Chairman’s Annual Diary is a review of 2023, which appears in the 2024 booklet given out as part of the membership renewal.

Gardens have been a national favourite for decades, whether it was your local park and gardens, National Trust or RHS gardens, or your own garden. They were full of colour, flowers, fruit, vegetables, and an abundance of wildlife. Today times have changed, so have our priorities, driveways replace the front lawn and borders, while entertaining is today’s priority in the back garden, BBQ’s, seating, and the odd football pitch.

Studies show, despite a sharp decline in UK’s wildlife, our biodiversity is depleting, particularly pollinators and natural predators, as we become a more concrete landscape. A hedge or a group of shrubs, so often part of the front garden before the turn of the century, was a barrier to noise, absorb toxins, vital habitats for wildlife, are now fast disappearing and brick walls are replacing them, how life has changed! Yet, we spend £3bn annually on plants and trees, while data suggests well maintained gardens can increase property value by up to 20%, take note!

 

Flower Shows

Yet, an increase of exhibits shown at this year’s flower shows gives us hope, perhaps there is an increase in people growing plants? And it was a delight and a blessing to see the hall full of colour, fragrance and interest this year for visitors, as the domestics, handicraft, photography, flowers, vegetables, and floral art classes were in plenty and created headaches for the judges. And very encouraging to see several exhibits from children, showing their early garden skills by creating models of a garden in a seed tray and their growing of sunflowers.

We do hope you enjoy our new set up at flower shows. We introduced a new seating plan due to the recognition that people were walking round with cups of tea or coffee in one hand and cake in the other, an accident waiting to happen. Therefore, the committee devised a plan to ensure visitors can enjoy their refreshments, socialise, and soak in the ambience in safety, well done team!

The plant sale in May, plants supplied by Curry Wood Nursery in Halstead and local nurseries, once again was highly attended as crates and boxes with plenty of plants gathered ready to go to their new homes.

We continue to source talks that are interesting, helpful, and varied to suit beginners and experienced gardeners. We also include those who are fascinated about garden history, Painshill Park, Sissinghurst and the Crystal Palace are some of the topics for 2024.

 

People Matter -Thanks to our late President, Committee and Sponsors

We are aware it is also about people, the community and how we communicate. 2023, we lost our President, Mick Blundell and members, Josie Cole, and Dawn Arnold. Donations of house plants by Katherine, who sadly lost her husband, were both keen lovers of these wonderful plants and she herself was unwell. Having problems to look after so many, Katherine contacted us and donated her wonderful collection to the plant sale. With the proceeds gratefully received, we wish her and her family well.

We have a passionate committee willing to bring us up to date with technology, encourage tomorrow’s gardener, to include children and young persons in our plans and bring to our members up to date knowledge on anything related to gardening. New faces have recently joined the committee and have been a great help, bringing in a fresh new look, excellent ideas, in such a small space of time.

I thank them also for their generosity, tenacity, energy, strength, and knowledge at a time when it could have been difficult straight after Covid.

We obviously cannot do this alone, we have devoted sponsors, advertising their company in the schedule. We are extremely pleased having them on board and thank them for their kind generosity and support.

 

2024 delights to come

With 2024 just around the corner, to help you with gardening advice or for gardeners to exchange ideas, we are introducing a brand-new website in the new year which will provide more in-depth information about the horticultural society, forthcoming events and help with your gardening. Any further ideas you would like us to consider, please approach a committee member to discuss further. We are also looking at having a couple of afternoon talks or workshops, as we know, spring and autumn dark evenings can be difficult and discourages people to come along. More information will be in the spring.

Due to the loss of our President, Mick Blundell, it is the duty of the committee to decide the next president. Therefore, I am extremely proud and honoured as the choice for the next president, following in the footsteps of previous presidents, Mick Blundell, and Frank Butterworth. I shall be leading at both fronts!

We must not forget you, the membership, for making this society what it is over so many years. The committee and I thank you for your support, past, present and the future, thank you!

We are looking forward to 2024 with excitement, we can all make a difference to our climate, where we live, improve our open green spaces and gardens for us and wildlife to benefit from.

Thank you.

Nick Hagon, Chairman & President

The Chairman’s Annual Diary is a review of Biggin Hill & District Horticultural Society 2023, which appears in the 2024 membership booklet. For how to join the Gardening Club, please drop us an email or come along to one of our events.

Biggin Hill & District Horticultural Society – Growing Gardens and Friendships