This most witty and knowledgeable gentleman Mr Geoff Ace, has visited us before, and on this welcome return trip spoke about the siting and construction of rock gardens and water features.  Either or both should be established as the focal point of the view of the garden, rather than the inevitable ubiquitous umbrella clothes line .

When there is an existing slope, the building of a rock garden is simpler and will appear a more natural form of landscaping. Firstly the rock must be chosen - Purbeck limestone, for example, for a chalky soil or Forest of Dean sandstone, perhaps, for our area.  One should start at the bottom and  make sure that the stone strata runs parallel throughout the garden, variation made, to avoid a terraced look, by the change of size, height and distance of the blocks.  These should be dug in sloping gently back to the slope so that the rain does not erode the soil from the interstices.  The whole should resemble a natural miniature landscape and be backed by appropriate shrubs and planted with carpeting alpines.  Maintenance is easier in a large area if blocks have been spaced deliberately as stepping and sitting stones.

When constructing water features the essential thing, whether for formal or informal ponds, is to get the level of the edge exactly right.  If you don't then the water, which sets its own level, either leaks out or discloses unsightly concrete or plastic at one end.  Shelves can be incorporated in informal water features, on which may be placed suitable plants to enhance the natural appearance of the pond - irises for example or marsh marigolds - whilst more formal effects can be created by using small topiary or phormiums outside geometrical pools.  We were shown each stage of every feature clearly photographed throughout this practical and entertaining lecture.

Next meeting 13^th October 2008 'The Glory of Cannas

Thanks to all the hard work and dedication of my Poppy Team, and the generosity of Elstead Village we raised together £6,227, an increase of £578. Nationally the Royal British Legion raised £30,360,452 up from last year by about £4.3 million. In Elstead for example we have raised enough to find a home improvement for a disabled ex service person and give them a better quality of life, or to fund a group of war widows to visit the graves abroad for the last time, and give them a measure of closure or to provide valuable respite care for a few families. All the above are now possible because of Elstead. So when we get out and raise funds in the streets and supermarkets  - we are making a real difference to those who have served their country and find themselves in real need.

Every year someone tells me that they cannot continue to help collect for a good reason, so I am always looking for people who can help collect for Poppy Appeal, to do house to house routes, and support the supermarket collectors at peak times.  All volunteers are protected by insurance and I will give informal training to get new people started.

If you can help contact me at Grasshoppers, Lower Ham Lane on 703 293. If you want to help but outside the village contact the Royal British Legion national helpline on 08457 727 725 for assistance. On behalf of all those helped by Poppy Appeal I thank you all.