• Please note that prior to this meeting will be a skills workshop starting at 12.45 – 13.15pm see below (open to members only). There is no need to sign up, this event is free.

Our meeting is next Sunday 12th October at Wickham Bishops Village Hall. Doors open at 1.30pm. Our guest speaker is Diane Clement – subject ‘Cyclamen from Seed Pod to show bench’. The meeting starts with annoucements at 2.00 followed by the lecture then the raffle, tea & cake and plant sales.

Diane has been visiting the Alps for over 40 years, and has specialised in growing alpine plants for over 20 years. She is a keen exhibitor and judge for the AGS. She has a wide range of plant interests, in particular hepaticas, cyclamen, bulbous plants and woodland plants which she grows in cold frames and in her shady garden in Wolverhampton.

Diane has given lectures for the Alpine Garden Society, Plant Heritage, Hardy Plant Society, Cottage Garden Society, The Plant School, Cyclamen Society and many local Gardening clubs and Natural History Societies.Diane was for many years Director of the Seed Exchange for the Alpine Garden Society, which is the largest seed exchange of its type in the world run entirely by volunteers.

• Our free practical skills workshop prior to the above meeting will be run by our Secretary Chris Cheswright. It will cover hardy perenial seed sowing and growing. Perfect for all skills of gardener. Chris will explain in brief successful tips for seed sowing success, seed stratification, scarification and using suitable seed compost mixes.