Wildlife in your garden talk for Gardeners’ Society

THE next meeting of Melksham Gardeners is on Tuesday the 26th October at 7.30pm at the Rachel Fowler Centre.  

Chair of MGS, Barbara Cropp says, “Our speaker is Simon Tucker who will be giving a talk and a presentation on “Wildlife in Your Garden”.  It would be appreciated, as the cases of Covid have been rising slightly, if members could wear masks while in the hall.  

“We will continue the DIY basis for tea and coffee and you can help yourself as soon as the urn has heated up.   There is still no charge for entrance to members, but there will be a charge of £2 for visitors, and there will be the usual raffle.  

“Lowden Garden Centre have been informed that the old blue cards are no longer valid for members of the society, so if you want to go and claim your 10% discount on garden items, please ensure that you take the new yellow card with you.  

“We are again using Mr. Fothergill Seeds to place our group order for seeds this year, and catalogues will be available at the October meeting.  Last year we managed to place an order over £1,000 and subsequently received a 60% discount.  Until the orders are collated by Bryan, we won’t know the discount; but we have always achieved the 50%.  Please note that your order must be returned to us by Sunday the 21stNovember to be included in the group order.  This can be dropped off with me at 14 Church Walk (just round the corner from the Post Office), or if you live at the other end of town, with Bryan Colby at 26 Birch Grove, Bowerhill.  Our account no. is 5644299 and you should ensure that your name is on the order form before dropping off.  No money will be required until the seeds are delivered in January 2022.  This is for seeds only, if there is something else in the catalogue you would like to purchase, you need to order that direct.  

“If you would like a seed catalogue but are unable to come to the meeting, please contact me and I will try and drop off within the next couple of weeks.  

“We are also restricting numbers to our wreath/table decoration meeting on Tuesday the 30th November.  Because of Covid and the lack of space in the hall, we are only accepting 40 “members only”, to this meeting.  If you do not intend to make an arrangement, you will still be welcome, but there will be no space left at the tables.  We will draw up a list and it would be appreciated if you could put your name down if you would like to come.  For the benefit of our new members, this is a social occasion where we make a Christmas arrangement (either wreath for the door, or a table arrangement), and can have a glass of glögg (alcoholic), or a non-alcoholic equivalent or tea/coffee plus a mince pie.  This is all free of charge, and is a thank you to our members for staying with us during the cessation of the society’s events during the pandemic.  

“We will provide all the hardware, i.e. rings, moss, decorations, ribbons, wire etc., but we would ask members to bring as much greenery as they can.  If you are unable to bring any, do not feel you cannot come, as we always have a surplus.”