Members please note:
Members Nota bene: our April meeting (which will be led by Mr G Barter, speaking on 'seeds and Propagation' will take place on the 3rd  Monday the 16 April 2007. Our Spring Show will be on 24th March and our unfailingly enjoyable 'Secretts Evening ' on 18 April 2007.

Mrs Gail Leader, (herself a hardworking volunteer) then spoke authoraatively and eloquently about the National Gardens Scheme.  This is a charity which over the years has raised millions for nursing organisations and depends mainly on owners opening their private gardens to the general public on a few days each year.

Its inception arose from the inspirationof two individuals, early last century.  William Rathbone, a far sighted and benevolent man, was concerned that nursing care was generally not available and founded a team, whose northern based efforts soon spread throughout the country.  Eliza Wagge, when funds ran low had a brilliant idea of opening gardens for donations.  Royalty even approved the scheme and opened Sandringham and Frogmore.  Prince Charles is now a patron of this worthy scheme.

We then watched as a procession of colourful slides appeared before us.  They were a tantalising display of Surrey gardens tempting us to jaunts of discovery, gardens large and small, formal and wild, ancient and modern, and most of them crowned with the possibility of tea and cakes, though other enticements such as tropical birds, gipsy caravans and paintings can be found. Yellow Booklets (listing Gardens Open) available from book shops and National Trust properties.  Happy hunting this Summer.