Some images from the Spring Show
March Newsletter
Next Meeting
The March meeting is on Thursday 6th at 7.30pm, Harewood House and its Daffodil time!! Our guest speaker is Martin Stott, the Head Gardener at Saltram and daffodil aficionado. His talk is entitled “Daffodils and Saltram” and I am sure Martin will entertain us once again with his knowledge of both Saltram and of daffodils. Doors open at 7.00pm. It would be appreciated if members don’t arrive too early in order to give the committee time to set up.
As well as the usual free tea and coffee, sales/swap table, informal competition, it’s the daffodil competition judging evening. A reminder to all those who took a plant pot, compost and bulbs away in the Autumn, now is the time for your efforts to be judged. Please bring your entries along – everyone will have experienced the same weather conditions etc so don’t be put off if you think your daffs are a bit early or a bit late – it’s only a fun competition.
Spring Show
It’s not long now until the 15th March so keep a close eye on your entries to ensure they are in tip-top condition for the show. Schedules are still available and the show is open to members and non-members. The focus of the show is, of course, daffodils, however there are many other opportunities for people to get involved. The other categories are: General Flowers, Garden Produce, Floral Art, Domestic Science, Photography. There is also a separate Junior section, ages 4 up to 6 years and 7 up to 10 years.
We would be grateful for any donations of plants for the plant stall and kitchen store cupboard items for the tombola. Please bring them along to Thursday’s meeting or bring them on the day of the show.
Doors open to the public at 1.30pm. There will be a plant sales stall, second hand goods, Tombola and refreshments as well as the chance to view all the wonderful entries. Any enquiries – please contact Paul Hutchings, 07974 406179.
Trading Hut
The Trading Hut at Stoggy Lane will be open on Sunday 9th March from 10.00am to 11.30am. Apologies to anyone inconvenienced by the change to the original planned date.
Coach Trips
The trips are open to paid-up members only. If, at a later date, there are still seats available we will extend the trip to friends and family. Our trips offer tremendous value for money so make the most of the benefits of traveling with friends and having local pick-ups.
Bicton Botanical Gardens – Friday 6th June – cost £30 pp. Provisional pick-up times:
Plymstock 9.00
Plympton 9.15
Ivybridge 9.35
Bicton 11.00
Depart 16.00
Please pay by bank transfer if possible, or by cash at Thursday’s meeting
a/c Plympton Gardeners
Sort Code 30-94-58
Account No. 00930198
Reference your surname + Bicton
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Forde Abbey House and Gardens (Near Chard, Somerset) Wednesday 16th July -cost £35 pp.
This includes access to the house. Provisional pick-up times:
Plymstock 8.30
Plympton 8.45
Ivybridge 9.05
Forde Abbey 11.00
Depart 16.00
Please pay by bank transfer if possible, or by cash at Thursday’s meeting
a/c Plympton Gardeners
Sort Code 30-94-58
Account No. 00930198
Reference your surname + Forde
__________________________________________________________________________________________
We are also considering a trip to Trelissick NT garden in September. More details nearer the time.
Stannator for Plympton 2025
The new Stannator is to be elected shortly. There are two candidates – details below. We will choose our nomination, by a show of hands, at Thursday’s meeting.
Membership
For those members who have yet to renew, you may do so at Thursday’s meeting or by bank transfer. The cost remains at £5.
Bank account details are shown above. Please include your surname in the reference field.
Dates for your diary:
Saturday 15th March – PGA Spring Show
Thursday 3rd April - Regular monthly meeting
Sat 3rd May - Community Council Spring Fare
Friday 6th June – Trip to Bicton Gardens
Saturday 21st June – St Maurice Lamb Feast
W/C 4th July - Coffee Bar week
Wednesday 16th July – Trip to Forde Abbey
February 2025 Newsletter
Next Meeting
Our next meeting is on Thursday 6th February. There will be a short AGM followed by a talk on Adventurous Plants, by Ben Candlin. As usual, the meeting is at Harewood House, Plympton, starting at 7.30 – doors open at 7.00. Free tea and coffee, raffle, informal competition and the sales/swap table. Schedules for the Spring show will be available at the meeting.
Annual General Meeting
Please see below for a list of the current officers and their role within the committee. All Committee members have indicated that they are willing to continue in office, if so elected. Any other member is welcomed to submit their name and the office they would like to be considered for. Please contact the Secretary or Chairman, prior to the meeting. John Gilding 330607 or Carol 336057
The committee have proposed a small change to the Constitution of the Association. Please see details below.
Spring Show – SATURDAY 15th MARCH
Something positive to look forward to! For the show to be successful many volunteers are needed and we would like members to get involved especially as stewards and runners. If you have never helped before don’t be put off - we will give training and guidance. Many people who helped for the first time last year said how much they enjoyed it and how much they learnt. Other help required is for catering, plant sales etc. and most importantly clearing up at the end of the show. Many shows across the country are folding due to lack of support – we are one of the few remaining in the Plymouth area so we think it important that we are seen to be successful. Please see (or ring) Paul Hutchings 07974 406179.
Coffee Bar
The Coffee Bar at the beginning of January raised over £590. An excellent effort and we are sincerely grateful to all those members who contributed in some way. From the servers and sandwich makers, the dish-washers, the cake donations, the donations the tombola and bric-a-brac and to those who just came along to support the cause – thanks to you all. A special mention of thanks to Lloyd for coordinating it all. The next coffee bar is in July.
Christmas Sweets Containers
Just a reminder that we would like any empty Quality Street, Roses and Celebrations containers you may still have. Dartmoor Wildlife Park are collecting them as part of a fund-raising effort. Please bring them to the meeting and pass to Jill or Phil.
Membership
Thanks to all those members who have already paid their £5. Subscriptions can be paid at the February meeting or by bank transfer using the following details:
a/c name Plympton Gardeners
Sort Code 30-94-58
Account No. 00930198
Reference your surname
Daffodil Competition
Just a reminder to those people taking part in this members-only competition, that we will be judging entries at the March meeting. You might like to start talking nicely to your daffs! and pray that the weather plays its part.
Group Trips
We are planning on running 2, may be 3 trips in 2025. Nothing has been finalised yet but the information we have so far:
Bicton Botanical Gardens – planned date Friday 6th June – cost approx. £30 to be confirmed
Forde Abbey House and Gardens (Near Chard, Somerset)
Planned date Wednesday 16th July -cost approx. £35 to be confirmed.
Possibly Trelissick NT garden in September
No monies will be taken until March when we have final confirmation.
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PGA Officers 2024
Position Current Holder
President Terri Beer
Vice President Keith Clapton
Vice President Bob Shaw
Committee Members
Chairman John Gilding
Secretary Carol Penhallurick
Ast Secretary Vacant
Treasurer Bernice Lewin
Ast. Treasurer Lynne Langridge
Membership Sec Phil Warren
Ast. Membership Sec Pam Bee
Social Sec (Trips etc) Phil Warren
Show Sec. Paul Hutchings
Ast. Show Sec Debbie Swane
Trading/Sales Phil Warren & Sue Bone
Communications Chris Bishop
(Web Site, Press, Minutes)
Coffee Bar Organiser Lloyd Hills
Deputy Coffee Bar
Organiser Jennifer Eaglestone
Download all attachments as a zip file
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Balance_Sheet_2024.pdf
80.2kB
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PGA Summary sheet 2024.pdf
106.3kB
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Constitution Jan 25 draft PDF.pdf
138.5kB
January 2025 Newsletter
Wishing all our members a happy, healthy and peaceful new year.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting is on Thursday 6th February.
Membership Subscriptions
Membership remains at £5. Ideally, we would like members to pay by bank transfer:
a/c Plympton Gardeners
Sort Code 30-94-58
Account No. 00930198
Reference your surname
Alternatively, please pay by cash at the January coffee bar or by cash at our regular meetings.
Coffee Bar
A message from Lloyd –
Plympton Gardeners are running the Coffee Bar at Harewood House from Monday 6th January to Friday the 10th from 10am to 2pm each day.
We would welcome any additional help to that already offered, even if it's just for a few hours. We especially could do with more help on Thursday if you have any time free.
We would also appreciate any offers of bakes during the week as the first week can be quite busy with people keen to get out after the holidays.
Finally, we are running our Bric a Brac stall and Tombola all week so if you want to drop by with any donations during the week we would be delighted to see you (someone will be attendance from 9.00am- 2.00pm daily). In 2025 we are supporting and raising funds for the Plymouth branch of the Elder Tree befriending charity.
If you can help at all or just need a bit more information, please contact Lloyd Hills at lloydhills10@gmail.com or on 07579767124
Recycling Opportunity
We would encourage members to support the Dartmoor Zoo (Sparkwell) Recycle and Raise campaign.
After Christmas, when all your festive treats have been eaten up, Dartmoor Zoo are collecting clean plastic tubs for recycling and raising funds. They will accept, until 15th February 2025, the following items which can be left at their gatehouse. Alternatively, please bring them along to the Coffee Bar next week, the February meeting or pass to Jill or Phil.
Confectionary tubs (Celebrations, Quality Street & Roses etc.)
Ice Cream tubs
Cracker tubs
Milk bottle tops
Plastic Takeaway containers
Put them to one side before Green Bin collection day.
Spring Show Saturday 15th March
Schedules are now available, please contact Paul Hutchings 07974 406179; paul.hutchings1957@gmail.com
Programme for 2025
FEB 6th AGM Followed by a talk by Ben Candlin on “Adventurous Plants”
MAR 6th Daffodils and Saltram–Martin Stott
MEMBERS DAFFODIL COMPETITION
Mar 15th SPRING SHOW
APR 3rd “Lovely Plot” - Olga Grieves
MAY 1st All about Pelargoniums – Brian Carlson
JUNE 5th Knowing your soil – Becky Searle
JULY 3rd Bees and honey -Mark Grieves
AUG 7th How to revive a tired garden- Elizabeth Holman
AUG 16th SUMMER SHOW
SEPT 4th Creating a planted display - Stella Exley
OCT 2nd “A Westcountry girl of colour” – Jacquie Felix
MEMBERS ONION COMPETITION
NOV 6th Floral Celebrations – Sue Minter
DEC 4th MEMBERS' CHRISTMAS EVENING
bingo, a raffle and a very tasty buffet supper. A cheque for £1150 was presented to a representative of the PGA
charity for 2024, First Responders.
