ESTABLISHED 1892
Every month the Stalbridge Garden Society produces a report on their monthly meeting. Here is August's edition...
Tony Moore opened our meeting and reminded everyone to get their entries in for the Show on Saturday 18th August. He then introduced Martin Young & talked about Plant Heritage of which Martin has the job of co-ordinating the keepers of National Collections of Plants. Martin was a Wg Cmdr RAF and during the 80’s he was stationed on Ascension Island. He now runs his own Horticultural business and nursery in Upwey, Weymouth. He gave us a very comprehensive talk on Ascension Island. Some key facts are: Ascension Island is in the middle of the Atlantic. It provided a base for the RN to protect St Helena during Napoleon’s imprisonment. Was the location of the world’s first experiment to make it rain. Was a staging post for the retaking of the Falklands in 1982.
Until 2011 was a NASA Tracking Station and Emergency Landing Site for the Space Shuttle. It is now a base for the European Space Agency which tracks Ariane spacecraft.
It remains a British Dependency and is still one of the strangest places on earth, it is essentially the top of a volcano! Martin gave us a fascinating history of the plants on the island many being introduced from Kew Gardens by the RN in the 1800's after Darwin’s visit in 1836.
Overall a very interesting talk.
- Anne Brown
Tony Moore opened our meeting and reminded everyone to get their entries in for the Show on Saturday 18th August. He then introduced Martin Young & talked about Plant Heritage of which Martin has the job of co-ordinating the keepers of National Collections of Plants. Martin was a Wg Cmdr RAF and during the 80’s he was stationed on Ascension Island. He now runs his own Horticultural business and nursery in Upwey, Weymouth. He gave us a very comprehensive talk on Ascension Island. Some key facts are: Ascension Island is in the middle of the Atlantic. It provided a base for the RN to protect St Helena during Napoleon’s imprisonment. Was the location of the world’s first experiment to make it rain. Was a staging post for the retaking of the Falklands in 1982.
Until 2011 was a NASA Tracking Station and Emergency Landing Site for the Space Shuttle. It is now a base for the European Space Agency which tracks Ariane spacecraft.
It remains a British Dependency and is still one of the strangest places on earth, it is essentially the top of a volcano! Martin gave us a fascinating history of the plants on the island many being introduced from Kew Gardens by the RN in the 1800's after Darwin’s visit in 1836.
Overall a very interesting talk.
- Anne Brown
Our 2018 Programme of Talks, outings and events
JANUARY |
Thursday 11th “Fabulous Foliage” – Debbie Winn |
FEBRUARY |
Thursday 8th “Bach Flower Remedies” – Judith Stewart |
MARCH |
Thursday 8th Garden Quiz – Mark Webber AGM and SPRING SHOW |
APRIL |
Thursday 12th “The National Garden Scheme” – David Moon |
MAY |
Thursday 10th "The Bee Friendly Garden” – Neil Lovesey Saturday 12th SPRING PLANT & JUMBLE SALE – Stalbridge Hall, 10.30am. |
JUNE |
Thursday 14th “Growing Your Own” – Castle Gardens ROSE COMPETITION |
JULY |
Thursday 12th Evening Outing |
AUGUST |
Thursday 9th “Ascension Island” – Martin Young Saturday 18th ANNUAL PRODUCE & FLOWER SHOW, Stalbridge Hall, 2.30pm |
SEPTEMBER |
Thursday 13th “Dorset Wildlife Trust – The Importance of Dorset’s Veteran Trees” - Emma Tomlin DAHLIA COMPETITION |
OCTOBER |
Thursday 11th “Designing with Plants” – Marion Dale APPLE COMPETITION |
NOVEMBER |
Thursday 8th “Looking at Hedges & Barriers” – Castle Gardens |
DECEMBER |
Thursday 13th “The Winter Garden – Debbie Winn” and CHRISTMAS BUFFET |
Please note our Annual Produce and Flower Show will be on Saturday 18th August 2018.
Our Plant and Jumble Sale will be on Saturday 12th May 2018.
Our Plant and Jumble Sale will be on Saturday 12th May 2018.
The Society, established in 1892, meets on the second Thursday of each month
in Stalbridge Hall at 7.30.pm
in Stalbridge Hall at 7.30.pm
Why not come and join us?
We would love to see you.
Annual subscription £10.00
or just come as a visitor for £2 per evening.
Each month we have a talk by an expert
on an aspect of gardening or garden related topic.
Alongside some of our talks we hold
season-related informal competitions.
Just come along,
or for more information please telephone:
Anne 01963 362670.
We would love to see you.
Annual subscription £10.00
or just come as a visitor for £2 per evening.
Each month we have a talk by an expert
on an aspect of gardening or garden related topic.
Alongside some of our talks we hold
season-related informal competitions.
Just come along,
or for more information please telephone:
Anne 01963 362670.
The Annual Stalbridge Garden Show in the heart of Hardy country lays out a blooming marvellous display...
"The Sun came out and the residents came to support Stalbridge Garden Society at their Annual Flower & Produce Show. Stalbridge Hall was buzzing all afternoon and the tea ladies were swept off their feet. In the competitions Wendy Bailey won the Westminster Rose for the Highest number of points in the Show and also The Frith Cup (Domestic), The Challenge Cup (Best Floral Decoration), The W.I. Cup (Best W.I. entry) and Wendy and Tony Moore shared The Betty Godwin Trophy (Heaviest weight of potato). There were a good number of children’s entries and Jake Gould won the Betty Godwin Cup (Highest points under 5) William Dike and St. Nicholas School shared The Junior Cup (Highest points 6-9 years). Carenza Howell (highest points 10-13 years). Georgina Dike won The Keith Dumper Memorial Cup for the Best Children’s Entry and also The Stalbridge Cup for the Best Children’s entry in photography. There were many other winners, including John Tinsley who won The Anglesey Bowl for Highest points in vegetables and also The Goblet for the best vegetable exhibit. Jenny Draycott won the William Dike Memorial Cup for the Annual Hanging Basket Competition, sponsored by Dike & Son. In all a very successful and rewarding afternoon".
Look at the map below to see where the Hall is in Stalbridge
