Gardening Club
Meeting to Set up a Gardening Club in WP
Tuesday, 24 November, 2009
Present: Mike Pollard (Chairman) and 12 others
Apologies: Mike said that he had received apologies from about five people who were interested.
Mike introduced himself, stating that the concept of the Club had come out of the WP Low Carbon Group, itself a subgroup of the WP Forum. The aim of the meeting was to bring together WP residents who are interested in gardening and find out what people would like from a Gardening Club.
He invited everyone present to state their views. Ideas included plant and seed exchanges/ purchase discounts, talks and discussions on appropriate topics.
Lache Project
Bob McCombe described the project he is managing in the Lache. The Council has allowed him to take over abandoned allotments and use the area to encourage Lache residents to grow vegetables and learn shills so that they can cultivate their own gardens. He has cleared the area, built raised beds and, starting last April, has produced an impressive crop with the help of about 6 volunteers. He plans to develop the area further next year with the addition of a greenhouse and has been promised significant funding.
Upton Horticultural Society
Mike, who is a member, described its activities that include two shows a year, talks, newsletter and a hut from which seeds, fertilisers, etc are sold and tools sharpened. It would be open for any WP resident to join.
RHS Courses
Mary Pole described the courses being run by Ness Gardens, Reaseheath Agricultural College and Welsh College of Horticulture. She has undertaken the Level 2 course of 9 modules at Ness Gardens and recommended it for anyone wanting to learn more about growing crops and gardening. She had sat the exams but said that this was not compulsory.
The Way Forward
There was a general discussion about how to proceed. It was agreed that we would arrange a talk on growing vegetables on Wednesday, 31 March. Mary suggested one of her lecturers as a suitable speaker and would contact him to see if he was willing and able to come. John Roberts suggested growing seedlings that could be sold to those attending the meeting.
Wendy Amner works part time at Belgrave School and would enquire as to whether the school was interested in developing flower/vegetable plots as a means of interesting the children in gardening. If so we could provide assistance.
Brian Westcott stated that we might be able to obtain funding if a suitable project was identified and that the WPF will help with small expenses such as hire of the hall.