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Thursday 3rd October 2024 This month our speaker is David Cropp who will be showing us how to make ‘New Plants from Old’. The meeting starts at 7.00pm at Bretforton Memorial Hall and new members are welcome.

Saturday 12th October 2024 We have finally been able to fix a date to visit Old Court Nurseries & the Picton Garden, Colwall, nr Malvern when the asters should be at their best. The gardens open at 11.00 am and entrance is £5.00. Members are asked to use their own transport on this visit. Please contact Alison Baumber on alisonbaumber48@gmail.com if you would like to join us.

Thursday 11th July 2024 At our July meeting, for the benefit of any members who were unable to get round our open gardens in June, 3 of the gardens that took part in the event re- opened for the club. It was a lovely evening and the gardens were still looking fabulous. Members enjoyed refreshments in the Fleece Barn at the end of the evening.

Bretforton Open Gardens Sunday 2nd June 2024 Our Open Gardens event was a great success with more than 300 visitors coming to see our fabulous gardens based at Bretforton Manor and to help raise money for our 2024 elected charities, The Freedom Centre, South Littleton and The Wyre Forest and South Worcestershire Night Stop and Mediation Centre.

Summer Garden Visit by Coach Tuesday 20th August Our coach visit to Wollerton Old Hall & Dorothy Clive Gdns, Nr Market Drayton was thoroughly enjoyed by a select group of members. We were treated to stunning displays of perennials in the first garden and then terraces with amazing views across the Shropshire landscape in the second one, where we had afternoon tea and the chance to buy some wonderful plants. Well worth the visit.

Bretforton Open Gardens Bretforton Garden Club is very fortunate to have the use of Bretforton Manor Garden for our Open Gardens event. As well as the fabulous Manor Garden being open to the public there will be Refreshments, Plants for sale, a Raffle and other activities set up in the garden.

You might see the resident Alpacas on The Butty (opposite the Manor) while walking round the village as one of their other residences has been kindly loaned to the club for car parking during Open Gardens. The alpacas have been found to produce excellent fertiliser and there will be bags of it to buy both before and during the Open Gardens event, for inspired gardeners (see details below) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Bretforton Bloom Booster Alpaca poo has the highest Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) composition compared to other natural fertilisers. The NPK component is important as these minerals are especially needed for plant growth. It does also contain other micronutrients as well. You can tell where our alpacas poo as these areas of our fields are greener due to the minerals in their poo. Alpaca fertiliser is also good as it doesn’t have to rot down before use so it doesn’t burn the plants. It can be spread directly on, or dug into the soil. You can also add it to your compost.

If you would like to try out Bretforton Bloom Booster yourself. The suggested donation is £2 per bag. Bags can be found on The Butty (the field opposite the Manor) in between the two wooden gates next to Bretforton Hall, Main Street, WR11 7JH. Please put money in the Honesty Box above the bags.

Thank you and happy growing. We hope it will help you to produce prize-winning exhibits at Bretforton Show, to be held at the Manor on Saturday 14th September 2024.

Bretforton Manor ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….