20 Nov 2021 Update

 Good morning everyone,

With regard to the gardening talk last night.

Many thanks to Carole & Peter for making this such an enjoyable and lovely evening and providing a most interesting talk about the History and Medicinal properties of the Monarda.

Similarly, many thanks to all who came along to our first gardening talk since those wonderful pre-Pandemic days!

I appreciate it's not easy to meet during these times, but it was good seeing you all, and thanks for your positive feedback.

I will update you soon with details of the next talk, which is with Bryony Gardner (Georgina's daughter), the subject is Hydroponics.

On a different subject, there is a Victorian Fair at Picton Castle this weekend, but please check the link below for more details;  https://www.pictoncastle.co.uk/2021/11?cat=3

1 Nov 2021 Update

 Good afternoon everyone, 

I hope you are all well and enjoying what has been a warm dry day, and thank goodness yesterday's high winds are behind us all! Lets hope the rest of the week is much the same as today's weather was?

Apologies for not getting the minutes of our last meeting on the 15th of October to you earlier, but life even for the retired old folks can be a busy one.

Can I thank all of you who came along to the Botanical Garden on the 23rd of October. The weather was again kind to us, and Nigel and Liz made our visit a more enjoyable one with their very interesting walk and talk.

These are the main points discussed at our meeting:

Apologies for absence from: Dawn Sanders, John James, Trish Cormack, Carolyn and Mike Brotherwood.

• Pauline gave us a very interesting update on our Pollinator Project. The raised beds are in place at the Mountain Chapel {thanks to Ken} and the plan is to have top soil delivered for these beds in the coming days, this will allow further planting of pollinator plants. In addition, some shrubs have been planted at the Clay Pits and some fruit trees are on order for delivery in November. The bug hotel was to be purchased from funds, but now, thanks to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust they will provide the bug hotel which is to be placed opposite Stanwell. It was agreed that if there was an overspend of the grant money, then this would come out of the Gardening Group funds. Pauline thanked her Pollinator working group for their support and also thanked Paul Webb at Tavernspite Garden Centre for his donation of plants for the project.

• The Virtual Summer Show was discussed, and it was provisionally agreed that we would have a real Summer Show in the village hall in 2022. This show would take a similar format to our previous virtual shows and include some electronic entries where practicable, the latter would allow support from far and wide. The show would take a lot more organising and the need for a committee, along with sponsorship from local businesses. It was agreed that we retain the virtual certificates for the successful entrants, this would be more environmentally friendly and reduce costs. Our thanks go to Ruth and her judges for all their hard work in making this year's show such a successful one.  http://llantegshow2021.blogspot.com/

• It was agreed to go ahead with Winter Talks at the Village Hall and that a list of talks would be sent out soon. Additionally, it was agreed to hold the talks on a Wednesday evening as an alternative to a Friday. These talks/meetings would be subject to WAG Covid legislation and guidance.

• It was agreed to have Summer Walks and Talks and therefore a list of dates would be sent out soon.

• It was agreed that presently there was no requirement for a membership fee, but that there would be the usual charge of £2 per person for anyone attending the Winter Talks. Furthermore it was suggested that we have fundraising events, should there be a need to do so.

• The Maintenance of the Common Public Areas is continuing and a suitable date and time is to be circulated when the weather conditions allow. Although, if anyone would like to carry out any work at these areas and at their convenience, then this would be greatly appreciated.

AOB

A brief discussion took place regarding the possibility of renting and or purchasing land suitable for allotments. It was agreed to gauge the interest in allotments within the community and to approach other organisations that operate allotments for advice.

Winter Talk Schedule, at LVH and 7pm onwards:

• Carole & Peter Whitaker -  Friday the 19th of November - History, Medical Qualities & Care of Monadas. Apologies, but the only date that works for Carole & Peter was a Friday.

• Bryony Gardener  - Wednesday in December, date TBA - Hydroponics.

• Joseph Atkin - January 5th - Aberglasney Specials

• Piers Lunt - February 23rd - Designing Hidden History: Creative Planting and Restoration of the Bishop's Park and Garden

• Liz & Paul ONeil - March 9th - New Talk!

• Jake Rayson - April 6th - Forest Garden

Summer 2022 Walk and Talks:

• Aberglasney - April or May date TBA

• Abergwili - May date TBA

• Llwyngarreg - June date TBA

• Norchard Manobier - July date TBA

• Glyn Bach - August date TBA

• September - One or more of the following: Upton Castle/Picton Castle/Stackpole Walled Garden/Botanical Garden

Kind regards, 

Roy