Coronavirus: Closed visitor gardens create virtual tours

Worth a look  at this online video  -  especially since we have had fairly recent trips to Exbury and Leonardslee

Coronavirus: Closed visitor gardens create virtual tours - 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-52152303

RHS Affiliated Societies April newsletter

Hello to all our Affiliated Societies  (please pass this on to all your members)

I hope you are all well and staying positive in this really difficult time.

Most of us enjoy a well delivered talk about a subject we are interested in, but at the moment that won’t be possible unless you can find one on-line…. So with that in mind I have asked the speakers listed on the RHS website, plus some of our Partner Gardens, to give me details of any pre-recorded talks, or if they are happy to deliver a live talk via video conferencing (Zoom or Skype) and have produced the attached details.  So dip in and see what you want to listen to or get a group of friends and have a Zoom garden party!  Contact the speaker by their given email to make any necessary arrangements or dive straight in if they are on social media.  I hope you will all find something of interest here.  Before I am furloughed at the end of April I will send any further speaker details I receive before I go.  Enjoy! 

A big thank you to everyone who sent me details of all the exciting projects and virtual shows their clubs are hosting.  This difficult time has certainly brought out the creativity in us all. 

Here are some of the ideas you might like to have a go at:

>    A virtual Spring/Summer show.  All the produce has been lovingly grown, so encourage everyone to take photos and either pop them onto your Facebook page or website for all your colleagues to admire.  No judging, just fun!

>   This is an extract from a lovely email one of our clubs sent me:

I thought you might be interested to hear about our Virtual Flower and Produce Show that took place on Saturday 28^th March. We are a busy group and hold 3 shows per year, but sadly our first show was cancelled.

The first recorded horticultural show in Burgess Hill took place in 1884 and we’ve been holding shows ever since, including during World War II, when there was a very active Dig for Victory group in the town. No-one could remember us cancelling a show before, so we wondered if we could harness technology and stage a ‘Virtual Show’ instead. We emailed our membership, asking them to ‘enter’ classes, (abandoning all rules regarding dimensions of exhibits/types and sizes of containers; “use whatever you have in your home”.) Folk set up their exhibits at home, photographed them and sent us the pictures for display on our website.

We set up a ‘virtual show’ on our website, allowing folk to click on a link and view the exhibits. The idea was to try and have a bit of fun and raise a smile in these difficult times. It seems to have worked; people have left some lovely comments, our website’s had hundreds of visitors and the show has also been shared around on Facebook.

Our summer show is due to take place on 27^th June. Should we still be in a ‘lockdown’ situation, we’ll have another virtual event. After all, The Show Must Go On!  - Comment from Susie – so inspiring.  Some thought and planning and a great show was still to be had.

>   Quizzes for fun and a few garden hints.  If a virtual show isn’t for you, try putting together a quiz or share your most useful garden tips.

And don’t forget if you have ordered a medal to think about a new category for awarding – my suggestion would be to the person who has helped the most in your community during this difficult time.  Perhaps you have a more fitting category?  Do share!

We’re launching “Grow at Home” this weekend where those spending so much more time at home will be able to find lots of activities and all things horticultural to learn and do from our website. 

The RHS is also doing everything it can to promote and help British nurseries so please remind friends, neighbours, colleagues and family that they can buy plants online for home delivery, from the RHS and from hundreds of other nurseries. https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/support-our-nurseries.

It’s very sad but we are announcing today that the following summer shows will be cancelled or moved:

RHS Shows cancelled in 2020:

   Harlow Carr Flower Show

  Tatton Park Flower Show

   Wisley Flower Show

RHS Shows moved in 2020:

   Hyde Hall Flower Show to 2 – 6 September (was 5-9 August)

   Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival to 10 – 15 September (was 7 -12 July)

   Rosemoor Flower Show to 18 – 20 September (was 14-16 August)

If you are taking part in our Growing Together competitions we will be in touch soon.

I will send one more newsletter before the end of the month.  Have the best Easter you are able to, stay safe and happy gardening.

Kind regards

Susie

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. This vision, expressed through our Greening Great Britain campaign, underpins all that we do – from inspirational gardens and shows, through our scientific research, to our education and community programmes. We are committed to inspiring everyone to grow.

For more information and to get involved, visit rhs.org.uk, find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest, and sign up to our e-newsletters.

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262

The contents of this email and any files transmitted with it are confidential, proprietary and may be legally privileged. They are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender. If you are not the intended recipient you may not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print or rely on this email. The sender is not responsible for any changes made to any part of this email after transmission. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Society. Although this email and any attachments are believed to be free from any virus or other defects which might affect any computer or IT system into which they are received, no responsibility is accepted by the Society or any of its associated companies for any loss or damage arising in any way from the receipt or use thereof.

National Gardens Scheme in Hampshire - April update

IN  HAMPSHIRE

Well, here we still are…….  The only difference now is that we are in complete lockdown since I last contacted you.

As we are a charity, dependent entirely on our Garden Visitors to raise funds for the Nursing, Caring and Health sectors, Covid -19 is an absolute disaster for our beneficiaries. 

This is the first time in its 92 year history that the NGS has had to close its Garden Gates - it even kept going through the second world war.  Unless we can do something about it, this will mean that the charity's income will be down by around 80% for 2020.  Ironically, it was through Nursing that the National Garden Scheme was born, way back in 1927.  Two influential people came up with the idea to raise funds for Nurses, by persuading people with large gardens/estates to open them to the general public for a fee, since then the NGS hasn’t looked back.  Now the nurses need our help and support more than ever.

To this end the garden owners, volunteers and staff have launched a fantastic campaign to try to address this situation - ‘virtual garden visits’ .

On 16th April, Alan Titchmarsh, who is a Hampshire resident, lent his support to the campaign by letting us use a 'virtual tour' of his very private garden, which was filmed last year.

I would ask you to please have a look.  If you click on the link:  https://ngs.org.uk/alan-titchmarsh-lends-his-support-to-the-national-garden-scheme-and-its-nursing-beneficiaries/ it will take you directly to the page.  There you will also see a message from Mary Berry, our President.  Page down and you can click on “Visit Another Garden”, where there is a choice of other gardens to ‘visit’.   If you then feel that you would like to make a donation, it would be more than welcome, and Thank You Very Much - there you will also find the link to DONATE.  There will be more gardens added every week.

I am very aware that this is an extremely “wordy” Newsletter, but I would just like to include a couple of quotations from two of our Nursing Beneficiaries:-

SUPPORT FROM OUR BENEFICIARIES:

‘Queen’s Nurses have been supported by the opening of private gardens to the public since 1927 when the QNI founded the National Gardens Scheme, so I am delighted to see that people can continue to enjoy these beautiful gardens – albeit virtually – and continue to raise money for Queen’s Nurses who are leading and delivering expert nursing care to patients in every village, town and city during this pandemic.’
Dr Crystal Oldman CBE, Chief Executive, Queens Nursing Institute

‘At this time of national crisis, we’re especially proud to be partnered with The National Garden Scheme whose determination to keep supporting, despite the present challenges, is inspiring for us all. Right now, Marie Curie nurses are on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis, caring for vulnerable and dying people in our communities in incredibly challenging circumstances. They are hugely encouraged by knowing that NGS garden owners, volunteers and visitors are still supporting Marie Curie frontline staff so they in turn can continue caring for families and relieving pressure on acute hospitals.’

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive, Marie Curie

Here in Hampshire, our County Organiser, Mark Porter, has set up a WhatsApp Group for Hampshire NGS.  Meaning all our Garden Owners and County Team Members can keep in touch and share pictures and ideas and events happening in their gardens.  It is proving very popular, and we now have a “competition” with no prizes, for Plant of the Week.  This is our first week.

I have picked out four to share with you:-

THE SPECTACULAR:  FLOWER SPIKE OF ECHIUM pininana.  (Can’t wait to see the flower)

Entry by Adam Vetere of Old Camps,   Headley,   Thatcham.   RG19 8LG

THE EXOTIC:  GREVILLEA  victoriae  (Evergreen shrub)

Entry by Vivienne Garford of   80, Abbey Road   Fareham    PO15 5HW

THE SIMPLY STUNNING:  COWSLIPS   (Cousin of the Primrose.   A field of nodding Cowslips is a rare sight)

Entry by Tessa Redshaw of Spitfire House    Chattis Hill    Stockbridge   SO20 6JS

JUST PERFECTION:  VIOLA  (Dobies Hybrid)

Entry by Penny Burnfield of Terstan   Longstock    Stockbridge    SO20 6DW

There really are some great images there.  It certainly was very difficult to choose - in fact I set out with three, and then decided I just had to include the last one.

I hope that you have enjoyed this Newsletter and I would ask that you share this  with as many members and friends as you can.

Take Care, Stay Safe.  Best Wishes

Pat Beagley (Publicity)

National Garden Scheme - Hampshire

Lily Beetle - Beware!

Watch out 

This is the time of year when you have lovely fresh lilies coming up. So beware - the red lily beetle could be your garden enemy. As its name suggests it is bright red  and  will destroy your lily before you can turn around. So what can you do? You can spray with soapy water with some olive oil added, you can use a chemical bug killer or you can squash them with your fingers. Make sure you do not merely knock them off the leaf onto the ground so that they escape. Putting some white paper below prevents them from hiding. Ensure you also get rid of the eggs which look like brown slimy bird droppings, and do check under the leaves for beetles and eggs. 

They are easy to control providing you look very regularly and get rid of them. That way your lilies will look wonderful when they come into flower later in the summer.

Evelyn Cousal

We are sad to announce  the death of Evelyn Cousal. .She had been  unwell and in and out of hospital for some time.

Evelyn and her late husband were part of the village group who organised a plant show after which  Ibsley Horticultural Society was formed. Arthur was the treasurer for a long time and of course there is the “Cousal Cup”. 

Both were long time members of the club and contributed to village life in many ways.

IDHS newsletter - April 2020

Dear Members 

 We hope you are all keeping well and safe during these difficult times. The warm weather last week was a welcome interlude and I expect many were busy tidying up gardens.
Happily the warm weather is returning so hopefully there will be a lot more activity going on in gardens locally.

As a committee we have taken the decision to cancel our meetings in April. May and June. We have also decided to cancel the plant sale in May.
We had already cancelled the trip to Minterne Gardens at the end of April and all those who booked have been informed.
I expect that this will not come as a surprise given the government advice and our view that meetings are likely to be discouraged for sometime to come.

We are also thinking about our show in September as we need to consider our advertisers and allow reasonable exposure to the schedule. Some are already pulling out as businesses are impacted by the virus. An alternative option being considered is to use the date perhaps for another event, such as a plant sale.
We would therefore encourage you all to continue to split plants or grow suitable things for a later plant sale and as soon as we have made a firm decision, we will let you all know.

We will continue to send out monthly newsletters and would like to make them interesting so please send garden tips, articles or pictures of your own gardens in to this email address. The committee will choose the best and add them to our blog.

https://idhsociety.blogspot.com - have a look and see if your contributions have been posted or maybe in the next newsletter. 
Finally, there are lots of local groups being set up to support individuals who are self isolating and if you are struggling please reply to this email and we will aim to point you in the right direction to get help.

Please look after yourselves

Your Committee

Further cancellations of Meetings until end of June 2020

We regret to advise that all of our planned meetings and events have been cancelled up until the end of June.

These are:

 

Evening meeting with speaker Gerald Ponting on Thursday 30th April

 

Plant Sale during during the afternoon of Saturday 9th May

 

Evening meeting with speaker David Ewers on Thursday 28th May

 

Evening meeting with speaker Marcus Dancer together with Social Event on Thursday 25th June

As you will understand, the ongoing situation regarding the measures to be taken as a result of Covid-19 remain uncertain. Although we would still wish to hold a Plant Sale at some later date we need to see how circumstances evolve.

We hope to perhaps be able to re-schedule some of the speakers for dates in 2021.

Your Committee apologises for the disruption to all of the plans for the period to end of June. We 
trust that you will understand the situation.

Our intention is to keep you updated through this web page and to maintain a good dialogue with 
our members. 

Thank you for your cooperation.