OUR first meeting of the year on January 16 was very well supported with 59 people attending, including five new members. Our chairman Brian Skeys presented “ The Inspirational Gardens of the East “and gave us a very interesting slideshow of six beautiful gardens that he and his wife Irene had visited in their travels around East Anglia and Essex. The gardens they had visited were: Beth Chatto’s, RHS Hyde Hall, Houghton Hall, East Rushton, Pensthorpe and Bressingham. Brian loves photography and gardening so those of us who are familiar with his presentations knew we were in for a treat. He took us on a journey showing the highlights from each area of the gardens. It soon became clear that many of the gardens had similar features such as a dry garden or a woodland garden but he was also able to tell us the history of each and how they were created. The photographs were excellent and although many of the vistas were on a large scale, Brian provided us with lots of planting ideas for our own gardens. There were also some very effective sculptures and fountains which looked wonderful in their settings.

After a break for tea and biscuits we had presentation by David and Cynthia Eastwood about the Faye Turner Memorial Garden at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital. This is a small garden at the back of the maternity department where families who have lost a baby can go to mourn away from the busy wards. It had become overgrown and neglected and David and Cynthia showed us how, as volunteers, they have restored it. We were pleased to be able to help support their work donating £117.

Our next meeting will be at Powick Village Hall on Saturday, February 27 at 2.30pm and is an illustrated talk “ Nature in Focus” by Rosemary Winnall MBE, who helps to run the Wyre Forest Study group. Visitors welcome.

LORNA WINSTONE