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NEWSLETTER
October - November
2014
Affiliated to
www.algs.org.uk
Secretary Mrs Jane Lay, The Gleanings, Marlin Square, Abbots Langley, WD5 OEG
Tel: 01923 447281
MR FOTHERGILLS CATALOGUES
ARE IN.
ORDERS TO BE RECEIVED BEFORE
1ST NOVEMBER
CHRISTMAS QUIZ NIGHT
TH
5 DECEMBER
BOOK NOW WITH JO at [email protected]
£10 EACH
INCLUDING FOOD AND ENJOYMENT
What a confusing year we are having. On the 15th July it is supposed to show that for 40
days and 40 nights we are going to have the same weather pattern as that day, well this
year it seems to have worked. In fact we have had 11 weeks of nearly the same warm
and sometimes very hot weather with hardly any rain at all. In fact I am still in my shorts!
How long can this last but let us make the most of it as the dull, rainy, cloudy, cold, dank,
miserable weather is just round the corner.
I hope you have had a lovely summer with lots of colour in your gardens and successful
vegetable growing. This year for the show lots of us had already eaten our show produce
and some of the flowers had finished due flowering earlier than usual.
We are in the process of finalising the Spring and Autumn Schedules for 2015 so please
look out for them on the web site. If you have any constructive comments to make on
either show please let me have them now
Page 1 of 12
NEWSLETTER October - November 2014
AUTUMN SHOW 2014 RESULTS
What an amazing show we had this year. – 33 members entering 370 entries. It was so
good to see 3 children enter this year
As this year I am also the Chairman of the Parish Council, who we usually invite to present
the trophies in for the Autumn Show, I thought it would be a good idea to ask our
Chairman Chris to take my place in presenting the trophies.
A tip from Judge David is to keep a shallow old ice cream tub, paint it black, put holes in
the lid for your fuchsia/pansy blooms and put water in the box base. Put the lid on and
they will look more presentable and keep the blooms fresher. All flower pots must be either
black or terracotta nothing fancy please. “Dress” your exhibits but turning the flower heads
to the front, straighten runner beans with the heat of your hands and manipulation. All
exhibits must have the name of the exhibit on them if possible to distinguish what they are
to make it easier for judging. Remember to enter more than one vegetable or fruit for
comparisons for size and colour, ¼ points go to uniformity, size and colour and another ¼
of the points go for shape. Check whether you have the correct number of items entered.
As you can see from the results below if you want to win a trophy in the “Exhibitor’s
gaining the most points” it is best to enter several exhibits in the same section. Well done
to Rod Pengelly, Doreen Higgs, Jane Lay and Lynda Sutherland for all winning more than
3 trophies each.
WELL DONE EVERYONE WHO ENTERED AS WE WOULD NOT HAVE
HAD SHOW WITH YOU!
BEST IN SHOW
Gentry Cup for Dahlias (Kenora Macoub)
Bert Cooper cup for Roses (HT Red Devil)
Tomson Glass Vase for flowers (purple Vanda orchid)
Norman cup for fruit (Black Homburg grapes)
Leon G Lay cup for vegetables ((onion sets)
Ron Brothers Memorial Chalice for wine & beer (Damson liqueur)
Nelly Faulconer vase for art & craft (turquoise collage picture)
Valerie Beattie cup for photography (wild flowers photo)
Bert Crownshaw cup for household (Marmalade)
Barry Highland cup for young exhibitor (garden in a seed tray)
EXHIBITORS GAINING THE MOST POINTS
Drusilla Dennis Chalice for dahlias with 29 points
Walter Ashby Rose bowl for roses with 9 points
Jane Lay Chalice for flowers with 23 points
Kitchingman Trophy for fruit & vegetables with 31 points
A cut glass decanter for wine & beer with 3 points each
Jane Lay
Rod Pengelly
Rod Pengelly
Jane Lay
Peter Tomson
Doreen Higgs
Lynda Sutherland
Lynda Sutherland
Doreen Higgs
Elizabeth Dunstone
Jane Lay
Rod Pengelly
Mandy Floyd
Doreen Higgs
Doreen Higgs
Sandra Higgins
A sterling silver cup for art & craft with 10 points
Lynda Sutherland
Kathleen Hare Memorial glass trophy for photography with 17 points Lynda Sutherland
Doreen Higgs cup for household with 22 points
Doreen Higgs
Silver cup for young exhibitor 4-7 year with 5 points
Georgina Smithy
Young Exhibitor 8-1`2 years with 15 points
Sophie Hudson
Page 2 of 12
NEWSLETTER October - November 2014
STEWART CHALLENGE PLATE awarded to the family who overall gains the most
number of points
1st
with 69 points
Higgs
nd
2
with 51 points
Higgins
3rd
with 47 points
Bromwich
SPRING SHOW 2015
Now is the time to purchase new daffodil bulbs to show their blooms in the spring show.
You can purchase them from any nursery but if you want quality bulbs and are prepared to
pay that little extra, look on the web sites of R.A. Scamp www.qualitydaffodils.com or T.
Walkers bulbs [email protected]. You could buy a big bag of mixed bulbs if you
have room for them to grow in your garden or allotment. If you do not want to pay lots of
money look up these web sites and they will help you in recognising flowers and in what
class you put them in. A tip I was given by our Judge was to grow them in pots rather than
in the ground which will help you monitor the growth of the bulbs.
Aylett’s, Burston’s, and the 2 nurseries in Chipperfield are all selling bags and singles of
bulbs so pop along to any of them and have a coffee and sticky cake at the same time.
AUTUMN SHOW – ROSES
Our new member Rod Pengelly took us all by storm when he brought in to the show room
his most wonderful enormous rose blooms and brought out show up another step in
excellence. You too can grow these but you need to purchase the right roses. RED DEVIL
(www.dickson-roses.co.uk) PRINCESS NOBUKO
(James Cocker & Sons
www.roses.uk.com) SELFRIDGES (sorry don’t know) and THE WAINWRIGHT ROSE
(www.fryers.co.uk) were all on show. Rod has kindly sent me instructions on how you too
can grow blooms that size and I will type them out and let you have them. Go on have a
try!
BUTTERFLY WORLD NEWS
Some of you may know that one of our members works at Butterfly World and has given
me information on future events and activities which you may be interested in.
Butterfly World would like to hear from you if you can be one of their volunteers as they are
hoping to create a beautiful new British Butterfly Garden for spring 2015. This garden
will attract our native butterflies and become the inspiration for thousands of visitors each
year to create butterfly havens in their own gardens. Apply by email
[email protected] or call 01727 869203.
LECTURES – cost £3 including refreshments. Book early
8th October Wednesday 19.30 on Great British Insects by Dr Luke Tilley
15 October Wednesday 19.30 on Butterflies that live with Ants by Prof. Jeremy Thomas
22nd October Wednesday 19.30 on The Rothschild’s: Nature Conservation and Butterflies
by Mick Jones
All these sound very interesting and are being held at Butterfly World Project, Mirian Lane,
Off Noke Lane, Chiswell Green, Herts. AL2 3NY. 01727 869203.
NEW MEMBERS WANTED – CAN YOU HELP?
There are lots of new residents coming to live in our village. May be you have a new
neighbour in your area and you think they possibly may like to join our gardening society?
Please will you drop an application form through their letter box to tempt them to become
one of our members? Copies are on our web site or you can collect a form from the Depot
or my porch. It would be lovely to increase our membership to 300 by next year.
Page 3 of 12
NEWSLETTER October - November 2014
BOOTS FOR SALE
I have a pair of Hi-Tec walnut brown walking boots in size 7 to sell which was purchased
from the National Trust. These have not been worn and still in their box. They are
waterproof with a high ankle protection. I think they were £75 to buy but I would be happy
to have £40 ono. 01923 447281
GARDENERS
I am always being asked to recommend someone to do their gardens for them. I am sorry I
do not believe I should recommend anyone but here are a few names of people willing to
help you, please let me know if you know of anyone else. You can also see names in the
local paper shop window –
Keith Dancey (local) – 07976 397510 or 397510
Paul Rennell (local) - 01923 261349 (evenings)
Sevvy’s Garden Service (local) – 07986545366 [email protected] www.sgservice.co.uk
REPORT ON OUR BEES
We have been busy beekeepers lately! The 4 weeks' of varroa treatment is complete and
we have inspected each of the hives to check for wax moth or any other disease, or signs
of robbing.... The bees themselves have been working their little socks off, bringing in so
much bright yellow pollen, and huge quantities of nectar, and overnight are fanning the
nectar to reduce its water content enough to turn it into honey. The Queens are still laying
eggs as if it were the height of summer, and there are still drones in the hives meandering
around, blissfully unaware that when the cold chill of autumn strikes, they will be
unceremoniously chucked out of their homes to die.
We are planning a session of wax extraction at the depot in the near future. Chris is
borrowing a wax steamer and we have a mountain of beeswax in various states of
horribleness which needs to be cleaned off frames. Some of the wax would be good
enough to make candles if anyone is keen to try this activity, but most of the wax will
be cleaned up and taken to the wholesalers to swap for wax foundation for the new frames
we will need next year. Beeswax is a valuable commodity so we cannot waste it.
Our ALGS honey is now on sale at £2.00 per 4oz jar. We did contemplate taking more
honey from the hives if this beautiful weather continues, but on reflection have decided to
leave it with the bees to get them through what could be a difficult winter. We won't need
to feed them as much if they have sufficient stores put by.
Don't forget to plant some winter flowering shrubs and plants that have a nectar and pollen
source for the bees to forage on throughout the winter. Even if they have stores, they still
like to have fresh food available as it is richer in vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates than
the stored food which loses it nutritional value over time.
Chris and I are giving a talk to the Ruislip Brownies soon, which should be fun. If you want
to know more about beekeeping or know of some group that would be interested in
hearing about our adventures, do contact us. Enjoy your honey!
Kate Macnish
OUR SMALL 4oz HEXAGONAl HONEY JARS
Please don’t forget to return your empty honey jars (with labels removed) if you have
purchased honey from us. This should save money in not having to buy so many jars each
year. We hope you enjoyed our Bees honey?
Page 4 of 12
NEWSLETTER October - November 2014
This year has been amazing for honey collection so we will be able to provide more
honey than ever before. Look out for our little hexagonal jars on sale at the social evenings
and the Depot.
MANURE
NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT MANURE ON YOUR GARDEN AND
ALLOTMENTS.
From our Depot – horse manure per bag. Don’t forget that our Depot is well stocked with
manure in bags for you to collect, and is ideal if you only want small quantities and
instantly.
For delivery Dave Birkin Tel: 01442 832997 - £40 approx. for a 5 tonne load. It is a mixture of horse
and cow manure and is around 18 months old.
Braziers Dairies - 07956945114
For collection – don’t forget to take your wellington boots, fork/spade and bags
a. Mansion House stables (opposite the AL School entrance on the Bedmond Road) also
provides horse manure for free to collect in the right hand side far corner. You have to go
there when someone is working at the stables and ask if you can take some. They usually
will be pleased to see you as they have to pay to get it removed!
b. There is a house on the right hand side going down Chequers Lane, just before the
bridge, where you can acquire manure. Knock on the door before helping yourself.
c. There are stables run by Debbie Randall (07721327763) on the A405 on the same side
as Burston’s. Due to the dual carriage way you need to go past Burston’s, over the next
small roundabout to the big M10 roundabout, come back on yourself about 100yds
BEFORE you reach the next small roundabout (Park Street/Tippendell Lane) the stables
are on the left hand side. The stables are usually open each afternoon between 2 –
3.30pm and often on Saturday mornings. The manure is usually well matured. Note you
must telephone Debbie BEFORE you go as she is not always there.
If you know of any other supplies and would like to share this knowledge please let me
know.
REMINDER - UP DATE ON PESTICIDES FOR EDIBLE CROPS
Go on www.rhs.org.uk for brand names and active ingredients change. For up-to-date lists
of what gardeners can buy, search “Pesticides” at the RHS website.
EMAIL ADDRESSES
I am still coming across several email addresses which bounce back, so please let me
know any changes on [email protected] or [email protected] as we cannot
send you up to date news or Newsletters if we have the wrong email address.
PLEASE SHOW YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD
WHEN PURCHASING AT THE DEPOT
*****
Page 5 of 12
NEWSLETTER October - November 2014
DO YOU HAVE A PARISH COUNCIL ALLOTMENT OR ELSEWHERE IF SO
PLEASE LET ME KNOW OR THE COMMITTEE MEMBER ON DUTY AT THE
DEPOT FOR MY RECORDS
NOTE - MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS ARE AFTER 1ST DECEMBER 2014
FLOWERS FOR ALL OCCASIONS
Jo designs flower arrangements for any occasion at prices below the florist shops. These
are ideal for weddings, funerals, anniversaries, etc. contact Jo Bromwich on
[email protected]. Note - Jo does not provide flowers only.
AUTUMN BARBEQUE BREAKFAST AT THE DEPOT
SATURDAY 1ST NOVEMBER
Come and enjoy Chris’ wonderful bacon and eggs in French
bread with coffee or tea
Green Flag Awards Ceremony – Broxbourne Civic Centre
Staff from the leisure team attended the above ceremony with Cllr Keith Williams on
Thursday 14 August 2014.
A number of speakers gave their thoughts on the sustainability and importance of parks
and open spaces. Kate Brown of Heritage Lottery spoke about funding opportunities and
Jim McManus closed the event with some thoughts on parks and how they can improve
public health.
The team received awards for all three of the sites for which it applied this year;
Rickmansworth Aquadrome Local Nature Reserve (LNR), Chorleywood House Estate LNR
and Leavesden Country Park. The site assessments and judges' comments had
improved yet further on last year, which just goes to show that the ongoing commitment of
members of the team has not gone without notice.
Judges’ comments from the Leavesden Assessment also acknowledge the hard work of
our Park Ranger Damien, when they recognized his commitment and commented:
‘Very knowledgeable Park Ranger that is extremely keen. Keep up the good work’
http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/
FUND RAISING
This is a most important part of our Society which gives benefits to all members in some
form. Jo Bromwich likes to get good speakers for our social evenings and they can be
expensive, and we like to run two shows in the year, and I am sure that all of you who take
part in these activities enjoy them. We also run two quiz nights in the autumn and spring
as well as our biggest fund raiser the Carnival stall. Please support our funding raising
when you can.- we always welcome unwanted gifts for our Raffles at meetings and shows.
Thank you.
Page 6 of 12
NEWSLETTER October - November 2014
Our Carnival stall did amazingly well again this year and raised around £900 for the
society. Thank you to all of you who donated plants, those who helped on the day and to
those who purchased plants as well.
OUR DEPOT STOCKS A LARGE RANGE OF WILD BIRD FOOD AND
VERY REASONABLE PRICES
(Prices can change with new stock)
Mixed seed
No waste mix
Sunflower seeds black
Sunflower seeds stripy
Sunflower hearts
Suet Pellets 1k
Suet pellets 3.5k
£1.10
£1.90
£1.40
£1.30
£1.90
£3.00
£10.00
Feeder seed
80p
Peanuts
£2.00
Niger seed
£1.40
Fat Balls
20p or 6 for a £1
Square Fat blocks
90p
Coconut shells
from 60p
plus various wild bird food containers
WEB SITE – www.algs.org.uk
Our web site has lots of useful information and we are regularly updating the site. If you
want to contact us by email use - [email protected]
CHRISTMAS QUIZ NIGHT
Please note that the date has been changed to Friday 5th December. Please have a look
in your diaries and start gathering your friends and relations to join us in our Christmas
Quiz Night. Don’t be put off that the questions could all be about gardening as they are
NOT, all different subjects you could be asked and the whole idea is to have FUN whilst
supporting fundraising for our Society. Book now with Jo Bromwich on our web site at the
top of the newsletter.
GREEN DEAL
Green Deal is the Government’s new scheme for improving energy efficiency and reducing
bills. The Green Deal will take away the need for householders to pay upfront for
insulation, energy efficient heating or windows. Instead the Green Deal enables the cost
of measures to be covered by savings on the electricity bill.
Green Deal will be available to everyone. The first step will be to get a Green Deal
assessment which sets out what you could do to improve your home’s energy efficiency
and save you money.
The costs must meet the ‘golden rule’ that the expected savings must be equal to, or
greater than, the costs attached to the energy bill. So the bill payer will pay no more but
will benefit from a more energy efficient home.
There will also be a new energy company obligation (ECO) which will focus on those
households who cannot achieve significant energy savings without support. These include
vulnerable and low-income households and those living in harder to treat properties, such
as solid-walled properties.
This change will bring to an end the current schemes which offer loft or cavity wall
insulation and there are a number of free offers available for a short
time. www.heepgrant.org or call 0800 980 6026.
Page 7 of 12
NEWSLETTER October - November 2014
More information about Green Deal will be available shortly. Keep up to date with
details through www.ourclimateischanging.com and www.threerivers.gov.uk
GARDENING ITEMS FOR SALE
Would like to purchase a garden electric leaf sweeper (£65 new) for £20; an electric leaf
vacuum for £20 or a “garden friend” (which is a holder for a bag to collect your garden
waste in) for £30. All in excellent condition and purchased at Chelsea some years ago
and has never been used!
Please contact with Keith Gissing via [email protected], can show you photographs
of each item.
KEEP FIT FOR THE OVER 50’S
Yes that means me as well! Please come along and enjoy yourselves on a Tuesday
morning at 10 – 11am. Cost only £4. This is run by the Hertfordshire University under our
young qualified trainer Colin Fisher. It is NOT jumping and running around to music, we
mainly do resistance work in arms and legs to help us in later life as our limbs get weaker.
It is also good for the heart.
The Edible Garden Show 2015
The Edible Garden Show will be coming in to bloom again in 2015. The new-look show
will take place at Alexandra Palace from 20-22 March 2015. The show offers visitors
everything they need to get ready to grow in 2015 including the Allotment Advice Clinic,
Potting Shed and Experts Theatre. Plus you’ll be able to plan your plot and purchase
everything you need from seeds to sheds. Go on www.TheEdibleGardenShow.co.uk. to
book your tickets.
TEMPERATURES
15 Years compared 1999 - 2014
Degrees Centigrade
Average July temperatures
27.0
26.0
25.0
24.0
23.0
22.0
21.0
20.0
19.0
18.0
17.0
16.0
15.0
14.0
13.0
12.0
11.0
10.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
Low
High
Another warm July. Like the buses you wait and wait and then two come along together – after 6
years 2013 (23.9°C) was just slightly warmer than this year (23.3°C), but the only other year
warmer was 2006. The warmest day was 19th at 29°C. The warmest day I have recorded was of
course during 2006 which reached 33.5°C (92.3°F). Comparing the number of days in July that
reached 70°F or more gives 2006 – 29! 2012 – 7 (say no more) 2013 – 24 with 2014 achieving 26
(more days but not quite so warm).
Page 8 of 12
NEWSLETTER October - November 2014
15 Years compared 1999 - 2014
Degrees Centigrade
Average August temperatures
26.0
24.0
22.0
20.0
18.0
16.0
14.0
12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
Low
High
This year only nine days reached 70° F. It is the coldest August I have recorded. There have been
3 warmer Septembers!
National Allotments Week 2015
Next Year National Allotments Week will be held in the second week of August, so if you
are planning an allotment party next year how about holding it between 10 and 16 August
2015.
DEPOT DUTIES – 8.45 to 10.10am
If you make a mutually agreed swap, please don’t forget to let Pat Colwell know so that he
can keep an accurate record. Being on duty involves 1¼ hour’s duty on a Saturday
morning, only once or twice a year. There will always be a Committee Member on hand, to
give guidance. Many hands make light work! So if you are willing to join the list of
volunteers to help serve in the Depot, please let Pat ([email protected]) know and he
can add you to the list if there is a cancellation by someone. Many thanks to all those
members who have helped out this year.
We have had several members forget their depot duty! Please may I remind you that
if no helper’s turn up it does leave the committee member very vulnerable and they
may not be able to cope on their own and have to close?
DUTY ROTA (correct at going to print)
October
4
Sue North, Brenda and John Kersey
11
John Merry, Norman Meldrum, Madelene Harris
18
Jeremy Foster, Susan Harris, Sandra Higgins
25
Pat Colwell, John and Anne Cox
November
1
Jo Bromwich, Richard Gabriel
8
Myles Darbyshire, Roger Gotts
15
Kate Macnish, Roger Silvester
22
Jane Lay, Peter Shallcross
29
Joe Johnston, Jean Bell
December
6
Pat Colwell, Joyce Davies
13
Chris Bromwich, Jean Robinson
20
David Sutherland, Alan Alexander
Page 9 of 12
NEWSLETTER October - November 2014
3
10
17
24
31
27
Kate Macnish, Terry Bray
January 2015
Sue North, Barbara Foster
Jo Bromwich, Lesley Campbell
Bella Stuart-Smith, Jo Domaniewska
Adrienne Barnes, Vince Watts
John Merry, Christine Blackett
Please put these dates in your diary NOW. Please look through them and if they are NOT
OK please swap NOW to make life easier for Pat and telephone him with your
arrangement..
I appreciate you could be ill at the last minute on the Saturday morning but please
phone me on 01923 447281 before 8.30am so that I can inform the committee
member not to expect you. Several of you have not turned up at all which is very
bad for the committee member who may have had to work on their own and be
vulnerable with the money in the depot.
Incredible Edible comes to Kings Langley
Building on the success of their first local fresh food market this month, Transition in Kings
(TiK) are very excited to announce their forthcoming event on the future of food: Our
Food, the Planet and Us 7.30pm Wednesday 15 October at the Rudolph Steiner School
Theatre, Kings Langley.
Tickets (£4 in advance, £5 on the door) are available on Eventbrite or via our
website www.transitioninkings.org/events or call our TiK box office on 07754 532862.
Barbara Rowbottom their champion of TiK’s local food market has invited co-founder of
Incredible Edible, Pam Warhurst to Kings Langley for what promises to be an inspiring
and thought provoking event.
Incredible Edible is quickly becoming a global phenomenon, with community gardening
initiatives spreading throughout the UK, USA, Canada and France. Started by Pam
Warhurst and Mary Clear in 2006, their small market town in Yorkshire is now home to an
abundance of community gardening initiatives. “We’ve planted trees on land at the Fire
Station, and the Police Station. The Health Centre has fruit trees all around it and an
apothecary’s garden at the back.” You can discover more on their website at
www.incredibleediblenetwork.org, including a link to Pam's TED talk.
th
Accompanying Pam is Charles Ainger - visiting professor on Sustainable Development at
Cambridge University, an inspiration for our creation of Grand Union Community Energy in
2013. Charles is a leading light of Low Carbon Chilterns, a group dedicated to reducing the
carbon footprint of community buildings. At their seminar he brings his lifetime's
experience as a water engineer to bear on the difficulties in food production at a global
level.
Robert Mostyn & Vicky Bate will present Transition in Kings' local initiatives and the
opportunities for getting involved.
Please book in advance via their website: www.transitioninkings.org/events or call the TiK
box office on 07754 532862.
ABBOTS LANGLEY IN TRANSITION EVENT
The next transition event in Abbots takes place on SATURDAY 6TH DECEMBER in the
Henderson Hall. Put the date in your diary as we will have a stall as well.
Page 10 of 12
NEWSLETTER October - November 2014
MR FOTHERGILL’S 2015 SEEDS CATALOGUES
OUR CATALOGUES ARE NOW IN STOCK! COLLECT FROM THE DEPOT OR MY
PORCH. ALL ORDER FORMS MUST BE BACK TO ME BY 1ST NOVEMBER.
I am sure you want to support the Society again this year by buying your seed and plants
through us. You will be pleased that the discount on seeds will be 50% instead of 40%
and non-seeds 15% instead of 10% for our 1st collective main order. Our collective order
must be over £1000 to get these discounts, the more you order for our 1st collective order
the better it is for all.
If you have friends or relatives who want to order please encourage them too.
Note - All orders are received by me and will not be sent to your home unless you want to
pay extra
WHAT TO PLANT OR SOW THIS AUTUMN
Garlic – plant now 6ins apart in rows with 12in intervals as they need a cold spell in the
ground to be successful..
Broad Beans – These crop earlier if sown in the autumn. Sow 4in apart in rich soil.
Corn Salad – this is a hardy crop for winter salads.
Take lots of cuttings from plants you love to make more for FREE. Roses are excellent for
making new plants when pruning them also blackcurrant bushes.
Prune your fruit trees and bushes now to increase your fruit for next year. Not autumn
raspberries as you cut them down in February/March.
Pick your runner beans regularly and keep feeding with tomato food and watering for
regular cropping and mulch with grass cuttings to help to keep the roots moist.
Tidy up your strawberry beds and take new plants off the runners.
Plant your winter potatoes for Christmas new potatoes.
Net winter brassicas
Watch out for caterpillars munching your winter greens. Sprinkle with Derris from the
depot.
Dig in or lay on the top of the soil manure to enrich your soil in the garden and allotment. It
also helps for water retention in the summer months.
Keep on deadheading your flowers in the garden, this will encourage more flowers to
bloom.
Wash down the glass in your greenhouse twice a year. Once in April and now to enable
more light to go into your greenhouse especially if you put up bubble plastic as well as to
kill off the bugs. Light a sulphur candle in the greenhouse as well.
Page 11 of 12
NEWSLETTER October - November 2014
Soak your canes in Jeyes Fluid or Armilatox to kill off the bugs and help preserve them
for another year..
ABBOTS LANGLEY LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
Are you interested in local history or history at all? Why not go along to the ALLHS social
evenings which are held every last Monday in the month September to May. December
and May are on the 3rd Monday. You will meet new and old friends, have a drink and a
chat as well as see and hear excellent speakers and slides. October 27th is on The
Rothschild’s and Waddesdon Manor with John Petit and on 24th November there is The
History of Radlett Aerodrome by Chris Scivyer. Why not go along in October to see if you
like the meetings and perhaps join. It only costs £2 for non-members. See you there – it
starts at 8pm.
PROGRAMME FOR SOCIAL EVENINGS AND
OTHER EVENTS IN 2014
Held in the Manor House, Gallows Hill Lane, Abbots Langley (opposite Popes Road)
Meetings start at 8pm unless stated otherwise Doors open at 7.40pm
If you have any ideas for future talks please contact Jo Bromwich on
[email protected]
October 16
November 1
November 20
Kate Harwood on The Origins of our Garden Plants
BBQ BREAKFAST
John Tyler on Life in a Nutshell, natural history in miniature.
December 5
December 18
CHRISTMAS QUIZ NIGHT – please note the new date
Christmas Social with competitions, food and Jacky Nutkins on light
hearted tales of a professional gardener and a quiz
Annual General Meeting
January 15 2015
February 19
March 19
March 28
April 16
April 24
May 21
June 13
Spring Show in the Henderson Hall – plants requested to sell. Opens
at 11 – 1pm.
Spring Quiz Night in the Manor House
Abbots Langley Carnival – donations wanted for our stall
GUESTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME – Guest entrance £2.00
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