Monday 3 September 2018 @ 7:30pm to 9:30pm in South Marston Village Hall.

Speaker: Paul Green of Newent, Gloucestershire

Subject: “It’s not all about Flowers – Foliage and Stem Interest”

Paul is often asked “why don’t you like flowers?” Well he does, he loves them! The point is that flowers are not the only thing to get him excited. So many plants have interesting stem colour or texture. What about the range of berries? One of the main themes of plants he grows is for the range of foliage, its shape, size and colour. He’s hoping to tempt you too to try something new. There will be a large range of plants on show in the evening ranging from fairly common to rare and slightly strange!

Paul’s Nursery “Greens Leaves” is a specialist plant nursery which supplies a wide selection of choice, rare and unusual plants, all grown in their Gloucestershire nursery.  They have dedicated their nursery to a collection of rare and specialist plants from around the world and the list is growing.

At the end of the evening, you have the chance to purchase these rare and unusual plants.

Cost: £3 entry fee on the door or £12 for full Membership. A warm welcome awaits you along with tea and cake as well as an optional raffle.

For more information, please contact Mike New on 827807 mobile 07999914751 or Angela Newton on 832034 mobile 07789068340

Have you ever taken a look at this great Community Village event?

You may not be into showing off your Home-grown Produce but what about showing off your prized Hanging Basket or House Plant, your Cooking and Baking skills or even your Flower Arranging talents? We have a long list of various types of flowers to show from Dahlias” to Sweet peas and cooking skills from Jams to Curds and Sausage rolls to Scones. This year our “flavoured cake is “Ginger”.  Do you have an amazing ginger cake recipe that you think may be a winner?  If none of these appeal to you what about a photograph of either an “Insect” or an “Abandoned building” these are our two Photography categories this year? We also have various categories for showing your Handcrafts from Metal to Wool and a Home Brew section. There’s something for everyone so what are you waiting for?

We haven’t forgotten the children so they can enter too.   Age 5 years and under- Collage Picture, 6 to 8 Years – Posy of Flowers and 9 to 11 Years- Vegetable Monster.

If you are not up to entering this year, why not come along to the Village Hall at 5pm to view the entries and the competition for next year along with tea and cake.  There will be a raffle and auction of donated exhibits at the end of the show at 5:30pm.  A very warm welcome awaits you.

If you would like a copy of the full Schedule and entry form please contact either Mike New Tel 8277807 or Angela Newton 832034

SOUTH MARSTON FLOWER AND PRODUCE SHOW

TO BE HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL ON SATURDAY 18 AUGUST 2018

Friday 17 August 7pm to 8:30pm – Register your Exhibits (see list below) at the Village Hall

Saturday 18 August

10am to 12:30pm – Staging of Exhibits

1pm to 4pm – Judging takes place

5pm – Doors open to the public – Admission at door 20p (per adult)

Refreshments and Raffle available

5:30pm – Presentation of Show Winners followed by Auction of Produce (the Committee will be grateful for any exhibit left for sale) and Raffle Prize Draw

SECTION “A”

1.             3 Potatoes (white or coloured) 2.             5 French Beans 3.             5 Pods of Peas 4.             5 Runner Beans 5.             5 Broad Beans 6.             3 Onions – under ½ lb in weight 7.             3 Onions – over ½ lb in weight 8.             3 Beetroot 9.             1 Courgette 10.         3 Carrots 11.         2 Cabbages 12.         6 Pickling Shallots (under 30mm in diameter) 13.         6 Large Shallots (over 30mm in diameter) 14.         1 Cucumber 15.         3 Tomatoes 16.         Truss of Tomatoes 17.         Collection of any 5 Vegetables (one of each of any 5 different kinds in a seed  tray not exceeding 18” x 12”) 18.         Collection of 5 Salad Vegetables (All different) 19.         Collection of Fresh Herbs 20.         Longest Runner Bean 21.         Heaviest Onion 22.         Heaviest Potato 23.         Any other Vegetable not on schedule 24.         Ugly or Misshapen Vegetable (Please give your vegetable a “name”) 25.          Bowl of Home Grown Fruit (5 of same kind)

SECTION “B”

26.         Standard Fuchsia

 SECTION “B1”

27. Hanging Basket

 SECTION “B2”

28.         1 Single Rose 29.         3 Roses 30.         5 Asters (single or double) 31.         3 Decorative Dahlias 32.         3 Cactus Dahlias 33.         1 Specimen Dahlia (large) 34.         3 Carnations 35.         5 Pansies 36.         5 Stalks of Sweet Peas 37.         3 Spikes of Gladioli 38.         1 Specimen spike of Gladiolus 39.         3 Vases of Flowers (a different variety in each vase – no extra foliage) 40.         Flowering Pot Plant (Geranium, Fuchsia, Orchid etc.) 41.          Foliage Pot Plant (Succulent, Cactus etc.)

SECTION “B3”

42.         Square Floral Carpet (not exceeding 6” x 6”) 43.         Miniature Flower Arrangement (under 4” x 4”) 44.         Floral Wreath “100 WW1” 45.          Arrangement in a Basket (not to exceed 15” overall)

  SECTION “C”

46.         Photograph “Insects” 47.          Photograph “Abandoned Buildings”

 SECTION “D”

48.         Jar Soft Fruit Jam (in 1lb jar) 49.         Jar Stone Fruit Jam (in 1lb jar) 50.         Jar Jelly (in 1lb jar) 51.         Jar Marmalade (in 1lb jar) 52.         Citrus Curd (in 1lb jar) 53.         Sweet Chutney (in 1lb jar) 54.         Pickled Onions or Shallots 55.         6 Sausage Rolls 56.         Apple Pie (with pastry top and bottom and no decoration) 57.         6 Cheese Scones 58.         6 Fruit Scones 59.         Bread Pudding or Bread and Butter Pudding 60.         Victoria Sandwich (see ingredients and size of tin below) 61.         Fruit Cake (see ingredients and size of tin below) 62.         Ginger Cake (any shape or size) 63.          Shortbread

 SECTION “E”

64.         Homemade Wine, Lager, Beer, Cider or Liqueur etc.

  SECTION “F”

65.         Metal, Wood or Glass Item 66.         Knitting or Crochet item 67.         Cross Stich or Embroidery Item 68.         Artwork (Charcoal, Watercolour etc) 69.          Material (Fabric, Fur, Felt etc.)

 CHILDREN’S SECTION

Class G (5 years and under) Collage Picture Class H (6 to 8 Years) Posy of Flowers Class I (9 to 11 Years) Vegetable Monster

 INGREDIENTS FOR CLASSES 60 & 61

Victoria Sandwich		Fruit Cake
6oz Self Raising Flour		8oz Self Raising Flour
6oz Caster Sugar		7oz Fruit
6oz Butter or Margarine		4oz Sugar
3 Eggs		4oz Butter or Margarine
Jam		2 Eggs
		1/8th pint Milk
Cakes to be made in 7” size tins using the above ingredients only.   Judges will use their discretion to disqualify cakes made using any other ingredients or size of tin.

1. Entry Fees 30p each entry for all classes (Classes A to F).
2. Class prizes will be awarded – 1^st 50p, 2^nd  20p  and 3rd 10p
   
3. Children’s class 20p to enter (Classes G, H & I).
4. Children’s class prizes will be awarded – 1^st £1, 2^nd 50p, and 3^rd 20p. Fourth prize and lower a prize for each exhibit.

Sunday 29 July 2018

2 – 5pm

Tickets on sale now!

£5 per family or £2 individual

This year, in addition to viewing Village Gardens there will be the Chapel in Chapel Lane, the path atLeaze Cottage, a quiet contemplation in both our Village Church – St. Mary Magdalene which has been decorated with flowers by Gardening Club Members and The Village Garden & War Memorial area.

Gardens:

Church Farm House, Church Farm Lane

5 Church Farm Lane (a glass of wine available here)

1 Southview Cottages, Manor Farm Lane

Leaze Cottage, Manor Farm Lane

Manor Farm, Manor Farm Lane (refreshments available here)

Places of Interest:

The Chapel, Chapel Lane

Pigeon Farm, Chapel Lane (Do not enter garden, view from Lane only)

St. Mary Magdalene Church (decorated with flowers)

Village Garden and War Memorial Area

Tickets available in advance from Mike New 827807, Jenny McEwen 825312 or Angela Newton 832034 or on the day at the Village Hall (between 2-4pm).

For more information, contact Mary Case on 325856.

Refreshments available at Manor Farm 

Parking next to the School and Manor Farm Lane

Toilets available on the playing field  

We want you to enjoy the gardens and hope you have a lovely day.

Proceeds in aid of the Gardening Club with a donation to the Village Church funds.

 

On: Monday 11 June 2018

At: South Marston Village Hall

Time: 7:30pm to 8:30pm

Update from meeting on Monday 14 May 2018

Speakers: Pete and Bob Biggs, Wanborough Herb Nursery

Title: “Culinary Herbs and their Uses”

They gave us an interesting talk and overview of a selection of herbs from their collection.

Mint: There were at least 10 different mints on the table, such as “strawberry mint”.  One way to use is by laying leaves at the base of a cake batter and remove once the cake is cooked.  As a refreshing tea or add chopped leaves into a yogurt, in smoothies or in a fruit salad.

Geranium: Two unusual varieties on the night were “Rose” and Cola”.  The smell from these two varieties was unbelievable.  Leaves can be used as a refreshing drink and again by layering the leaves under a cake batter.

Lemon Verbena: Leaves can be used as a tea, in cakes or dropped into a hot bath.

Marjoram/Oregano: Can be used when cooking meat, fish or pasta.  The flowers are loved by bees and butterflies.

Strawberries (alpines): Unusual yellow fruited plants.

A couple of Hints and Tips

Coriander: Likes to be grown on its own and not with other plants. When cutting to use, don’t cut at the base and only use the top part of the plant.

Chive: If you suffer from “rust”, cut the plant to the ground and soak with a bucket of water.

Clay soil: Is the best soil for growing.  To improve its drainage add grit, sand or gravel and add a mulch such as manure or composted bark.

 

On: Monday 14 May 2018

At: South Marston Village Hall

Time: 7:30pm to 9:30pm

Pete and Bob Biggs of Wanborough Herb Nursery will speak about “Culinary Herbs and their Uses”.

They will bring along a large selection of herbs and talk about how they can be used in cooking.

Herb Plants will be available to purchase at the end of the evening.

Cost: £3 entry fee on the door or £12 for full Membership.

A warm welcome awaits you along with tea and cake as well as an optional raffle.

Update from Meeting held on Monday 9 April 2018

Speaker Stuart “The Wildman” Mabbutt from Oxford gave us a very interesting and entertaining talk about Wildlife in Everyday Gardening.  Stuart had 10 Challenges for us to improve Wildlife in our Gardens which are:

• • • 1: Is gardening essential or is it social conditioning?
    • 2: Tidiness is down to interpretation
    • 3: Are you hearing or are you listening? Are you seeing or are you looking
    • 4: Birth is just as important as death and decay (there is no such thing as pest and disease)
    • 5: It’s really only down to 4 things
      • Water
      • Dead wood
      • Different grass heights
      • Different flowers, trees and shrubs
    • 6: Hedgehogs and bee’s
    • 7: The connected garden
      • Corridors in between neighbouring garden
      • You as part of a much bigger picture
    • 8:The alternative garden: moon gardening and ant nests
    • 9: Natives and non-natives are not worth fussing about too much, diversity is what we need. Ethical seeds (buy British seeds not imported ones.)
    • 10: Caring for garden birds.

 

Please note next months Gardening Club is Monday 9 April and not 2 April

On: Monday 9 April 2018

at: South Marston Village Hall

@ 7:30 to 9:30pm

South Marston Club is hosting speaker Stuart “Wildman” Mabbutt.

Stuart will talk about attracting wildlife in our gardens and how we can begin to appreciate it better by using our senses and exploring our collective psychology and sociology.

“We look but do we see, we listen but do we hear, we touch but do we feel, we sniff but do we smell, we eat but do we taste”.

This is also an ideal chance to get a signed copy of his wildlife gardening books and a highlights cd of his radio show.

Stuart ‘The Wildman’ Mabbutt has been a professional wildlife gardener for nearly 29 years.

He writes widely in magazines on the subject and recently published his first 2 books and is busy writing the next.

He leads nature workshops for business people, individuals, children and families to show how engaging with nature with the 5 senses can help manage stress and pain. As well as be a good team building tool.

He is a wildlife sound recordist and makes the independent wildlife radio show, Going Wild With Wildlife, which transmits 25 times a week on 7 different stations across Britain. He’s working on a pilot and first series of a new countryside TV/Online show ‘The Peoples Countryside’.

He’s developing some academic research with Oxford University into the benefits of nature on the human body.

Stuart has an ambition to perform on the main stage at the O2 Arena in London and is developing a stage show, 3-day countryside retreat to start the ball rolling in getting him there.

You can see more on Stuart at: https://www.wildmaninspires.co.uk/

£3 entry fee on the door or £12 full membership.  A warm welcome awaits you along with tea and cake as well as an optional raffle.

Monday 5 March 2018 Meeting Update

After two months absence, we welcomed back 19 of our existing members.  We kicked off the evening with our AGM.  Our finances are looking so much better than last year and this was due to the amount of fundraising the Club organised last year.  The speakers we have booked for this year will take a large chunk of the money. The same Committee Members were re-elected.

Unfortunately, due to the recent bad weather our booked speaker for the evening “Pennard Plants” had to cancel.   The evening was saved by Barry Thunder and Anne Featherstone who stepped in to do a presentation to the group on behalf of the Parish Council Open Spaces Working Group.  They asked for the help of the Gardening Club, to work on the War Memorial in its 100 years since the end of WW1.  A few of the Gardening Club Members signed up to be involved with the planning which will be fed back to the Club.  Once decisions have been made with regards to the planting material required, the Gardening Club will help grow some of these plants.