News

Hello everyone

Hoping you are all well and safe

The sun is shining just now which always cheers me up - I love it - but that also means watering unless we get rain at times also ? Our garden looks bright and the flowers are doing well as I am sure all yours are too

Enjoy the great outside and now that some lockdown restrictions are being lifted enjoy having your family and friends in your garden - having a BBQ or tea in the garden amongst the flowers Bliss!

Also unfortunately we have had some sad news today when we were informed that Chris Hone from Battle a "Honey Bee man" died in St Michael's Hospice over the last weekend He supported us a great deal in the earlier days of the society when I wanted to include honey bees and honey with classes etc into the society/shows after I became the chair. He also gave a couple of lectures which were well recd.

I had known Chris since I was a child personally - as my dear late father knew him well and he helped dad with his bees for many years

We send every sympathies to his family and friends at this time and thank Chris for all what he did for us and many other societies re highlighting the fascinating and value of the Honey Bee Especially of their need to pollinate our plants and the magic of their honey which is more and more relevant at this time of climate change/growing wild meadows etc - RIP Chris

Take Care everyone and make the most of everyday come rain or shine and enjoy your gardens pots patios etc They do give so much pleasure

Kind Regards Mary Alan Oliver Tim and Jo x

Hello Everyone

Hope you are all keeping well and busy with whatever you enjoy doing over this tough time

After very much heart wrenching and seeking out information and advice from both other societies and our members/committee I have today taken the very sad decision to CANCEL all the future events we had scheduled for this year due to the ongoing concerns over Covid19

It is felt by all that it would not be a viable option to go ahead with all the restrictions imposed - which we anticipate may well follow through the rest of this year in some format or other

Many of our older growers have remained totally isolated during this time and say they would not feel happy to attend future shows etc We also would probably be unable to hold refreshments to sustain distancing required during events etc etc!

The responsibility and challenges to arrange all that which would be required of us to keep the risks low, we feel would be overall too much of a concern and would defeat the objects of running happy/enjoyable events

I will continue send out newsletters when something of interest may emerge and to keep in touch with you all too

Otherwise as a society we all wish you good health and happiness and look forward to starting 2021 with much vigour - refreshed and vibrant and we will attempt to make all our events very happy and productive ones to make up for losing a whole year of shows/events this year

Hope you all understand our decisions/dilemmas and are supportive and accepting of these We rely on your kind supports and so appreciate your kindness and interest ongoing

What a strange year so far - lets hope things vastly improve for all of us asap Look after each other and hopefully have a very happy Summer lets hope the sun will still shine

When we have all the new dates for our events for 2021/2022 we will post them on our website etc

Kind Regards and all Best Wishes and Thank you !

Mary B x

Hello Everyone

Hope you are all coping well in this lockdown and keeping well - At least the sun is shining and our gardens look great !

Just a brief note to alert you to the fact that the Chelsea Flower show would have started today/week if this virus had not happened !

Oliver very kindly had purchased Alan and I tickets to attend for the very first time this year as we have always so wanted to attend However that has now been cancelled very sadly!

However there will be a programme each evening on BBC 2 TV at 8pm if you are interested to watch past gardens There are also highlights from the past in the afternoons to enjoy also

Thank you to Bruce/Margaret and Bob and Frankie for the Tomato plants donated that we needed - Jo also has some small ones for us for later That is magic I appreciate this We will donate monies to the society for these - thank you and we are also trying to plan to have a plant stall outside our cottage for the society funds soon as we have grown a lot of flower seeds coming on and will have some spares

Love and Best Wishes to you all

Enjoy growing!

Mary B Alan Oliver Tim and Jo CDHS xxxx

Hello Everyone

I am hoping that you are all coping well with this extended lockdown period which is so essential to get a hold of this horrid virus

Hard time for us all but the weather has been so good to us strangely - just as the virus kicked in the weather changed for the best Wow! Those of us lucky enough to have gardens and patios have had the chance to really work on them at this time and everywhere I have walked around my local area gardens have never looked so good Well done !

This year the plants, shrubs and trees all seem to be flourishing well tooo- albeit some gardens /pots are getting dry so have been watering every other day to keep them healthy ( rain is coming soon I hear from the weather people)

Very sadly due to this lockdown we are not able to hold the Plant stall at the village market this month which was to happen this coming weekend

I am so sad and sorry re this as it is so well supported and enjoyed by so many annually

Alan and I will try to sell some from our home at some stage soon for the society but our seeds are not quite ready as yet. I require some Tomato plants ourselves if anyone has any we would be grateful to have some - like Moneymaker best or other varieties

Thank you

Keep well and keep in touch and so hoping to be able to arrange something for the society at some stage in the future

Will keep you posted

Love and All Best Wishes

Mary B x

ps have added a few snaps from our spring garden The Lilacs smell amazing !

Sorry cannot get the pics to download the right way up Sorry !

Hello Everyone

Hoping you are all keeping safe and well during this very tough time

I just wanted to wish you all every happiness for Easter- even though it will be a "strange" Easter for many of us away from loved ones and friends

The weather has been so beautiful, during the time this horrid scary virus took a hold and thank goodness for that It allows many of us to be outside and enjoy the fresh air and wonderful sunshine at such a difficult time

It has been sheer magic to hear the wild birds singing loudly early each morning until dawn, pairing up and beginning to build their nests Also to see the wonderful spring flowers both in the wild and in our gardens I sheer magic

Keep Safe Keep well and enjoy all as best you can

As always be kind and compassionate to those less fortunate than ourselves and look after each other

Lets hope we are able to do something in the not too distant future with our society Keep growing and enjoying meanwhile Thinking of you all

Please support our NHS and all front line and caring staff and clap tonight VERY LOUDLY and say a LARGE THANK YOU - they are doing an amazing job and risking their own lives everyday for others!

Kind Regards

Mary B and all CDHS X