Joint Gardening Group
When: Mostly second Friday of month, though may vary. Where: Various gardens. Cost: Entrance to gardens.
Rob Carmichael the leader of the Gardening Group at Olton & District u3a has invited Balsall Common u3a Members to join their group.
An update from Rob Carmichael, Olton & District u3a
(January 2023)
Hello garden lovers group (thanks to Isobel and Vernon for this great new name),
I hope you are all well and looking forward to the year ahead with visits to local gems and also trips further afield to some new places and some old favourites.
Thanks to everyone who came to the tree planting of our betula nigra river birch tree, I realy enjoyed the event and Alison and her colleagues from SMBC prepared and led us brilliantly. I will buy a small engraved tag to put around one of the branches denoting it as funded by Olton and District u3a.
We will be doing our first garden maintenance of the year at Olton Library on 23rd February starting at 10.00. Please let me know if you can spare some time that morning to help us.
Our next visit to a garden will be to Winterbourne Gardens in Edgbaston on 10th February. I intend to get there at about 1pm and have a light lunch before looking around the site at about 2pm. The gardens, house, shops and cafe should all be fully open for everyone to enjoy. Currently 14 members have advised me that they intend to visit. If anyone else intends to come along please let me know. Entry is £6.40 for over 65s (or £7.20 if you wish to contribute gift aid) or free to members. The site closes at 4pm.
Several members have already let me know that they would like to go on our coach trip to RHS Wisley in June. I will circulate full details next month including arrangements for making payment. As members of the garden lovers group you will get priority before I open it up to other members of our u3a.
Best wishes
GARDEN GROUP INFORMATION SHEET — APRIL 2022
This short information sheet includes details about the garden group including proposed visits and events. We have several new members and therefore it includes information that many members will already know but new members may not.
Who is the group facilitator? Rob Carmichael is the facilitator — his email address is oltonu3a76rob@gmail.com
What does the group do? The group was one of the first established in Olton and District u3a. Members wished the group to cover both practical garden advice and also visits to gardens. More recently there has been an emphasis on the visits aspect reflecting members’ desires to visit nice places with friends and relax. However we will hopefully also re-establish the practical aspects during the coming months. We have recently linked up with Balsall Common u3a and although this is a new venture we think it will be very successful in widening our group of friends and ideas for the furure.
When does the group meet? The original agreed meeting schedule was monthly on the second Monday of each month. However there has been an increasing tendency for public gardens to be closed on Mondays. Following consultation with members we will be moving the monthly meeting date to second Friday of each month. Unfortunately this will not suit some existing members and I apologise for this. In addition members have said that as some special garden events take place at weekends they would be happy to move the meeting date occasionally to be able to attend these events.
I don’t have a car! If you are interested in coming to a visit but do not have a car please still register. It cannot be guaranteed but often we have members who will be happy to provide a lift. You cannot pay the car driver for providing a lift as this may invalidate insurance, but an occasional cup of coffee or a slice of cake is always a welcome thank you!
What’s coming up? If you are interested in any garden visits please contact Rob. oltonu3a76rob@gmail.com
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