently behind the containers at the BSC and full of junk, but it will be empty and clean and for sale later this month.
We will be advertising it on Facebook Marketplace, but if a member wants to make an offer (especially if they would buy it as it stands!) please let us know. We are hoping to raise about £100 for it.
Wants
Plastic bottles
Do you have any spare, clean 2 litre drinks bottles?
We need supplies for the next Young Gardeners workshops to make propagators for the seeds we are sowing.
Please can you bring them to the AGM on February 10th and pass them to Suzanne Snowden or any other committee member. Thank you.