Newton Le Willows Gardeners Association

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

A very Happy New Year to all our members and I hope you are looking forward to a new gardening season. With the Covid difficulties of the last several months, none of us know what this new year will bring. However, the Committee is determined that as soon as we are allowed, normal service will be resumed and we have pencilled in dates for talks, trips and the annual show throughout 2021 in the hope that they will be able to go ahead. Clearly as the situation progresses, we will have to keep these under review.

The Hut reopens in January but with only the very limited number of helpers and customers allowed in at any one time. Fingers crossed that we will soon be able to welcome back all our volunteers and be able to socialise in and around the Hut as normal.

This coming year a number of our committee members will be standing down, some after many years of dedicated service to the Gardeners’ Association. I would like to thank Jean Darbyshire, Lynn Sumner, Graham Yorke and John Taylor for their commitment and significant contribution to the organisation in all its aspects over the time they have been with us. I know in each case they will continue to help wherever possible.

Hope you have a safe and prosperous year.

Dave Hemingway

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What a year!

Despite all the restrictions on our lives the seasons continue with comforting regularity. Time in our gardens, particularly in the wonderful spring, was well spent nurturing our plants and the weeds didn’t stand a chance. How lucky we are to have a hobby close to home that absorbs our time and gives us pleasure – and produce! I am sure, with time for reflection, that many of us have managed to complete those long dreamt of projects, experimented with new ideas and plants and had the time to enjoy the outcomes.

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Brief Vacation by Patience Strong

You do not have to travel far by coach or train
You do not have to take a trip and board a ship or plane
To get away on holiday, so long as you’ve got the will
To meditate and cultivate the art of being still
Still in mind and body for a minute here and there
Whenever you can spare the time sit quietly in a chair
And take a brief vacation from the worry and the stress
Make yourself a little secret world of happiness

Thanks to Jean Darbyshire

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NLWGA ACTIVITIES 2021

The Committee has made the decision to plan these activities for 2021 and to go ahead with booking of people for the talks, venues etc. These may all be subject to change as the year unfolds. We will keep you informed of the detail through the bulletins.

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Thursday January 21^st – this will be done online with information available to the membership at the Hut or by email request.

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HUT OPENING TIMES

Saturdays 9^th January – 30^th October    10.30-12.00 noon

Sundays 10^th January – 31^st October     10.30-12.00 noon

Wednesdays 7^th April – 23^rd June             7.00- 8.00pm

Good Friday 2^nd April 10.30-12.00 – Coffee Morning

Seeds will be in the Hut for all pre-orders from the 9^th January 2021 – please make sure you collect your orders promptly. Potatoes, onions and shallots will be for sale from the weekend of the 23^rd January 2021.

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TALKS AND DEMONSTRATIONS

These, with the exception of Good Friday, will be held on Thursdays at the Newton-le-Willows Cricket Club.

February 25^th                    Marcus Chiltern-Jones    The Making of RHS Bridgewater Garden

March 25^th                         Marguerite Hughes & Sue Gillon    Herbs and Companion Planting

April 29^th                            Jane Allison of Mayfield Plants    It’s a Family Affair

May 27^th                             Gardeners Question Time

October 28^th                      Sue Jeffries         Happy Houseplants

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SHOWS

May 31^st  (Bank Holiday Monday) Willow Park Rural Craft Fair (tbc)

We have had a stand at this show in recent years and always welcome members who could ‘give a hand’ or just come to say ‘Hello’.

September 11^th Saturday NLWGA Flower, Fruit and Vegetable Show at Penkford School, Wharf Road (venue tbc)

This is OUR show and we look forward to as many members as possible putting in exhibits, volunteering help, or simply just coming in the afternoon to admire the judged exhibits and having a cup of tea and a piece of cake.

The 2021 show categories for all fruit, vegetable and flower classes are as in the Show Schedule which will be available from the beginning of June.

For Photography

• The topics are Flight, Umbrellas, Concrete and/or Clay

For Art

• The topic is Garden Fruits

For Cookery (recipes given, see schedule) –

• Large Cake – Bran Loaf
• Small individual cake – Carrot cake muffins with orange icing

For Children’ Categories

• Cookery – Free style decoration of 4 small cakes.

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TRIPS

Bookings can be made at the Hut. Tickets need to be paid for when booking and please keep your receipt.

Wednesday 16^th June                     Trentham Gardens (tbc)

Saturday 18^th September               Harrogate Autumn Show

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As we finish off the winter it is a busy time preparing for the new season. It is the last chance to prune the fruit trees and bushes – remember not to touch your plum, cherry or peach trees until the summer to avoid silver leaf infection. Don’t forget Malcolm’s advice – ‘the answer lies in the soil’ – dig in lots of organic matter into the vegetable plot to keep it healthy and fertile. You can use garden compost, well-rotted manure, mushroom compost, leaf mould or bagged soil conditioner. Make sure your greenhouse and propagators are cleaned. Good hygiene will reduce problems latter in the season. It will soon be time to set off the seeds for the spring and to look forward to another growing season.

Remember to look out for the opening of the RHS Bridgewater Garden in Worsley on 11^th May 2021. We should hear lots from Marcus-Chiltern Jones at the talk in February.

Happy New Year and we hope to see you at the Hut very soon.

Kathryn Green

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