Monday Night Musings

These articles have appeared in local publications, and are generally reports on the presentations by our Monday Meeting Speakers to members and visitors.

Pruning and grafting workshop

Pruning and grafting workshop

On a very cold, grey and windy Sunday morning on 1 March 2026, six hardy members of Cleobury Gardeners gathered at Billy Auger’s Fruit Farm, Augernik, in Hopton Wafers for a practical session on pruning soft fruits, coupled with a demonstration of grafting fruit...

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Wildlife Gardening

Wildlife Gardening

Emma Tipton, from Emma Tipton Gardening, presented her tips for wildlife gardening at our March 2026 meeting. UK gardens cover 3 x the area of nature reserves and are critical for biodiversity. The more species of plants, microorganisms, fungi and animals that we...

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Gardeners’ Question Time

Gardeners’ Question Time

A panel of experts convened for Question Time at Cleobury Gardeners in February. Jackie Percival from The Creative Garden, Emma Tipton from Emma Tipton Gardening and Wade Muggleton (author and contributor to Permaculture magazine) answered members’ questions on a...

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English Roses

English Roses

Liam Bedall, Head Rosarian at David Austin Roses Liam began his presentation from a historical perspective, describing how David Austin Senior released his first new rose in 1961, driven specifically by developing roses with three principal characteristics – beauty,...

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Cool Season Hardy Annuals

Cool Season Hardy Annuals

Lou Archer has been raising Alpacas near Farlow for many years (and collecting their famous “Lou’s poo”). Cleobury Gardeners visited Lou back in June: we loved the alpacas which we got to feed and hang out with! Post Covid Lou also established a cut flower business...

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No-Dig and Organic Gardening

No-Dig and Organic Gardening

Rachel Shrivens, Chair of Shropshire Organic Gardeners, gave us a great presentation in October on no-dig and organic gardening. Here is a summary of Rachel’s talk along with useful information from her handouts (see also useful links at the end). Added compost:...

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Bonsai For Beginners

Bonsai For Beginners

Simplicity, elegance and beauty are the foundations of the ancient art of “bonsai”, meaning “planted in a container”. Linda Ridpath has grown bonsai trees for 40 years and brought some of her beautiful trees for us to see at Cleobury Gardeners in July. Bonsai...

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Alpacas and cut flowers

Alpacas and cut flowers

Among the many small businesses tucked away in  Cleobury Country is The Archers at the Larches in Oreton, established by Lou Archer, where she keeps 21 alpacas and runs a thriving online business selling products made from their fleeces - socks, scarves, throws...

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Workshop April 2025 – Pruning Hydrangeas

Workshop April 2025 – Pruning Hydrangeas

Led by Claire Tatler, Head Gardener at Wollerton Old Hall in Market Drayton on the 12th April 2025 On a beautiful Saturday morning, members of Cleobury Gardeners assembled, secateurs in hand, at one of our gardens in Catherton to take part in a practical session on...

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