Kinver & District Horticultural Society

After our last meeting, no-one can say that the members don't like getting their hands dirty. Richard Baldwin gave us a very entertaining talk about the 'Magic of pH' and, although he didn't have a magic wand, we did come away knowing how to tell whether we had sandy loam, loamy sand, sandy silt loam or a host of other soil types after rolling around in our hand some of the garden soil we had taken along. We were then shown how to go about testing for pH to get the best from our crops and garden flowers.

Society and committee member Vicky Randon, made an appeal on behalf of the Charity 'Freedom from Torture'. The charity provides medical care, psychotherapy and family therapy for victims of torture and in the UK alone help many people each year including children.More information at www.freedomfromtorture.org

There were a number of announcements from chairman, Geraldine Wooddisse, including that Jane Bills' garden at 26 High Street will be open on Sunday 1st from 2 - 5 pm and thereafter each Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays for the rest of the summer. On these days we can see her beautiful garden and buy lovely plants with all profits going to charity Our Plant Extravaganza is on May 14 in Jane's Garden, 10-4pm.

The Malvern trip is now full but there are still a few places on the coach for Hampton Court Castle on June 9(Contact Geraldine on 01384 394789) and Woollerton Old Hall & Hodnet Hall on July 22 (Contact Rosemary on 01384 872641).

Competition: Small arrangement of Wild Flowers 1. Carole Lacy 2. Jean Oliver Flower of the Month 1. Jean Oliver 2 & 3. Rosemary Pope

Next Month’s meeting will be Chelsea Gold Medal winners Kim and Rob Hurst from The Cottage Herbery, Tenbury Wells talking about ‘Herbidacious’ a genus which contains both herbs and herbaceous perennials. All welcome at 7.30pm, St Peter’s Church Hall, Vicarage Drive, Kinver on May 26.