Previous years programmes

2023-2024

Thursday 12th October 2023 - A.G.M. followed by Peter Jones “On the Bottle" (A history of Codd bottles and fizzy drinks)”

Thursday 14th December 2023 – John Harper – Tools with a Mission (a Christian charity that collects unwanted usable tools, refurbishes them, sorts them into trade tool kits and sends them to the developing world.)

Thursday 8th February 2024 – Peter Rowbottom "Gardening the World - The Horticulture of the CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission)"

Thursday 11th April 2024 - Lindsay Huggins “Allotments”

Saturday 18th May 2024 - Plant & Cake Sale 9:30-11:30

Thursday 13th June 2024 – Pip Wright "Exploring East Anglia by Bus Pass"

Saturday 17th August 2024 - ANNUAL FLOWER & PRODUCE SHOW  Open to the public at 2:00pm with prize giving at 4:15pm

 

2022-2023

Thursday 13th October 2022 - A.G.M. followed by Lesley Gunfield “Creating the Garden at Moverons, Brightlingsea”

Thursday 10th November 2022 - John Hall MBE DL “Climate Change and Biodiversity”  

Thursday 8th December 2022 - Tom Geddes "The Accidental Bee Keeper"

Thursday 9th February 2023 - Roger Hance “Nature Through the Seasons - Part 1 - Spring and Summer”

Thursday 9th March 2023 - Susannah Sharman “Pruning - when, where and how”

Thursday 13th April 2023 - Helen Chen “Bamboo”

Thursday 11th May 2023 - Maggie Piper “Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan”

Saturday 20th May 2023 - Plant & Cake Sale 9:30-11:30

Saturday 19th August 2023 - ANNUAL FLOWER & PRODUCE SHOW  Open to the public at 2:00pm with prize giving at 4:15pm

 

2021-2022

Thursday October 14th 2021 -  A.G.M. followed by Alex Bass- A year in the Wildlife of Minsmere & Dunwich

Thursday November 11th 2021 -  An Orchid Workshop with Janet Parsons

Thursday December 9th 2021 - Simon Gallup - The Unknown Constable Country (2 screens - 1 Constable's picture, the other as it is now)

Thursday February 10th 2022 - Peter Jones - Jumbo - The history of Colchester's Water Tower

Thursday March 10th 2022 - Peter Taylor - Thames Sailing Barges

Thursday April 14th 2022 - Brian Carline - Pelargoniums, their varieties and propagation

Thursday May 12th 2022 - Sally Hepher - "I wish I'd known that before I started"

Saturday May 21st 2022 - Plant & Cake Sale at the Village Hall 9:30-11:30

Saturday August 20th 2022 - Annual Flower and Produce Show at the Village Hall 

 

2020-2021

Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 Pandemic, all events in the 2020-2021 season were cancelled.

 

2019-2020

Wednesday October 9th 2019 - A.G.M. followed by Vivia Bamford- The Wonders of Foraging

Wednesday November 13th 2019  - Chris Cork - Beeleigh Abbey Gardens

Wednesday December 11th 2019 - Paula Baker- Suffolk Prickles Hedgehog Rescue

Wednesday February 12th 2020 - Tom Willmot and Stuart Gough - Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm - Farm, Food & People

Wednesday March 11th 2020 - Jane Bastow - Creating my garden from a field

Wednesday April 8th 2020  - CANCELLED - Peter Taylor - Thames Sailing Barges

Wednesday May 13th 2020 - CANCELLED - Sally Hepher - "I wish I'd known that before I started"

Saturday May 16th 2020  - CANCELLED - Plant Sale at the Village Hall 9:30-11:00

Saturday 15th August 2020 - CANCELLED - Annual Show at the Village Hall

 

2018-2019 

Wednesday October 10th 2018 - A.G.M. followed by Matthew Long - Bulbs Galore - Autumn Planting for Colour in the Garden

Wednesday November 14th 2018  - Brian Carline -The Days of Dolly Blue and Izal

Wednesday December 12th 2018 - Deb Hart - Willow weaving (incl demonstration)

Wednesday February 13th 2019 - Keith Lovell - Flora & Fauna displayed in various signs such as pub signs and village signs

Wednesday March 13th 2019 - Asa Gregers-Ward - The dry garden at Beth Chattos

Wednesday April 10th 2019 - Bill Butcher - Gardens created at Bressingham by Alan Bloom

Wednesday May 8th 2019 - Roger Hance - Secret Life of a Wood

Saturday May 18th 2019  - Plant Sale at the Village Hall 9:30-11:00

Saturday 17th August 2019 - Annual Show at the Village Hall

 

2017-2018

Wednesday October 11th 2017 - Sylvia & Roger Jiggins - Bats in Essex and Beyond

Wednesday November 8th 2017 - A.G.M. followed by Andrew Brogan – Henstead Exotic Garden

Wednesday December 13th 2017 - The county's unknown volunteers, Essex Search and Rescue

Wednesday February 14th 2018  - John Rowland – Gardening for Wildlife

Wednesday March 14th 2018 - Robin Carsberg – Plants for an East Anglian Garden

Wednesday April 11th 2018 -  Dan Wheals - Medicinal Herbalist on Growing, Harvesting and Making Medicines from Herbs

Wednesday May 9th 2018 - Chris Farndell – Does the Camera Lie

Saturday 19th May 2018 – Plant Sale at the Village Hall 9:30-11:30

Saturday 18th August 2018 -  Annual Show at the Village Hall

 

2016-2017

Wednesday October 12th 2016 - A.G.M. followed by Sue Jackman – Plant Hunting in Bhutan

Wednesday November 9th 2016 - Julian Ives (Dragonfli) – Natural Pest Control in the Garden

Wednesday December 14th 2016 - Colin Ashby – Growing and Harvesting Cricket Bat Willows

Wednesday February 8th 2017 - Bruce Root – Butterflies and Birds

Wednesday March 8th 2017 - Linda Holdaway – National Gardens Scheme

Wednesday April 12th 2017 -  Maggie Thorp - Mogul Gardens of Kashmir

Wednesday May 10th 2017 - Brian Carline – Soil, Sweat and Tears

Saturday May 20th 2017 - Plant Sale at the Village Hall   

Saturday August 19th 2017 - Annual Show at the Village Hall

 

2015-2016

Wednesday October 14th 2015 - A.G.M. followed by Jonathan Jukes - Curator of the Arboretum at Marks Hall

Wednesday November 12th 2015 - Ian Bedford - Garden Bugs - Cohabit, conserve or control?

Wednesday December 9th 2015 - Jason Salisbury - Suffolk Cheeses

Wednesday February 10th 2016 - John Rowland - Forest Gardens and Edible Landscaping

Wednesday March 9th 2016 - Jim Marshall - Malmaison Carnations - A favourite Edwardian Flower

Wednesday April 13th 2016 -  Peter Miller - Kings Seeds and history of the Essex seed trade

Wednesday May 11th 2016 -Rob Sheriff - Dahlias

Saturday 20th August 2016. Annual Show at the Village Hall

 

 

2014-2015

Wednesday October 8th 2014 - A.G.M. followed by Peter Morris - What your Vegetable/Flower Judge will look for

Wednesday November 12th 2014 - David Morgans - Essex Mills - Wind & Water

Wednesday December 10th 2014 -  Marjorie Culham accompanied by her puppy Angus - Guide Dogs for the Blind

Wednesday February 11th 2015 - Rick Vonk - Wildlife Gardening and the RSPB’s FlatfordWildlifeGarden

Wednesday March 11th 2015 - Bryan Thurlow - We’ll Meet Again

Wednesday April 8th 2015 -  Dr Chris Gibson -  The What, Why and Where of Essex Wildflowers

Wednesday May 13th 2015 - Darren Tansley (Essex Wildlife Trust) - Mammals in Essex

Saturday 15th August 2015.  Annual Show at the Village Hall

 

2013-2014

Wednesday October 9th 2013 - A.G.M. followed by Sally Hepher - Bulbs throughout the year

Wednesday November 13th 2013 - Malcolm Taylor – Hearing Dogs for the Deaf

Wednesday December 11th 2013 -  Bryan Thurlow – The Perennial Mr Potter

Wednesday February 12th 2014 - Fiona Edmond – The making of the GreenIslandGardens

Wednesday March 12th 2014 -  Rebecca Perry – Colchester Zoo and it’s conservation project

Wednesday April 9th 2014 -  Neil Catchpole - Trees and the StourValley

Wednesday May 14th 2014 - Maggie Thorpe - Plant Heritage and Propagation

Pre Show Special - Wednesday 9th July 2014 - Sandra Brett  - Advice from your Cookery Judge

Saturday 16th August 2014.  Annual Show at the Village Hall

 

2012-2013

Wednesday October 10th 2012 - AGM followed by Patrick Hughes – Organic Gardening

Wednesday November 14th 2012 - John Taylor – Gardening for Bumblebees

Wednesday December 12th 2012 -  Barry Kaufman-Wright – Wildlife Photography

Wednesday February 13th 2013 - Dr Chris Gibson – An East Anglian Story

(the influence of geology, history, climate and other factors onour present-day wildlife and landscape).

Wednesday March 13th 2013 -  Peter Morris – Container Growing of Flowers, Fruit and Vegetables

Wednesday April 10th 2013 -  Frances Harper - Silk from China to Essex

Wednesday May 8th 2013 - Dougal Urquhart - Wild Life of Mersea

Saturday 17th August 2013.  Annual Show at the Village Hall

 

2011-2012

Wednesday 12th October 2011.  AGM followed by Peter Booth-Smith, “History of Tea as a Crop.”

Wednesday 9th November 2011.  Chris Miller, “Suffolk Punch Horses.”

Wednesday 14th December 2011. Sally Hepher, “The Woodland Trust.”

Wednesday 8th  February 2012. Brian Wickenden, “From field to NGS open garden in 3 years.”

Thursday 15th March 2012. Charlie Haylock, “An excentric look at Suffolk.” The Ogilive Hall, Lawford  at 7:30pm

Wednesday 11th  April 2012. Mike Scott, “And Fuchsias as well.”

Wednesday 9th May 2012. Natalie Finch, “30yrs in a garden of roses.”

Saturday 18th August 2012.  Annual Show at the Village Hall