Focus On . . .

Quorn Gardening Club

It comes as no surprise in a village like Quorn that has a thriving Open Gardens weekend, and does very well in "Best Kept" competitions, to find a vibrant Gardening Club. The surprise is that it took so long to get started. Inspired by the efforts on show at the Open Gardens weekend in 1996. Pat Foulds and Jean Wilson, agreed that there was a need for a Gardening Club - a gathering place for local gardeners where they could exchange ideas, listen to the experts and make regular visits to places of gardening excellence.

One year on, Quorn Gardening Club has completed a very successful programme, and has over 50 members. In the first year its members have visited gardens large and small, atended the gardening shows, listened to a wide variety of talks, taken part in a quiz. been on Radio Leicester, and set in placean interesting programme for 1998.

The Gardening Club democratically caters for all types of gardeners, from the small cottage garden, to the larger informal plot overlooking fields and the Leicestershire countryside, to the new rectangular formal garden of a new house. In a friendly and sociable atmosphere problems are aired, and usually solved, and technical advice is passed from the experienced to the novice, and sometimes the other way. A gardener can always learn something new! A member told us. " Gardening is meant to be fun, and its very social here". Another said that he judged himself to be a rank amateur. and after a house move, faced with a large garden he needed information and tips on gardening in Quorn. That's why he joined.

The Gardening Club also brings financial benefits to its members Based on suggestions raised by the members, in the growing season there are sales of surplus plants at the monthly meetings, and concessions have been arranged with local garden suppliers. There is also a bulk purchase scheme available to members which is operated with the Allotment Society.

So what does the programme hold for the coming year? In March Brian Cramp will be encouraging members to develop a garden for bees. Come May Peter Barton will deal with gardens both large and small. And then in June comes what must be a highlight for any gardener, the chance to visit Barnsdale Gardens, the domain of the late Geoff Hamilton. There will be a guided tour of the gardens lead by Nick Hamilton, Geoff's son who has taken on the work at Barnsdale. The Club confidently expect that every place on this tap will be snapped up quickly.

But it's not just their gardening skills that occupy the members. In the coming months, the Gardening Club will be running a photographic competition. Members can enter 2 photographs of a plant in their garden or the garden itself There will be an independent panel of judges.

The winning photographs will be published in "The Quorndon".

But what of the future. Well, the Gardening Club has firmly established itself with a strong membership. New ideas for the programme and gardening activities are always welcome.

Maybe the Club would like to take part in growing trials and pass the results onto less experienced gardens to help produce better gardens throughout the village, or what about setting up a village compost service. Quorn and Charnwood lead the way in recycling and a village compost service would set new standards for re-cycling and environmental development.

If this has wetted your appetite, to know more you can just turn up at the meeting in Quorn Church Rooms on the 3rd Thursday in the month. If you want to talk to someone, try Pat Fowlds, the Secretary, on 412869. Other newly elected officers are Derek, Chairman, Douglas Hourston, Vice Chairman; Jean Wilson, Treasurer; and committee members Frances Forbes, Geoff Hearn, Kate Hutchinson, Stephen Timerick and Margaret Whelband. Membership of the Club is £12.00 per annum.