Programme 2025-26

LAST MEETING REPORT: 

We had over 40 members attend a busy AGM and social meeting. Outgoing Chair, Richard Cain, led the event and a new committee was elected. Lyn Bushell is the new Chair, Andy Cutter, Treasurer and Richard Cain, Programme Secretary. All existing committee members continue to serve with the addition of two new members in Jane Grubb and Beverley Morris. Jan Wallace, who has been our treasurer for the past 18 years, received the RHS Achievement Award for 2025, and a gift token and card from the membership, together with the award of Life Membership. Ros and Los Hammerton's long commitment to the club, on the committee and as tombola organisers at Rhosygilwen for many years, also had their service recognised with the award of Life Memberships. The outgoing chair was presented with a gift and card by the incoming chair, Who then took over for the social event. After the raffle and refreshments, members were asked to look at the current year's programme and discuss in small groups what direction the club might take in the next few years and what sort of events they might enjoy. Each table reported back and the suggestions made will be very useful for the new programme secretary!

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Existing members are reminded to renew their memberships before they lapse on 1st July 2025.

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Next meeting​​

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Sunday 27 April from 10.00am to 3.00pm

Rhosygilwen Plant Fair

Ros and Los Hammerton are organising our annual Tombola at this event. It makes a very important contribution to our finances each year, so please try to grow a few plants for us, in 9cm or 1 litre pots, (flowering is a real bonus) and do volunteer to help if you can, in one hour shifts throughout the event. Please bring your plants on the day, or contact Ros if you need them collected.

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Wednesday 14 May at 7.30pm

'Trees and Shrubs' with Simon Barnes

Simon lives in Ceredigion and has a passion for trees and shrubs. His talk will be illustrated with locally sourced twigs, leaves, branches and even flowers, a hands on approach. Plant Sale.

 

Wednesday 11 June at 7.30pm

'Welsh Apples' with Carwyn Graves

Carwyn Graves is an author, public speaker and gardener from Wales. Author of the bestselling ‘Apples of Wales’ (2018) and ‘Welsh Food Stories’. Plant Sale.

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Saturday 21 June at 2.00pm

Visit to Llwyngarreg Garden, Llanfallteg, nr Whitland SA34 0XH

We are taking up our invitation from Liz & Paul O'Neill to visit their four acre garden, so join us for the Summer Solstice. Paul will take us on a guided tour, before free time to explore (garden open until 6.00pm). Teas available. CAR SHARING IS ESSENTIAL AS THERE ARE ONLY 10 PARKING SPACES. NGS entry £7.00 per head, Teas £4.00 per head. Dogs on leads welcome.

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Wednesday 9 July at 7.30pm

'Creating and Maintaining a Sustainable Cut Flower Farm' with Clare Grey

The talk will include our Background, Values and Beliefs, Plotting and Planning, Soil Health and Composting, Successional Sowing and Extending the season, Natural Pest Management, Top Flowers for Every Season and a Q&A session. Plant Sale.

 

Sunday 3 August from 2.00pm-5.00pm

Club Open Garden. Maenhir, Login, SA34 0XE

Member Rosemary Twose has kindly offered to open her garden to club members and their guests. It is a mixed garden with Shrubs, Herbaceous, Veg, Alpine house, Greenhouse, Polytunnel, Duckpond and lovely views. Rosy describes it as "a garden too big for the age of the gardener"!  There will be a club Plant Sale in the garden.

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Saturday 16 August (evening visit, meet at the car park entrance at 6.15pm)

A private tour of Picton Castle Gardens with Head Gardener, Roddy Milne

This event will be subsidised for members. Details to follow.

 

Wednesday 10 September 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. Plant Sale.

 

Wednesday 8 October at 7.30pm

'Gardens and Nature - getting up close to the wildlife in your garden' with Kate MacRae

Kate moved to Carmarthenshire in September 2023. It's been a busy year of getting to know her new wild neighbours and installing the infrastructure that allows her to monitor and film the wildlife visiting her 3 acre garden. Already having featured on the BBC 6 o'clock News and 'Coast & Country' with the clips she has already captured here, we get a 'behind the scenes' view of what she has set up and get to see some of the footage she has gathered from her garden. From bird feeders to nest boxes, ponds to waterholes, Kate is developing habitat and spaces for wildlife and has captured some captivating footage... but this is only the start.. She has grand plans for her new garden!

Kate’s has featured on BBC Springwatch & Autumnwatch, The One Show, Countryfile and numerous other wildlife programmes. She is passionate about people connecting to the wildlife that is in their own garden. Plant Sale.

 

Wednesday 12 November at 7.30pm

'Turkish Delights' with Bob Wallis

Bob & Rannveig Wallis have been driving members of Alpine Garden Society for the past thirty years. They specialise in dwarf bulbs and have travelled extensively throughout the Middle East and Asia collecting seed in areas where these grow. They run a small nursery supplying rare bulbs by mail order.  This superbly illustrated talk is based on 15 trips, over 25 years, throughout the three climatic zones in Turkey and their special plants. The three zones are Mediterranean, High Central Plateau and the Northern Temperate Rainforest. Club Annual Seed Swap.

 

Saturday 13 December at 2.00pm

Christmas Social - details nearer the time.

 

Wednesday 14 January at 7.30pm

'A day in the life of a plant inspector & a nursery perspective' with Carolyn Williamson & Richard Bramley

Carolyn is an APHA inspector (Animal and Plant Health Agency) and Richard runs Farmyard Nurseries. Together they will present 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.

 

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.

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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. Plant Sale.

 

Wednesday 8 April at 7.30pm

AGM

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