In the year since the building has been open, work has continued to finish off the car park area and to landscape the car park perimeter. By the time you read this, the Trust expects to have completed the car park (again, thanks to the efforts of many volunteers) and the Garden Club will be well into the landscaping and planting scheme.

The Trust also plans to install a lift in the new building in April, which will permit disabled access to the upstairs lounge area. Funding for both the lift and the landscaping scheme has been generously provided by a £13,000 grant from the SITA Trust, supported by a further grant of £3,000 from Waverley BC.

The Trust had to borrow £75,000 to enable it to complete the project (£50,000 in short terms loans, £25,000 over 20 years). In the first year, £17,000 of the short-term loans has been repaid, thanks in part to a further donation of £5,000 from the Billmeir Trust. We would like to pay off the rest of the short-term debt as soon as possible, so if you can help please give me a call. As a charity, the Trust can reclaim from HM Revenue and Customs a sum equivalent to 28% of all donations.

The Meeting on the 12^th April had as it's guest speaker Keith Pierce, who gave a talk on gardening, of which he is very knowledgeable. He advised on 'ease of cultivation', whereby some of the annual workload in the borders can be avoided, and told his audience that the main thing was to 'enjoy the garden', and suggested ways in which this could be achieved., by colourful foliage and containers. Wisley he said was a very good place to visit, not only for the plants but also for advise, should you require it, from the resident experts.

The proposed trip to the Poppy Factory on the 13^th of September, has had to be cancelled due to a prior booking at the factory, instead there will now be a Mystery Trip, to be arranged by Sandra, which will leave Elstead at approximately 10.30 am.

The next Meeting, will be on the 10^th of May. when Brienne Skewes and friends will give a talk on their recent travels.