The bad news was that our booked speaker went down with Flu. This was disappointing as it was the fourth time this year that a booked speaker had to cancel at short notice. The good news was that a friend of the club kindly offered to take over at the last minute. Pauline Martindale gave us a wonderful talk titled ‘A tour of Gardens’. The talk and accompanying slide show were all about gardens we can or may have visited. Some we have been to on our previous outings, others are just too far to reach on a day trip and one or two are no longer open to visitors. The photos were fantastic photography and all taken by Pauline herself.
The gardens featured included the RHS gardens at Hyde Hall, Essex which is where we went on our September club outing this year. The RHS Harlow Carr garden in Yorkshire which has a wonderful stream running through it. Pashley Manor Gardens on the Kent/Sussex borders. Our club has visited them twice before for the Tulip festival they hold each year. Apparently Ann Boleyn had connections here. Pauline told us that their wisteria is a site to behold if you are there at the right time. Kew gardens was also featured. Many of you have probably visited at some time. It is famous for its glass houses replicating the conditions of tropical areas of the world so plants that would only grow in those conditions can be seen here.
Some gardens nearer to us that were featured are Copped Hall at Epping. It opens on selected Sunday’s for various events and has a great walled garden. You can also visit the house that they are rebuilding which Henry the eighth owned at one time before it was burnt down in a devastating fire. There is also Wanstead Park to see the bluebells.
Pauline also told us about gardens in prisons. Pauline was formerly a prison officer. Lord Windlesham worked with the RHS to develop a trophy for the best kept prison garden which encouraged prisoners to do more than sit in their cells. And Pauline told us about the history of the Giggly Pig sausage company based in Romford. The woman who founded this company was serving a 10 year prison sentence but became interested in the gardening and Pig farming at the prison. When she left prison she set up the Giggly Pig company.
Our sincere thanks to Pauline for a wonderful talk.