NEWSLETTER – JANUARY/MARCH 2009 MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR Dear Member Our newsletter is a little earlier than normal due to some of our committee members going off on well earned winter breaks. They will be basking in lovely warm sunshine while we are sitting shivering in the cold weather. At least we will be able to spend our time planning what we will be doing in the garden next year and start to get ready to plant our seeds. The last meeting of the year is on 4th February which is our AGM. This is followed by a talk on Hellebores by John Ashwood. Don't forget to bring along your bowl of hyacinths for the Table Top competition. Membership It is that time of year again when our memberships are up for renewal. Fees are remaining at the same cost as last year. It would help Janet our membership secretary a lot if you could fill in the slip on the reverse side of this newsletter and send your membership to her, along with a stamped addressed envelope so that she can send you the membership card and programme. This will be after the February AGM. They will also be available to be collected at the Hut or at the March Meeting. Committee Members The Hut The Hut re-opens on the 14th February 2009. Don't forget to go down and stock up on all the things you need for the coming season. Take your gardening tools down to be sharpened to be ready for use as the weather gets better. Trips Rhubarb Triangle Rita is organising a trip to the Rhubarb Triangle on 15th February. We will also be going to visit the National Coal Mining Exhibition. The cost is £20 which includes the coach fare, tea and biscuits, talk and a tour of the sheds at the Rhubarb Triangle and then on to the Coal Mining Exhibition. There is a tour available for us to go on which is an underground 50 minute look a round the coal mines. If you are interested in putting your name down for a ticket please contact me and at the same time let me know if you are interested in the tour as we have to book the number of places we require. The tickets will also be available at the February meeting. Farm Visit One of our members has passed details over to me regarding a local farm which is 'dedicated to working with nature' that is available for us to visit. We will be organising a trip there in the spring so if you are interested please put your name on the list at the February meeting. Follyfield Nursery We visited Follyfield Nursery last year to see how a working nursery operates. If members would like to visit again we will organsie a return visit in April. Garden Trail A big thank you to all the members who have come forward to volunteer their garden for the Garden Trail on the 18th July. If anybody else feels they would like to add their garden to the list please let me know. Floristry Workshop Thanks to Judith Windsor's hard work we had a very enjoyable Christmas Floristry workshop at the end of November and we all produced lovely Christmas arrangements. Judith has very kindly offered to have another workshop for us in the spring. I will let you know the date but if you are interested to come along please let me know. And finally As you have just read there is plenty going on in the Society next year but if there is anything else you feel you would like to be happening please let me know. I hope you all have a very good Christmas and a very Happy New Year and see you at the next meeting.
Wendy Carman Membership Subscription for 2009 - Joint - £5.00/ Single £3.50 – please circle the membership you require Please send to Mrs. Janet Elliott, Hayes Farm, Mannings Lane, Hoole Bank, Chester CH2 4ES Name: ...................................................................................... Tel no: .................................................. Address: .................................................................................................................................................... Email: ....................................................................................................................................................... Please make cheques payable to Upton-by-Chester Horticultural Society |