CHESHAM HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
AND ALLOTMENT HOLDERS' ASSOCIATION

Newsletter           August 2006
Events Calendar

2 September        Late Summer Show, Trinity Baptist Church

16 September      Coach trip to Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent.  £10 per person plus entry (free for
                               National Trust members, otherwise about £7).   Leave the Broadway at 9.15am with
                               earlier and later pick-ups at 9.00, 9.05 and 9.25
                     This outing is almost fully booked - if you are interested in the trip, please check
                               with Molly on 785989 for the current situation.

15 November       AGM, Trinity Baptist Church 7.30pm.  Seed Catalogues, raffle, refreshments, speaker
                              (to be confirmed)

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Past Events
Seed Potatoes etc      There was the usual long queue on the first Saturday (18th February) compounded by the fact that the volunteer helpers were thin on the ground that day.   As is often the case (our crystal ball doesn't always work properly) some varieties sold out quickly and some didn't sell as well as last year.   We have adjusted the quantities ordered for next year in line with the demand and sales of this year (as we always do) - the ultimate aim is to not disappoint anyone with their first choice and to have nothing left at the end of the third Saturday!!   We sold £640 worth of goods over those three Saturdays (the same total as last year within a few pounds). Thank you for your support.

McMinn Social Evening    About 55 members and friends attended this event on 29 March.   Thanks to everyone who provided the refreshments and to Albert for his "hi-tec" presentation of his travels through Australia (Part 1).

Plant Sale   The Plant Sale raised £270 after expenses; thanks to everyone who contributed and/or bought the plants.

Chelsea Flower Show   The winner of the draw for two free tickets to the Chelsea Flower Show was Jean Staveley.   There were 11 entries.

Early Summer Show     The Early Summer Show was very successful with over 70 exhibits; a few of the exhibitors were showing for the first time.   All the exhibitors won at least a 3rd prize - well done.   Lets hope for a repeat performance at the Late Summer Show.

Outings   Both the outings were well attended - 39 people went to Sheffield Park on 13 May and 39 people went to Hampton Court on 22 July.

Forthcoming Events
Late Summer Show     This event is now very close (2 September).    Schedules have been sent out to recent exhibitors.   If you are interested in exhibiting and haven't received a Schedule, please call Mike on 784391 to get one (or click here for a pdf version) 

ALL  EXHIBITORS - please note that Late Entries are not accepted for this Show; entries must be in, as specified on the Entry Form, by mid-day on Friday 1st September.    

GOOD LUCK TO ALL EXHIBITORS - REGULARS AND BEGINNERS.

The Show is open to members and the public for viewing from 2.30pm - there will be a raffle and refreshments.

Please note that there is a wedding at Trinity Baptist Church the same afternoon as the Show - entry to/exit from the hall should be made by the external staircase to the rear of the building.

Sissinghurst Gardens     This is a popular outing and is pretty well full.  If you are interested in going to Sissinghurst, please check with Molly on 785989 for the latest position.

AGM and Seed Catalogues The AGM is on Wednesday 15 November at 7.30pm in Trinity Baptist Church, Red Lion Street. The business of the meeting is normally fairly short - usually finished by 8.15/8.30 and the rest of the evening is a social occasion with tea, coffee, sausage rolls and mince pies, followed by a raffle and a speaker.  This year's speaker has to be confirmed - see the October/November Newsletter for more details.

The AGM is the occasion where Suttons Seed Catalogues are available (note that we can get 30% or more discount off Catalogue prices for seeds and 10% off plants). Suttons are changing the system slightly for deliveries in 2007; as I understand it (and we'll have more info in the next Newsletter and at the AGM), the important change is that Suttons will deliver direct to you (not via Enid Wright as in previous years) so it will be doubly important for you to ensure that your delivery address details are completed fully and accurately.  Your order form should go to Enid  - exactly as in previous years - but Enid will not need to transcribe your orders onto a master order form - so please do ensure that you have all the codes and page numbers correct. Enid will submit these individual orders en masse to get the discount and Suttons will send you your goods at the appropriate time.  I believe that you still pay Chesham Horticultural Society and we pay Suttons against a Master Invoice, but I'm not absolutely sure of that detail at the moment.

Membership subscriptions
As you all know, our Membership fees are very low. We don't currently have plans to increase them - the finances are currently looking quite healthy. However, we do need you to pay the current fees.  There are currently about 15 people who have not paid their subs for this year. This is not a problem so long as they are paid before, or at, the AGM.   Any person not paid-up by then will have their name removed from the Members' register and will not be eligible to receive Newsletters, buy seed potatoes etc or attend the outings until this year's subscription is paid as well as that for 2007.

If you want to check your membership status, call Mike on 784391 or enquire at the Membership table at the September Show or at the AGM.
did you know that ……. The Gardens of the Rose at Chiswell Green, St Albans are nearing completion? Final planting is due this Autumn/Winter so that the Gardens will be a major attraction next Summer.  Hopefully we will once more get our ticket that allows four people free entry per visit - we can make as many visits per year as we like! (or at least we used to be able to do so before the Gardens closed for refurbishment).  Watch this space.