CHESHAM HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AND ALLOTMENT HOLDERS' ASSOCIATION

Newsletter February 2007

Events Calendar

17 February } From 9.30am until 12.00pm on each day for the sale of Seed Potatoes, Onion Sets,
24 February } Shallots, Fertilisers, 6X, Seed & Potting compost, Horticultural Sand,
3 March      } Vermiculite etc. At the Trading Hut, Plot 3, Cameron Road
24 March    } The Trading Hut opens on Saturdays from 10am until 11.30am.
to late May } Open occasional Tuesdays - see Vince Crompton on the allotments.

28 March Social evening at the McMinn Centre, East Street, starting at 7.30. There will be a speaker, buffet refreshments, and a raffle - a good opportunity to renew your membership, if you haven't already done so, and an opportunity to book your place on the coach trips. Free entry for members and guests.

12 May Coach trip to the Royal Hospital Chelsea to meet up with George Bayliss who is a "Chelsea Pensioner" and a guided tour of the building and grounds. We have been asked to arrive at 10.00am so the coach will leave the Broadway at 8.30am with a pick-up at the Nash at 8.15 and Emmanuel Church at 8.20. There will be a pick-up at Woodside Road/Mitchell Walk at 8.40 (by prior arrangement with Molly). £10 per person plus any entry fee (although there may not be an entry fee - we haven't been advised of one).

29 May Plant Sale at Trinity Baptist Church, 9.30am until 12.00pm

7 July Early Summer Show, Trinity Baptist Church

4 August Coach trip to Southsea, £10 per person. An opportunity to visit the Southsea Show or spend the day as you like - take the Hovercraft to the Isle of Wight if you wish or visit HMS Victory etc, so long as you are back at the coach at the agreed time. Leave from the Broadway at 9.00am (earlier and later pick-ups at 8.45, 8.50 and 9.10 - see 12 May for locations).

1 September Late Summer Show, Trinity Baptist Church

22 September Coach trip to Birmingham Botanical Gardens, £10 per person plus entry (about £6). Leave from the Broadway at 9.00am (earlier and later pick-ups at 8.45, 8.50 and 9.10 - see 12 May for locations).

14 November AGM, Trinity Baptist Church 7.30pm.



Outings Slip - cut-off and send to Molly Wright, 61 Botley Road, Chesham or 'phone Molly on 785989

Please reserve ..... places for the Royal Hospital ..... places for Southsea ..... places for Birmingham

Name ........................................... Address ...................................................................................................................

Tel No .....................................

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Seed Potatoes etc The following varieties will be available

1st Earlies Arran Pilot, Foremost , Pentland Javelin, Red Duke of York, Winston
2nd Earlies Charlotte, Kestrel, Wilja
Main Crop Cara, Desiree, King Edward, Majestic, Picasso

All varieties are priced at £2.20 per 7lb (3.2kg)

We will also have Sturon Onion Sets and Golden Gourmet Shallots, both priced at 40p per ½ lb (230g).

Chelsea Flower Show We are planning to have 2 tickets for Chelsea again this year. They will be all-day tickets for Saturday 26 May - the gates open from 8.00am until 5.30pm. If you are interested in winning these tickets in a FREE draw then please contact Mike on 784391. These tickets are priced at £80 for members of the public, but they are absolutely free to the lucky winner. Your name will go into the hat at the Committee meeting in early May (1st or 8th, to be decided).

Membership Subscriptions Some of you have already paid your subs for this year - many thanks. For those who haven't yet paid, subs are now due and may be paid at the Trading Hut, at the social evening in the McMinn Centre or at the Early Summer Show.

We are reasonably easy-going about subs, so long as they are paid within the current year.
24 people did not pay their subs last year and will not be receiving this Newsletter.

McMinn Social Evening This social evening is free to all members and friends - just turn-up on the night (28 March at 7.30pm in the McMinn Centre, East Street). There will be a speaker, a raffle and refreshments. The bar will also be open if you want to buy a drink. If you are able to provide cakes, sandwiches, or other refreshments please call Molly on 785989 so that she knows what you plan to bring.

Plant Sale This is our major fund-raiser - 19 May, 9.30-12.00 at Trinity Baptist Church.

We will be grateful for any plants that you can provide on the day (please label them if you can, because we can't always identify them at the point-of-sale!)

Suttons Seeds The new system where Suttons deliver directly to the person who has ordered the seeds seems to be working well. Most people will have paid their "Grand Total" by now but if you have received your seeds and haven't paid could you please do so as soon as possible. Please note that we are applying a 45% discount on seeds and not what might be otherwise suggested by Suttons' paperwork.