SOG’s Summer Programme 2022
Out of courtesy to our hosts for each visit, please can you let Rachel know whether you will be attending so that refreshments can be organised (strivens58@btinternet.com or 01743 891607). Full location details will be provided to members in advance of the visits.
May 8th (Sun) – 2.00pm - Visit to member garden, Sue Bosson, in the Welsh village of Pen y Bont Fawr.
Sue, is a long time SOGs member and experienced organic and wildlife gardener. At ¼ acre, the garden is set out on two levels; the top level sits on the old Pen y Bont railway line, the lower level, is close to the River Tannet and becomes a ‘flood plain’. Challenging gardening. Please bring cakes. This is followed by a visit in the same village to Kate Nicolls, the Regional Manager for the WfGA, running their training programme and giving SOGs a Zoom presentation in 2021. Kate gardens organically, each year mulching with composted green waste to keep the annual weeds down. A mix of ornamental, veg and fruit.
June 12th (Sun) - 2.00pm - Visit to Tim and Louise Downes’ Farm in Longnor
This visit follows Tim’s hugely inspiring December talk on becoming organic dairy farmers 10 years ago, and all that it entails. This visit is part of Open Farm Sunday. Refreshments will be confirmed beforehand.
July 3rd (Sun) - 10.00am Linley Hall Revisited
Following the visit in Sept 2021 we agreed to return to follow progress in the walled kitchen garden. Kate and team are now working some 180 veg beds (50 last year), filling the now in place huge new polytunnel and doing a few field scale projects, notably winter squash. If you missed the visit last year, try not to miss it this year.
July 10th (Sun) Newtown Community Garden Open Day is open for the National Garden Scheme
This is a garden that members Sue Stickland and David Chester-Master have been involved with for some years. All the details about the garden are on the NGS website link below: https://ngs.org.uk/view-garden/43396 This is an added extra to the main programme. We will organise car sharing for all those who want to visit. Please let Chrissy Bridge know via email or telephone so that she can match people and cars.
12th and 13th August - Shrewsbury Flower Show – to be decided
August 21st - 2.00pm (Sun) - Visit to Shepherd’s Barn Smallholding in the Corvedale, Tel: 01584 861766/07807 738222
Sam and Kate Davies are self sufficient in vegetables, fruit, milk, cheese, honey, eggs, soap and alcohol. We catch up with them four years on from their talk to SOGs. There is a charge of £5/pp which includes afternoon tea and cakes. Please let Rachel know via email or telephone.
September - TBC Summer Coach Trip to RHS Bridgwater
Or a visit to another Shropshire Garden using own transport
October 9th (Sun) - 1.30pm – Tour of Treflach Farm followed by a talk - Morda, Nr Oswestry SY10 9HX Tel: 01691 654321
A family run farm since 1904 practising permaculture to raise free-range animals and care for the environment. They have key principles that guide their vision of agriculture as a sustainable industry. £4.50 /pp to cover refreshments. Please let Chrissy know via email or telephone.