Hello everyone.
No, I haven’t quite lost the plot. Its just my little joke for April Fool’s Day. That did make you wonder didn’t it?
Isn’t it lovely to see Spring finally making its presence known? We can’t rule out a late frost but the hawthorn and elder are bursting into leaf – as a child we called hawthorn ‘bread and cheese’. Now the Blackthorn is bursting into bloom too. Last year we had heavy rain before the blossom was pollinated, so the crop of Sloes was very poor.
NEWS: After a fire destroyed seeds, pots and trays Cacketts nursery continues as before. They are not giving up and have poly-tunnels full of seedlings as well as bedding, roses, shrubs etc. I expect you are familiar with Cacketts, but if you haven’t been, just ask for directions….well worth a visit. https://www.facebook.com/littledrybrookthenursery
EVENTS:
Tuesday 8th April at 7.30 at Bream Sports Club.
TALK: by Roger Umpleby about BUGS – THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY.
It will be a lavishly illustrated and humorous talk about ‘bugs’ found in and around our gardens. The talk covers a wide range of pests, but this is balanced by an almost equally wide range of benefices. By the end of the talk, listeners will certainly see many ‘bugs’ in a different light and appreciate just how varied and complex the interaction between them can be.
Members’ admission is free but guests at our meetings are charged £3 for the visit, including tea and biscuits.
Friday 25th April at Bream Library YOUNG GARDENERS for primary children and above.
Gardening! with plants to take home. Places are limited so please book through breamgardeningsociety@gmail.com and tell us your child’s name and age.~~~~~~~~
Here is an update from Kathryn about the show.
Show Photographic Classes
The 2025 Summer Schedule will be published later this month; however, for those who would like to start taking photographs, here are all this year’s show classes along with a hint or two from our judge. To level the playing field, the judge has requested that all photographs must be printed on photographic paper this year. If you need help printing your photographs, please get in touch.
Summer Show 2025
• 160th Anniversary – This is a non-competition class – no rules or entrance fee. We would like you to contribute photographs to a display celebrating the last 160 years of Bream Summer Show. If you don’t want to risk displaying the original copies of your historical photographs, please get in touch ahead of the show so that we can make copies instead.
• A Cottage Garden – A photograph of a cottage-style garden. To commemorate the founding of BGS as the Bream Cottage Garden Society in 1865.
• Colours of the Sky – A photograph of the sky, taken at any time of day and in any weather. If it is visible at all, keep your horizon line towards the bottom of your frame.
• Pond Life – A photograph of wildlife in a pond or around its margins. Plants, fish, animals, birds and/ or insects.
• Bark – A close up photograph of tree bark.
• Mono Class: Industrial Heritage – A photograph featuring the industrial heritage of the Forest of Dean. Images must be toned in one colour, for example, black through to white or blue through to white. Further digital manipulation is allowed in this class
Autumn Show 2025
• Signs around the Forest – A photograph of a sign(s) or signpost(s) in the Forest of Dean. Ideally, the judge would like the sign to be in focus against a slightly blurred background.
• The Colour Red – A photograph prominently featuring the colour red.
• Forest Creatures – A photograph of one or more sheep, boar or deer in the Forest of Dean.
• Seeds and/ or seed heads – A close up photograph of one or more seeds or seed heads.
• Mono class: Steps or Stairs – A photograph of a flight of steps or stairs. The judge would prefer to see photographs taken outdoors. Images must be toned in one colour, for example, black through to white or blue through to white. Further digital manipulation is allowed in this class.
Show Raffles
Many thanks to Louise and Sally for doing such a great job running the show raffles for the last few years. Both of them would like to volunteer in other roles this year, and so we are looking for a couple of members to take on the challenge of gathering prizes and running the raffle on show days. Please email for more information or speak to Kathryn, Louise or Sally at the April club meeting.
Also, if you know of any local businesses who might be generous enough to provide raffle prizes or sponsor the raffle tickets, please get in touch.
Ecoprinting Workshop
Local textile artist Lizzie Godden will be running an Ecoprinting Workshop for members on 21st June at the Church Centre in Bream. Ecoprinting is a natural dyeing technique that uses leaves, flowers, and other plant materials to create patterns and colours on fabric or paper. The number of places available on the workshop is strictly limited, and so book now to avoid disappointment: Ecoprinting Workshop – Booking Form
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I think that’s about ‘it’ for now. Enjoy your gardening but don’t try to do it all at once.
Best wishes
Margaret