Spring Newsletter 2021

Welcome to our Spring Newsletter. Although we were not able to have our Spring and Autumn Shows last year and our Spring Show this year we are very much hoping that our Autumn 2021 Show will go ahead on Saturday 4th September in the Village Hall. For more information on the sections to enter - Flowers, Vegetables, Cookery, Flower Arranging, Arts & Crafts.

For the and Children's - any age class, Chilli seeds are available from the shop from the beginning of April - this is when they should be planted.

Please go to our website for a copy of the Schedule - if you still have your 2020 Schedule we are using the 2020 Autumn Show sections.

Your committee have met via zoom and are planning for the Summer of 2021 in line with the current Government Roadmap and more information is below.

SARRATT HORTI POP UP PLANT STALL

Last year we had two pop up stalls which were a great success. This year we intend to have a stall on the May Bank Holiday Weekend - Saturday 29th May. It will be in the same place on the road/path behind the shop towards the field. If you have any extra plants or produce to donate or you would like to buy then come along. We will send more details nearer the time.

The pop up stall date coincides with the Community Garden Open Day so a great time to pick up some plants and see the work in the garden. See article below.

SUMMER OUTING TO HYDE HALL

Last year our summer outing to Hyde Hall had to be cancelled. However, we have managed to rearrange for Thursday 15th July this year.

A coach is organised and the cost will be from £12 depending on how many people want to come. Entrance to Hyde Hall is free from our membership of the RHS.

Hyde Hall is about one hour away - for more information click here to go to their website.

If you would like to go or would like to discuss the outing please contact our Chairman, Jennifer Haynes. Email: jennifer.haynes777@gmail.com or phone 01923 590542

Dates for your diary

We are very much hoping that we will have a full Horti Calendar for 2022. So dates for your diary:

Spring Show 2022 - 2nd April

Autumn Show 2022 - 3rd September

AGM 2022 - 19th October

COMMUNITY GARDEN

We have had an incredibly productive Autumn and Winter sorting out the bones of the garden, and it is now looking beautifully inviting – both visually, and with the sort of potential that warms every gardener’s heart! We now have beautiful courtyard garden (though this remains in the realm of the shop), a beehive, a pond (with resident frog and newt included), a restored greenhouse, and a multitude of beds, composted and waiting to be filled. A heartfelt thank you to all the fabulous volunteers that have put in hours of hard graft, to SCCF which has enabled the many initial purchases, and to Chess Construction Ltd, who have given us a day of free labour to get the courtyard into shape-no mean feat as you can see from the pictures.

Now that Spring is here, we need to start sowing and growing in earnest. The plan is to grow lots of salad leaves, along with other vegetables and cut flowers, all of which will be sold in the village shop. Regular and one-off volunteers would be wonderfully welcome – we will be needing planters, weeders, waterers, pickers, and packers! My inclination is to have 2 sessions of two hours each week, and a blackboard with a list of jobs written on it, so we all know what we’re doing. Please email Alan or me if you’d like to be part of this, including potential suitable times – we won’t be able to accommodate everyone, but will try to make it as convenient as possible.

Aside from Volunteering, the best thing you will be able to do to support this project is to BUY THE PRODUCE!! If we find that the demand is different to what we are supplying, we can learn for next year – do tell us. Most of the fruit will not be viable until next year sadly, but the veg will be up and running by early summer. Any organic matter (grass cuttings, animal bedding, leaves etc (but no nasties like bindweed or ground elder)) would also be very welcome for the compost heap – I’m thinking about running a monthly composting session where we bring as much material as possible, and make a really hot and steamy heap that will kill off most weed seeds. We’re also looking for alstroemeria divisions for growing as cut flowers – can anyone donate us a chunk from their garden? Lastly, if anyone would like to take charge of a community garden social media account, please get in touch.

We are holding an “Open morning” on Saturday 29 May from 10.00. More information later meanwhile please make a note in your dairy. However, sorry, no dogs! Also please do not go into the garden other than as part of a previously agreed working party.

For more information contact:

Flo Garvey - robflomax@aol.com Alan Milson - alanmilsom456@btinternet.com