June was a busy month for Elstead Afternoon W.I. who enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon for their cream tea in a Member's garden.  The weather held good for that day and also the following evening when members gathered at Mad Jaks in Shere for a Fashion Evening, which raised £207 for their Charity, the Springfield Surgery Patients Group.  The Craft Group had been busy too, repainting the sign for the Woolpack Pub.  The sign was proudly erected on 27th June.  Activity would continue in July with Members busy baking for the Cake Stall at the Elstead Marathon on the Village Green on 6^th July, and a Jacket Potato lunch scheduled for 10^th July.  After that a break in August would be most welcome before activities resumed in September.   

Mr Croucher was the July speaker and spoke about the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley Garden.  The Garden moved from Chiswick to Wisley in 1804.  It now attracts many international visitors.  We were treated to a visual tour of the gardens, with views from Winter Snows, the Magnolias, Rhododendrons  and Azaleas of Spring, to Summer bedding. He also showed slides of the intriguing sculptures in the Garden. The competition, A Favourite Holiday Souvenir, was won by  Ursula Dunlop.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday 6^th September in Elstead Village Hall, the talk being "Felons and Fingerprints" and the Competition a Halloween Mask.

Diane Terry started her interesting talk by saying that she had learned by observation. There are 15 million gardens in the U.K. and these are so important for our wildlife!  Apparently an Edwardian  gardener said no matter how small your garden you must keep an acre for wildlife!

Diane explained how at Fullbrook Ponds there are many wetland birds including ducks herons and Canadian geese.  She advised us to just sit in our gardens and listen.

We had a little quiz where we had to listen to a tape recording and identify the sounds... (Not as easy as you might imagine)

There are approximately 350 different insects on oak trees.  Spider mites hide under the leaves.  We passed around some interesting specimens which caused much hilarity and Diane explained how she is an organic gardener and is delighted when blue tits nest in her box. The hen flies off and returns with aphids, while the cock bird keeps near to the nest and brings in caterpillars. Between them Diane's roses were cleared of insects.  Micro moths (brown with yellow spots) breed on lemon balm.  We all think of buddleia to attract butterflies but they also like honeysuckle.

An  enjoyable  and very relaxing evening.  Next month we meet on 9^th July 2007 when Mr G Ace will tell us how to build a garden for a Chelsea Gold Medal.