Chairmans Report

‘Well, it’s about time you joined our NLWGA group’ – that’s the email message I received in 2022 from the NLWGA secretary as I agreed to help with the Hut duties. So, forward a few years and, as a new Chairman of 5 months, I say ‘Welcome to you all’ and it’s about time you came and joined us at Newton-le-Willows Gardeners’ Association.

We have a fantastic group of members who have a wealth of knowledge and a wide range of experience for growing flowers and vegetables. On any Saturday and Sunday, the Hut on Rob Lane is the best place to share this knowledge and check out the products and services for your gardens and allotments.
Although membership has been improving, we do need your support and help running the Hut, plant sales, events, trips and the committee. It is people who make up an association and without helpers we would lose this wonderful amenity on Rob Lane.

So, onto the weather and our brilliant flower and vegetable show in September 2025. It’s been the dryest and warmest spring for ages and with this in mind you should be out and about tending to your bedding plants and seedlings, keeping an eye on watering and mulching. Your seedlings and tubers need all your attention so your produce can be entered into the show at Crownway Community Centre in Earlestown on Saturday 13^th September. You can pick up your entry form at the Hut or checkout our website www.nlwgardeners.co.uk.  The website and our Facebook page will give you more information about events and open days taking place on Rob Lane. So again, I ask, isn’t it about time that you came along to join us?

Many thanks
Ray Newby
Committee Chairman

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NLWGA FLOWER AND VEGETABLE SHOW SATURDAY 13^TH SEPTEMBER 2025

The show last year was another great success. It attracted many people from the surrounding area to create a great community event. This year the NLWGA Show is to be held again at Crownway Community Centre, Crown Street, Earlestown WA12 9DA.

Preparations for the Show are well underway. The schedule of classes is available at the Sales Hut or can be downloaded from our website: www.nlwgardeners.co.uk.

We are pleased to announce our regular sponsors are again helping to fund the Show. We have lost our main sponsor – The Rotary Club of Newton, but one of their members is sponsoring a class in the show. Other sponsors are Loach’s, Kings Seeds, Jewellery by Silvana, Bents Garden Centre, MJM, Haydock Park Golf Club, The Beauty Of It and Kenyon Hall Farm.

The Show helpers are all volunteers. Unfortunately, most years we make a financial loss on the day but we still want to continue with our annual show to support the community. To help fund the show we would like to invite Association members to sponsor one or more classes in the Show e.g. it could be a vegetable or flower class that is a particular favourite and/or it could be in memory of a loved one who has passed away. A list of the classes and sponsors is in the Sales Hut – to sponsor one class is £6. However, a general donation for the Show would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you to all our sponsors whose generosity helps make the Show the success it is today.
Our Show is for YOU the people of Newton-le-Willows and surrounding communities who make the Show come alive with your beautiful flower and vegetable exhibits. We also encourage children to join in the show with a photography class for under 12’s entitled ‘What I have grown’. All details are in the schedule.
Members – please spread the word to other growers, allotment holders and novices in all things horticultural to have a go at exhibiting. It is not just for the green fingered amongst us…..we have the photography and cookery classes. This year’s Show includes baking classes – Cherry and Coconut Loaf and Marmalade Moments – and three photography classes – Cobweb, Wheels and Bees. Please check all details in the schedule.

The Bert Jackson Memorial Cup for the best beginner Vegetable/Flower exhibit remembers a great character from the Rob Lane Allotments and member of our association. All new members will be sent a copy of our schedule together with a letter explaining how they could win the Cup (or come second or third and still win a prize).

Raffle tickets will be on sale at the show on the day with some amazing prizes from local businesses. Thank you for your generosity as all proceeds will go to help fund the Show.

If you need further information regarding any of the details of the Show, please do not hesitate to contact me on the telephone number or email address below.

Thank you for your support.

Mrs Marjorie McMahon, Show Secretary

NEWS FROM THE SALES HUT

Dates for your Diary

August

Varieties of potatoes, summer onions and shallots list will be available to pre-order.  The list will be emailed out, posted on our website and available as a paper copy in the Hut. Pre-orders should be submitted by the end of September.

September

• We will have 2 varieties of garlic but no elephant garlic this year.
• Winter onions will be available around the same time.
• Note: no pre-ordering for garlic or winter onions. These are available on a first come first served basis.
• King’s Seed catalogues will be available for pre-ordering your personal seed choices.
• If you have a favourite or want to try something different, pick up a catalogue. Your seeds will be waiting for you when we reopen in January next year.
• Pre-orders for seeds should be in by the end of October.
• Daffodil and tulip bulbs will also be available for those interested.

Any queries about the above please contact Sheila Yorke.

Sheila Yorke, Hut Manager

NLWGA TRIPS

We had our first trip of the year in May to Bridgemere Garden Centre near Nantwich. The suggestion for the venue can from our Association members. It is the first time we had visited this garden centre and we were fortunate to have wonderful weather on the day. The place itself isn’t just a garden centre but also home to 19 show gardens, all the inspiration!

As you know the Association is run by volunteers, and while I do organise the trips, I work full time and was unable to get the time off to go. I would have loved to have gone. I am pleased to say that I have only had positive feedback for this outing. So, if you didn’t go you really missed out on a very enjoyable day out.
The next trip is proving to be very popular with our members. In July we are going to RHS Bridgewater. We are lucky for this venue to be literally on our doorstep.

I hope that our members can support the Association by going on the trips. If anyone has any suggestions for future trips then please feel free to pass on suggestions to the hut helpers or myself if I am on the till that weekend.

Annette Johnstone, Trip Organiser