Programme 2026-27

LAST MEETING REPORT: 

Carolyn is an APHA inspector (Animal and Plant Health Agency) and Richard runs Farmyard Nurseries. Together they presented their joint approaches to plant health, stressing the importance of Plant Health Regulations and Inspections, ensuring that diseases in plants are spotted quickly and reported, especially in plants imported from other countries. Large nurseries may be inspected up to four times a year and now have to show a plant passport on the resale of all imported plants, as well as keeping purchase records, so in the event of any disease it can be traced back to its source. Current legislation was explained and a list of pests and diseases we should look out for were illustrated by Carolyn. Of paticular interest was the Processional Larch Moth, which is destroying many of the countries Larch trees and goes largely unnoticed as Ash Die Back takes the headlines. This very interesting and informative talk was followed by some astute questions before the vote of thanks was given by Tony Poole.

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Newsletter articles (photos, sales, wants, gardens visited etc) for the next newsletter (March) should be sent by email to ROGER BUSHELL

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Wednesday 11 Feb at 7.30pm

'Designing a Garden' with Andy Cutter

Club and committee members, Andy and Lesley Cutter are in the process of creating a new garden at Lower Kings, Boncath. Having trained as a Garden Designer in 2017, Andy has designed over 50 gardens for private clients. His talk will give an overview of the design process from a professional perspective and will include useful tips on garden layouts that members will be able to incorporate into their own gardens. Examples of designs will be included in the presentation and be available to view on the evening.

Teas: Lesley Cutter & Michele James

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Wednesday 11 March at 7.30pm

'No Dig Gardening' with Stephanie Hafferty
Stephanie is a garden and food writer, and a leading authority on no dig gardening. In March 2021 she moved to Ceredigion, and started a new productive homestead on just under half an acre, which featured on BBC Gardeners’ World Winter Special. 

Teas: Katie Rutter & Jackie Lewis

 

Wednesday 8 April at 7.30pm

AGM & Social Evening

Teas: Liz North & Sue Leigh

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Wednesday 13 May at 7.30pm

'Extreme Gardening' with Helen Maxwell

Helen’s garden is 250m above sea level, but with a careful choice of plants and drystone walls she has transformed the hilltop. Despite the challenging conditions, flowers are thriving and the result inspiring. This garden has featured in Gardeners’ World Magazine. Teas:

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Saturday 16 May 9.00am-3.00pm

Coach Trip to Clyne Gardens, Blackpill, Swansea

Departing Newcastle Emlyn Mart bus stop at 9.00am and returning from Swansea at 3.00pm.

The club is subsidising this trip so the cost to members is £5 per person. Members may bring a guest, cost £10 per guest. We have a 49 seat coach, with toilet and this will drop us off at the garden entrance and collect us at the same place. The gardens are free to enter, have public toilets, seating and picnic places and there is a good pub, serving food, called The Woodman, at the garden entrance.

​Clyne Gardens are famous for their collections of Rhododendron and Enkianthus. Added are wonderful bog gardens, a bluebell wood, rare specimen trees and wildflower meadows. The gardens are spectacular this month. Online booking and payment by BACS or cash only.  The trip will run regardless of the weather and tickets are non-refundable. NOW BOOKING HERE

alternatively, you can scan the QR code with your mobile device

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Wednesday 10 June at 7.30pm

'Wild Welsh Herbalism: Foraging, Remedies and Folklore' with Saleena Walker

An introduction to Welsh herbal traditions with practical, seasonal remedies and stories that bring the plants to life. Salena Walker is a dedicated practitioner of Wild Welsh herbalism who draws on her ancestral heritage and native plant traditions. She has taught for more than twenty years and has grown medicinal plants for forty years, weaving this knowledge into both her practice and clinic. Salena is a qualified herbalist, nutritionist and naturopath, registered with the NNA, URHP and the Naturopathic Council. She is passionate about empowering others with herbal knowledge, uniting traditional wisdom with sustainable living, and she serves as an ambassador for The Herb Society.

Teas:

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Saturday 11 July 2.00-5.00pm

Garden visit to Sue & Richard Parker, Garregwen, Llanfyrnach SA35 0BB

Sue and Richard Parker's garden is a mix of original mature trees, Western Red Cedar, Norway Spruce, Ash, Oak and Beech many over 20 meters tall, with large Rhododendron plants. There are refurbished slate garden walls with new planting and borders set in one acre. Soft fruits, raised vegetable beds and strawberries, that should be ready, as well a a poly tunnel with cauliflowers. There is a mixture of ferns in the shady areas as well as a small bluebell patch. Further on there is a 3 acre waterside meadow. In the field there is a vegetable patch and a nice riverside walk. The field is a mix of wild flower meadow and bog areas with marsh marigolds, broad leaved cuckoo flower and other bog plants and willow trees.

 

Directions to Garregwen, Llanfyrnach SA35 0BB.

Head for Llanfyrnach, SA35 0BB or use What3Words: ///cones.riverbed.refutes

Take the road between Mansel Davies yards through the village and over a small bridge and take the turning on the left. The house is on the right (outlined in red on the map below.) If you follow sat nav to the post code it will take you 300 meters along past the house to the entrance to Ty Nywed, opposite which is the entrance to our field (outlined in blue) where you can park. There is limited parking on the drive for those who need to park closer.

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Wednesday 12 August at 7.30pm

'Soft Fruit Gardening' with Liz Zorab

The talk is a celebration of soft fruit. It includes all the usual suspects and others that are less well-known, but are easy to grow and that we may already have in our gardens. Propagation techniques, hints and tips and I share some of my favourite preserving methods. Liz Zorab is an award winning gardener and video maker. She is also a best-selling author, a regular gardening expert for BBC Radio Wales, and writes a fortnightly column for Amateur Gardening magazine. Liz champions sustainable, low-impact and low-effort gardening practices. She blends ornamental gardening with food growing, creating gardens that feed the body and soul. On her YouTube channel she shares real-life gardening and attainable gardening ideas. Her videos have had millions of views around the world. Teas:

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Wednesday 9 September at 7.30pm

'The National Gardens Scheme - beyond the garden gate' with Jackie Batty

The talk will cover how the NGS works, how it started, where the money goes and gardens to visit in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. Jackie and her husband Martin garden at Treffgarne Hall and are lucky to have a walled garden where the focus is on borderline-hardy and exotic specimens. We continue to be delighted and amazed with what does grow and thrive! Charmed into opening for the NGS in 2008, we have continued to welcome visitors. Further charmed in 2009 to help on the County Team, Jackie took on the role of Assistant County Organiser and from 2017 has been County Organiser for Carmarthenshire & Pembrokeshire.

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Wednesday 14 October at 7.30pm

'Symphotrichums & Beyond - Late Season Flower Power' with Janine Thomson

Janine makes a welcome return to the club, with an illustrated talk on Symphotrichums (Asters or Michaelmas Daisies to you and me!)​ and other late flowering plants, to add colour to the autumn border. Janine is owner of Heartease Plants and has a regular stall at St Dogmaels on a Tuesday, as well as selling at Rare Plant Fairs throughout the season.  She will be bringing some choice plants for sale so there will be no club plant sale this month,  Teas:

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Wednesday 11 November at 7.30pm

'Bee-keeping for Beginners' with Rob Wilson

Rob lives in Abercych and runs a commercial honey enterprise, Cych Valley Honey Farm. They produce local honey, queen bees, nucleus hives, beeswax and much more. A family business with three generations celebrating 60 years of beekeeping. A full guide and description of the art of setting up and running your own hives. Products for sale.

Annual Club Seed Swap. Don't forget to bring your seeds and take some away! 

Teas:

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Saturday 12 December at 2.00pm

Christmas Social 

Our annual social, details to follow

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Wednesday 13 January 2027 at 7.30pm

Gardeners Question Time with Jenny, Richard, & Roger 

Roger Spencer, from Trefedyn, will be joining club members, Richard Cain and Jenny Matthews, to answer all your questions. Compered by Roger Bushell.

Teas 

 

Wednesday 10 February at 7.30pm

to be confirmed

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Wednesday 10 March at 7.30pm

'The Adventures of a Seed Detective' with Adam Alexander

​I have a passion for growing fruit and vegetables, which I have been doing since I was a little kid. I am a filmmaker, writer and seed saver. My interest in discovering rare, endangered but above all, delicious vegetables from around the world began as the result of meeting a remarkable lady in a vegetable market in Donetsk, Ukraine in the late eighties whilst making a documentary series there. I write about that life-changing encounter in my book The Seed Detective. So began a pursuit for deliciousness and a journey of discovery and learning about the social and cultural relationships we have with what we grow and eat that I have been on for the best part of 35 years. Today I have a library of over 500 varieties of vegetables I have been given and collected in my travels around the world which I love to sow, savour and share. Seeds to share and books at a 25% discount.

Teas:

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Wednesday 14 April at 7.30pm

AGM and Social Evening

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