Whats On

[pigletwillie]

Please use this thread to put information about forthcoming shows, open gardens or events that are relevant to gardening.

[yoanbob]

great idea PW.

[nick the grief]

too late piglet Unless anyone is in the Stafford are this weekend - National Chrysanthemum early show at the Staffordshire showground

Prestwood Centre Stafford
8th & 9th September

[seasprout]

1ST ANNUAL SHOW.

Horticultural show and craft fair Saturday September 15th The Pavilion, New Parks Allotment Society, Stokes Drive, Leicester. 10:00am - 4:30pm adult 50p accompanied children 20p

Official Opening by the Lord Mayor Councillor Gary Hunt, Refreshments/Licence Bar. Bar B Q. Raffle, children Games,Sale of exhibits by auction.

[muckdiva]

Had this info through - thought it might be of interest to other grapes in the area.

Seed Saving Workshop,

Saturday September 15th

2-3pm @ Barracks Lane Community Garden, Oxford

A practical and fun workshop on how saving seeds could save the world...

Bring along your favourite veg and learn how to harvest the seeds and make sure the plant you ate this year will be the same next year.

If you have home grown tomatoes (or even named varieties from a shop) bring them along and we can have a taste testing session and take home some seeds of your favourite tomato.

A map to the garden can be found here - http://hometown.aol.co.uk/johnbaps/directions.html

[SueA]

It's the South Wirral Country Show this weekend 8th & 9th September at Backwood Hall, Parkgate they have lots of different events, ponies,ferrets, sheepdogs, stalls, garden products & plants etc. & tickets are £7 for adults & I think £5.50 for seniors & £1.50 for children over 3, there are some special offers on advance tickets etc. & you can get a 2 for 1 ticket off the Visit Gardens Northwest website along with other gardens. (see link)
http://www.visitenglandsnorthwest.co...ns_voucher.asp

[nick the grief]

Local Chrysanth & Dahlia shows

Some more local shows near me -

Tomorrow 9th Sept

Bedworth Chrysathemum & Dahlia society Early Show - Bulkington War Memorial Club, New Street, Bulkington

and next week end 15th Sept

Nuneaton Chrysathemum & Dahlia society Early Show
Wembrook Primary School. Avenue Road. Nuneaton Warwickshire

[HappyMouffe]

Reaseheath College Apple festival is on 20-21st October, for anyone in the vicinity of Nantwich, Cheshire.

The following is copied from their website:

Held at the Reaseheath Garden Centre from 10am - 4pm. Free entry and parking. This event includes:

Large selection of rare varieties on display
Fruit garden tours throughout the day
Apple tasting
Free advice on growing fruit
Fruit identification
Choosing the right tree for your garden
Orders taken on a large selection of trees
Grand sale of selected nursery stock

Unfortunately I won't be going, as I'm away that weekend

[Peter]

20th Oct Apple Day, Herts.

Friends of Rivers Orchard, Sawbridgeworth Herts.
Apple day at Church House, Church Street, 13:30 to 16:00 Saturday October 20th.

Organic Apples to taste, cider making, displays of the historic archives of the orchard. The remmnants of the great Rivers Nursery.

[Birdie Wife]

It's the RSPB's Feed the Birds Day tomorrow (Saturday). So top up those feeders and bird tables, and make sure to put a little on the ground for birds that like to search for food on the ground like dunnocks. It's especially important at this time of year as birds use a lot of energy just in keeping warm.

PS current advice is not to use those fat balls which are wrapped in plastic mesh, as birds have been known to get hopelessly tangled in the stuff. There are more environmentally friendly and re-usable fat cake holders you can buy.

[SueA]

Potato Days

There are lots of potato days coming up soon.Fairly locally to me there's Gordale Garden Centre on the Wirral on 26th/27th January 2008 with over 50 varieties of seed potatoes & Medwyn Williams in attendance to give advice. Free parking & entrance. That's where I got my 'Winston' seed potatoes last year.
Also there's Hulme Community Garden Centre, Manchester on 24th February 2008. They have Alan Romans giving advice & signing his booklet about potatoes I believe. I went last year & got a different organic seed potatoes including an Ir ish one called Colleen.
Garden Organic at Ryton have a potato day for members on 2nd February 2008 & non members on 3rd February 2008.

[SueA]

RSPB Birdwatch

On 26TH/27TH January 2008 you can take part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. It only takes an hour & you can submit your results in various ways including online.
How to take part

[pigletwillie]

Ryton Potato Day

Public Potato Day - Forthcoming event in association with Garden Organic

Just a reminder, anybody in the vicinity on Coventry, the organic Gardens at Ryton are holding their annual Potato Day and Seed Swap. Sat and Sun.

Sat is Members day and Sunday is open the the public.

100's of varieties of potatoes available to buy individually.

[pigletwillie]

2nd March, Oxford seedy Sunday

2-3.30pm Fusion Arts, at the back of the East Oxford Community Centre, Princes St, off Cowley Road

An event for gardeners novice or expert to come and swap seeds and learn about saving our own seed for planting. *If you haven't got seeds to swap then feel free to pick and mix for a small donation. *We hope to have some plants available too.

Saving seed can create new varieties of locally suited crops. Saving seeds from our favourite crops and swapping them with others saves cash and ensures a greater control over our food security, biodiversity and independence from big seed companies.

There will be a short presention at 2.30pm on basic seed saving techniques for common garden crops.

50p contribution to cover costs
Refreshments available

Further information from vixtoria@wildmail.com

[Sirius]

National Potato Day - Klondyke & Strikes

At Klondyke & Strikes Garden Centres on Sunday 3rd February they will be celebrating National Potato day.

Dozens of varieties of seed potatoes will be on sale, with tasters of some available in the Topiary Coffee Shop.