Programme

Monday 17th February: ‘Composting for Beginners’ – Rachel Strivens of www.gardenorganic.org.uk – 7.00pm at Cleobury Country Centre, Love Lane, Cleobury Mortimer DY14 8PE

Have you tried composting and just can’t get it right?  Too soggy, too dry, fear of rodents moving in?  Rachel will cover all this and help you compost successfully so that your garden benefits, and you don’t give your ‘Black Gold’ away in the green garden waste bin.

Monday 10th March: ‘HOSTAS’ – Linda Ashman – 7pm at Cleobury Country Centre, Love Lane, Cleobury Mortimer DY14 8PE

• Decisions & Dimensions – sites & choice
• Diversity & Differentiation – leaf shapes, colours
• Defence – know your enemy
• Decrepitude – preparation for over-wintering
• Demonstration of Division & Redressing – method & examples
• Diligence & Dedication – a health warning!

Saturday 12th April – 10.30am to 12.30pm

Claire Tatler, Head Gardener of Wollerton Old Hall – Pruning of Hydrangeas

Claire will be visiting Flo Straughan’s garden at Catherton House, Catherton Road, Cleobury Mortimer DY14 0LJ on the above date and time for a workshop on how to prune Hydrangeas.  Bring Secateurs and Gloves.

During the workshop Claire will demonstrate how to prune the various species of Hydrangeas.  It will be a practical demonstration with lots of opportunities for people to ask questions.  She is happy for people to bring photos of their own Hydrangeas if you are unsure of the type or if you need advice with renovation or any maintenance issues.  She will provide all participants with some handouts to take home so that you don’t have to remember everything.

Saturday 10th May: Plant sale at Market Hall – 9.30am until 11.30am.

Monday 19th May:  – 6pm – 8pm

Wade Muggleton – ‘Polyculture in Action’ – Visit to Wade’s garden in Stottesdon.

This is a demonstration of Polyculture principles in action – the practice of growing more than one crop species in the same place and making extensive use of recycled materials.  Ponds, fruit trees, rain water harvesting and greenhouses make a productive space in a small area, hopefully proving a lot of produce can be grown in a moderate size garden.  Flowers, vegetables and pollinator plants are all mixed in together and was featured on BBC Gardeners World in 2018 and on the Grow Veg Channel on You Tube in 2024.

A Bare Lawn to Sustainable Garden Eden:  How Wade Did it.

Each year, Cleobury Gardeners trims the growth from the trunks of these old, pleached lime trees that grace one side of Cleobury High Street, following their main pleaching carried out by specialist arborculturalists in winter.  This summer trimming keeps the trees smart and removes the growth that sprouts readily from the trunks during the spring and early summer months.  The week for the trimming will be put on the website nearer the time and guidance given to avoid damaging the trees.  Volunteers will be able to choose one or more trees to trim – making a very valuable contribution to the environment and the appearance of the town.

Get your secateurs at the ready!

Wednesday 11th June:  2.0pm – 4.00pm

Lou Archer at www.thearchersatthelarches.com – The Larches, Larches Lane, Oreton, Shropshire DY14 0TW

A little Alpaca Farm growing flowers.

Lou Archer lives in Oreton, just a few miles from Cleobury, where she has created a rural, sustainable business from all things alpaca.  On our visit, she will show us her wonderful alpaca herd, the products she makes from their fleece and the amazing fertiliser they produce.  She will tell us how her fertiliser was championed by medal-winning growers at Chelsea Flower Show and how, after 10 years of working with these growers and after lockdown, she added a commercial cut flower patch to her existing business.  After meeting the alpaca, Lou will take us through her process of growing flowers from seed sowing to harvest.  Whilst we have a cup of tea, Lou will demonstrate how she builds a special bouquet.

As this is an outside presentation please wear suitable clothing, bring an umbrella and wear appropriate footwear: ie. wellington’s or boots as we will be walking on uneven ground, and when visiting the alpaca they can get very close.

Although there is a fair amount of space to park it may be an idea to park outside Oreton and Farlow Village Hall and walk up Larches Lane.

Monday 14th July:  6.30pm for 7.00pm

Evening Summer Social at Judy & John Sant’s House, 10 Church Street, Cleobury Mortimer (DY14 8BS).

Sunday 20th July: Allotments BBQ – Re-arranged for Sunday 10th August.

Monday 21st July – 7pm at Cleobury Country Centre, Love Lane, CM DY14 8PE:

Linda Ridpath – Bonsai for Beginners

Local resident Linda Redpath has grown bonsai since the mid-1980s and in this presentation she will bring specimens she has grown or bought over the years to explain types, growing conditions, plant care and propagation, as well as demonstrating how to wire the growing plants into the various shapes we see at shows and in garden centres.  Her aim is to dispel the idea that bonsai growing is difficult and encourage members to go as far as digging up a seedling from a self-seeeded tree in their gardens and to grow it into a bonsai for themselves; alternatively, buy a small (cheap) bonsai and grow it into something magnificant!

Saturday 2nd August: Visit to RHS Bridgwater, Salford, Manchester.

Sunday 10th August:  Allotment Barbeque.  This is the re-arranged date for the Barbeque which has been altered from 20th July which was cancelled due to bad weather.  All arrangements the same as previously.

Saturday 30th August : Unfortunately, I have to advise you that our visit to Coddington Vineyard & Gardens will not take place on the 30th August due to the fact that their is a prior booking on that date.  However, we have decided to visit Coddington on Saturday 4th October which is when they will be open this year in support of the National Garden Scheme Charity.  Please see our website entry for the 4th October.

Monday 15th September:  7.00pm at Cleobury Country Centre, Love Lane, Cleobury Mortimer DY14 8PE

Liam Bedall – Common Sense Gardening with a Passion for Roses

Liam is a rose expert with a particular interest in common sense gardening and a passion for using roses with other plants.  He is a committee member for the Rose Society UK, and in a professional capacity works as Head of the Professional Trade Services Team and as Senior Rose Consultant for David Austin Roses.  He has been fortunate to advise on and design gardens throughout the UK and Europe and enjoys sharing his passion for roses.

Saturday 4th October – Visit to Coddington Vineyard & Gardens, Ledbury

As previously advised this Visit was due to take place on Saturday 30th August but unfortunately that date has already been booked by another party.  However, we shall be visiting this venue on Saturday 4th October when they will be open for the National Garden Scheme Charity.

For information, this is a family run Vineyard with gardens in a rural location.  They are a small scale Vineyard and passionate about growing grapes.  Their garden is a great place to spend a couple of hours and features terraces and a woodland walk.

Monday 13th October – 7.00pm at Cleobury Country Centre, Love Lane, CM DY14 8PE

Following on from her talk on Successful Composting, Rachel Strivens of www.gardenorganics.org.uk, will be coming to tell us about the Principles of Organic Gardening and No Dig Gardening, both of which are ‘so much more than just not using chemicals…’ but allow you to ease up on the weeding and enjoy your time in your garden.

Saturday 18th October: Fund raising morning for the pleaching of Cleobury’s lime trees at St Mary’s Church – 9.30am till 12noon.

Monday 10th November: Annual General Meeting and social evening at Cleobury Country Centre, Love Lane, Cleobury Mortimer DY14 8PE commencing at 7.00pm.