Tree Planting at Woody's Lodge

 

Here we are (Nina and Jim Milton) as part of the volunteer tree planters, getting almost a 1000 saplings into the ground at Woody's Lodge, which will be registered as part of the Queens Canopy across the UK. 

The Tree Planting scheme falls within the Egin ( Welsh for “green shoots”) Programme which aims to support communities in Wales, in tackling climate change and is administered by the National Lottery Community Fund and supported by Wales Govt. Woody’s part in this project enabled Veterans' community, families and children to re- introduce, Wales’ native deciduous tree species, eg. Oak, Birch, Elm, Beech, Alder, Holly, Hawthorn etc .at the Farm. 

The majority of the planting introduced saplings along Penlan’s boarders and hedgerows which will increase water uptake, reduce water runoff and improving overall drainage. The Project  also improves biodiversity in terms of bird, plant and insect species on site, adding to the attraction of the Farm for future family camping and Veteran users alike.

 Woody's Lodge are now begining to develop their new polytunnel, as well. The weather help up starting this project, but they are looking forward to getting stuck into the fitting out with benches and raised beds and focusing on some growing this coming spring, with a broader Growing Project at Penlan for a more sustainable future. This project was funded by Proceeds of Crime, and the polytunnel was supplied by 5 Star Poly Tunnels, build by James and team from Arb-Yr-Arth Tree Care of Aberaeron.

Woody’s Lodge is a Welsh charity.

It's aims are to serve  veterans of the Armed Forces, Reserves, Emergency
Services, and their families. They provide an inviting meeting space for veterans to re-engage with life, their families and their communities. They especially help with all the problems, physical, mental and emotional, that service veterans encounter, and bereavement help for families.

The history of Woody's Lodge is recent, but passionate. In 2012, Royal Marine and member of the Elite Special Boat Service, Paul “Woody” Woodland lost his life in a training exercise, before he was due to return for a second tour of duty in Afghanistan. Woody was born, bred and schooled in Penarth, South Wales, and had always wanted to be a Royal Marine. Once he completed his Armed Forces career, his dream had been to build a log cabin where he would be able to live with his family, peacefully and in safety.

Woody’s dream of owning a log cabin after his service became the inspiration for Woody’s Lodge. After 3 months of refurbishment, the first Woody’s Lodge opened. It was set within quiet green spaces where it had calming viewsof the Bristol Channel and offered a safe, peaceful and familiar surrounding for veterans and their families.

Penlan Farm is the newest 'Woody's Lodge' in Wales and hopes to cater for some big projects. It is located just off the B4571 within the boundaries of Penrhiwpal.  This includes some leisure and recreational activities, training and networking, with plans for training facilities. The farm benefits from two grants that will have a phenomenal impact on its growth and development.

Rhydlewisonians might know this stretch of land better as Penlan Farm.For people who haven't been in the neighbourhood for too long, Penlan was owned by Jane and Richard Cain for some years, and run as the centre for Penlan Perennials Nursery.  The following owners, Mr and Mrs Murphy gifted  the land to Woody's Lodge as they were impressed with the work they were doing.

Woody's Lodge is happy to show interested parties around Penlan Farm grounds, and to hear from people interested in volunteering. Contact Richard Rose at richard@woodyslodge.org. 

The Spring Show March 2023

 

The Rhydlewis and District Gardening club held its Spring show on 28 March 2023. After a long and difficult winter for growers and a sharp spring frost only the night before the show, members rallied round to present to our judges Bob and Rannveig Wallis a fabulous selection of produce to ponder over. Competition was fierce and awards keenly fought over and everyone had a most enjoyable evening of entertainment.

There are four 

Spring Show awards 

as well as individual 

category firsts and seconds.

SPRING SHOW AWARDS

Best exhibit from Classes 1-14, The Derrick and Barbara Calow Memorial shield Janette Sharman

The Artisan shield , most points in classes 18-26 Jane Soltys

The Pam Hufferdine Trophy, Class 17, Melanie Williams

Overall Winner of Classes 1-6, 

Janette Sharman and Nina Milton

Thanks particularly to the Judges, Bob and Rannveig, to the Show Secretary Jane Puddephatt, and to our President, Jenny Archibald...and everyone to helped make the show a success. 

Look out for the write-up in the Tivyside Tuesday April 18th Edition.

INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES 

FLOWERS

1. Single daffodil yellow Div. 1, 1st Dilys Davies, 2nd Nina Milton

2. Single Daffodil other Div. 1, 1st. Sue Sewell, 2nd Nina Milton

3. Large or small cupped Narcissus div.2 &3, 1st Gary Soltys, 2nd Melanie Williams and Gemma Cohen

4. Double Narcissus div.4, 1st Nina Milton, 2nd Michael Lloyd

5. Narcissus any other Div.5-12, 1st Michael Lloyd, 2nd Erica Knight

6. Bowl or pot of bulbs in bloom, no award

7. Vase of Spring flowers, 1st. Jenny Archibald, 2nd. Michelle Brown

9. Camellia 1 bloom, 1st. Liz Hardy, 2nd Gemma Cohen and Gary Soltys

10. Flowering plant in pot, 1st. Michelle Brown 2nd. Nina Milton

12. Flowering tree or shrub cut spray, 1st. Liz Hardy 2nd. Sue Edmunds

13. Cactus or succulent, 1st Gemma Cohen

14. Dish of hellebore heads, 1st. Janette Sharman 2nd Janette Sharman and Erica Knight

FLORAL ART

15. Posy of Primula, 1st. Janette Sharman

MEMBERS CATEGORY

17. Club members pot of narcissus, 1st. Melanie Williams

ART, CRAFTS AND PHOTOGRAPHY

18. Garden Life Photo, 1st Erica Knight, 2nd. Erica Knight

19. Decorated egg, 1st Jane Soltys

21. Pencil sketch of UK wild animal, 1st Janette Sharman, 2nd. Sue Sewell

22. An Easter card, 1st. Jane Soltys 

HOMECRAFT

23. 4 Hot cross buns, 1st n/a 2nd. Jane Soltys and Marj Fogg

24. 4 jam tarts, 1st n/a, 2nd Nina Milton

26. Swiss Roll, 1st Nina Milton 2nd. Marj Fogg

Bees in your Garden; a Talk by Jonathan Sainsbury

 

Bees in your Garden

On Tuesday 28th February, Jonathan Sainsbury gave a wonderful talk on 'Bees in your Garden.' Lots of great advice on all sorts of bees and what they need to keep pollinating our plants.

Here are some of the fascinating parts of his talk. 

Using scientific evidence, our extensive experience and the records of gardeners and beekeepers, we've selected a range of year-round flowering Plants for Pollinators to tackle the decline in pollinator numbers.

Look for the Plants for Pollinators symbol when searching our find a plant database, or use the Plants for Pollinators filter, to see the selection of plants.

The Plants for Pollinators lists can be downloaded below:

• Garden Plants (261kB pdf)
• Wildflowers (253kB pdf)
• Plants of the World (178kB pdf)

The lists are reviewed by RHS staff. In 2022, the most extensive review of the lists was initiated, it is expected to take 18 months to complete. Relevant research is being evaluated and observations or requests for changes to the lists are being considered. This may result in plants being added or removed from the lists. The previous update was August 2019 (download the list bel0w).

• Changes made to Plants for Pollinators in 2019 (43kB pdf)

To suggest changes to the Plants for Pollinators lists please email our team.
 

Discover how to use native and non-native plants to benefit pollinators and other invertebrates in gardens through findings from RHS Plants for Bugsresearch.

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Using the Plants for Pollinators logo

The RHS Plants for Pollinators registered trademark is available for use by the horticultural trade and groups that want to promote the initiative.

Complete the registration form to download the Plants for Pollinators logos. You will also get access to the guidelines document and terms and conditions on the use of the trademark.

Register to use the logos

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Plants for Pollinators replaces Perfect for Pollinators

One of the biggest problems for pollinators is a lack of flowering plants, especially those packed with pollen and nectar, so in 2011 we launched the Perfect for Pollinators logo to encourage gardeners to grow more of them. We care passionately about our bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other pollinators and believe gardens play an important role in reversing their decline. The brand has never resulted in any profit for the RHS.

We have been reviewing the logo after research found that some labelled plants contained traces of pesticides. While the RHS encourages responsible growing practices, it cannot, as a charity, police how hundreds of thousands of plants are grown each year within the horticultural trade. Rather than get rid of the brand altogether – which would undermine efforts to boost pollinator numbers - we are changing the name to Plants for Pollinators. This new name better reflects the significance of the logo; showing gardeners those flowering plants that are attractive to pollinators without commenting on the way in which they have been grown.

We anticipate that the process of rebranding may take some years as we work with the industry to ensure a smooth transition. In the interim we urge gardeners to continue to look to the logo as a guide to what plants will support pollinators in their gardens as we must continue to help these vital insects.

One of the RHS’s key objectives is to help gardeners to garden responsibly and grow more plants; for instance, we promote non-chemical means of control for gardeners and provide extensive advice on alternatives to pesticides. For those that prefer to have more confidence that the plants they purchase do not contain pesticide residues we have created a list of organic nurseries. We are also eager to continue to work with the horticultural trade and Government to establish how assurance schemes and supply chains can be improved to help buyers and gardeners make informed decisions, such as including information at the point of sale about how plants have been grown.

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What else can I do to help pollinators?

• Allow lawn ‘weeds’ to flower by cutting less often 
• Provide water for pollinators
• Avoid using pesticides wherever possible and never spray open flowers
• Provide nest sites for wild bees

More advice on how gardeners can help our declining bees and other pollinators

Spring Show 28th MARCH 2023

CLWB GARDDIO RHYDLEWIS A’R CYLCH

RHYDLEWIS AND DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB

SPRING SHOW

TUESDAY EVENING

28th MARCH 2023

RHYDLEWIS VILLAGE HALL

STAGING FROM 3.30pm UNTIL 5.30pm

(Judging from 5.30 to 7.30 – no entry to show until 7.30)

SHOW OPENS AT 7.30pm

RAFFLE AND REFRESHMENTS

AUCTION OF DONATED EXHIBITS

RULES

• Unless otherwise stated, exhibits in classes 1-14 should consist of one variety only
• Unless otherwise stated, exhibits in classes 1-14 should be of fresh plant material and displayed in a vase or container supplied by the exhibitor
• Unless otherwise stated, exhibits in classes 1-14 all exhibits must be grown by the exhibitor
• Rhydlewis Gardening Club cannot be held responsible for anything left in the hall after the show. If necessary, label your containers
• In the event of a dispute, the committee reserves the right to inspect gardens and, if necessary, to disqualify.
• ANY OBJECTION TO AN EXHIBIT MUST BE MADE TO THE SHOW SECRETARY ON THE NIGHT OF THE SHOW

• OPEN TO ALL EXHIBITORS (EXCEPT CLASS 26)

  
  

  Entries fees: 

  Members of the Rhydlewis Gardening Club: free

  Non-members: £2.00 fixed entry fee

  
  

  HELP WILL BE GIVEN WITH STAGING IF NEEDED

For further information please contact the Show Secretary

Jane Puddephatt 01239 851070

or the secretary Nina Milton 01239 851096/07962781146

FLOWERS

1. Single Daffodil (Narcissus Division 1) - 4 blooms, 1 variety, all yellow 
2. Single Daffodil (Narcissus Division 1) - 4 blooms, 1 variety
3. Large or small-cupped Narcissus (Divisions 2 & 3) - 4 blooms, one variety
4. Double Narcissus (including Daffodils) (Division 4) - 4 stems, one variety
5. Narcissus - any other (Division 5 - 12 ) - 4 stems, 1 variety
6. Bowl or pot of bulbs in bloom - any one variety
7. Vase of spring flowers - not more than 6 varieties
8. Tulips - 4 stems, one variety
9. Camellia - 1 bloom
10. 10. Flowering plant in a pot - under 24 in. (60cm) high, including pot
11. 11. Carnivorous plant in a pot - under 24 in. (60cm) high, including pot
12. 12. Flowering tree or shrub - cut spray from one variety
13. 13. Cactus or succulent mixed or single varieties  24in (60cm) high inc. pot
14. 14. Dish of floating hellebore heads 

FLORAL ART

15. 15. Posy of primula (including primrose, polyanthus, cowslip etc)
16. 16. Easter bonnet decorated with seasonal bloom

(Categories 15 & 16 can include non-plant accessories, fruit, vegetables, and purchased plant items)

CLUB MEMBERS ONLY

17. 17.  A pot of narcissus, grown from bulbs supplied last autumn by the club

ART, CRAFT AND PHOTOGRAPHY

18. 18. ‘Garden Life’ a photograph, not exceeding 12” X 18” (30cmX46cm), can be framed, mounted or unmounted.
19. 19. Decorated egg (any size)
20. 20. Pin cushion (any medium, any size) 
21. 21. A pencil or charcoal sketch of a any British wild animal (not to exceed 12in (30cm) by 18in (46cm)
22. 22. An Easter card (A5 max)

HOMECRAFT

23. 23. 4 Hot-cross buns
24. 24. 4 Jam tarts (homemade shortcrust pastry)
25. 25. Bowl of homemade fudge cut into cubes
26. 26. 1 Swiss roll (undecorated)

SPRING SHOW AWARDS

THE FLOWER CUP

 Overall winner of classes 1-16

 DERRICK AND BARBARA CALOW MEMORIAL CUP 

the best exhibit from a Club Member in Classes 1-14

THE ARTISAN SHEILD 

Most points in classes 18-25

PAM HUFFERDINE TROPHY

Best exhibit in class 17

The Royal Horticultural Society classification into divisions. 

Division 1 is distinguished by having one flower per stem and the trumpet as long as, or longer than, the petals (the classic trumpet daffodil, e.g. ‘KIng Alfred’, ‘Golden Harvest’ or ‘Mount Hood’).

Divisions 2 & 3 include most singles with one flower per stem with a trumpet shorter than the petals

Division 4 includes ALL doubles – one or more flowers per stem

Division 5 to 12 include single jonquils, tazettas, Narcissus triandrus hybrids (like ‘Hawera’), Narcissus cyclamineus hybrids (like ‘Dove Wings’ and ‘Jenny’), Narcissus poeticus hybrids

Gardening Club February Meeting on Tuesday the 28th February; Come and join an evening learning about how Honey Bees can benefit your garden.

 

RHYDLEWIS & DISTRICT GARDENING  CLUB   CLWB GARDDIO RHYDLEWIS A’R CYLCH

© Suzie Hubbard / WWF-UK

TALK ABOUT HONEY BEES

At the Rhydlewis village Hall

TUESDAY   FEBRUARY 28th  7.30 - 9.00pm

With Jonathan Sainsbury

Come and join an evening learning about how Honey Bees can benefit your garden and improve our environment and which plants to grow to attract them

Raffle and refreshments

Entry  £2.00  - visitors - Members free

Join us at our monthly meetings : talks, visits. demo’s, workshops, socials, seed discounts and new friends

Membership £10 per year

Further Details : contact Nina Milton 07962781146 ninahare00@googlemail.com

All Set for a Great Summer at the Gardening Club.

John Piggot, Facebook page

The Rhydlewis Gardening Club has finally emerged from a long Covid sleep!

At a very successful AGM in May,  it was lovely too see some new faces and a thanks to old the long-term members who turn out to be there and help us set up the club again. We needed to elect a new chairperson, after the sad death of Liz Blackler, and also a show secretary. So now we have both! Paul  Kllick is now Chair, Jonathan Sainsbury is Vice-Chair and Jane Puddephatt is our new Show Secretary. 

Dilys Davies, Facebook page

At the start of June, we celebrated the platinum jubilee with a plant sale at the village hall, and raised over £90. We also excited a lot of interest in the club and several new members will be coming to the summer events, so please do make them really welcome.

It's always lovely to meet new gardeners and listen to their stories of their gardening; both the highlights and the problems!  We have always had an ethos of having a wide base -- anyone who can get to the meeting can join. Our constitution states that the club  exists to "foster an interest in, and love of, all forms of gardening; to be recreational, educational, and non-political (with the exception of any issues that specifically affect gardeners)", 

We are running a short programme for 2022 and fees have been waived, partly to attract new members. In January 23, at our next AGM, fees of £10 per person will be due again. So do come along and enjoy the free meetings. We also have a club discount scheme, which allows members up to 40% off orders with Suttons Seeds. We put out a catalogue in spring, but you can simply go to their website, compile your order, then ask me or Jim for the code.We have a Blogsite, which gets updated regularly, and a Facebook page, which has been a lifesaver during the lockdowns and helped us all stay in touch with pictures of our gardens. 

As always, we meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month, at the village hall starting at 7.30pm, unless otherwise indicated in the programme – at this time of year we're not in the hall much!

HERE IS OUR PROGRAMME FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. 

Rhos Hill

July 12th at 6pm  
The Gardening Club Party. 
To be held at Nina and Jim’s house RHOS HILL SA445JR 
Please let us know if you'd like to come to the party. Because parking is limited, there will be a 'ferry' system from the village hall to the house. If you live outside the village, then please think about car sharing with someone who lives near you. 

It's a 'bring a dish' party; we'll ask you to bring something.

Also bring whatever you like to drink. 

July 26th  
Garden visit.
We will be visiting the lovely gardens of Ty’r Maes. 4 acre garden with splendid views.

Ty'r Maes

Herbaceous and shrub beds formal design, exuberantly informal planting, full of cottage garden favourites and many unusual plants. Woodland garden with over 200 types of tree; wildlife and lily ponds; pergola, gazebos, post and rope arcade covered in climbers. Gloriously colourful from early spring till late autumn. Book and jewellery stalls. 
Ty’r Maes, Ffarmers, Carmarthenshire SA19 8JP Contact telephone: 01558 650541  Meet at the house at 5pm Entrance £5 A guided tour of the garden is part of the package. Teas to be enjoyed after the tour  £3.50

August 30th. 
Autumn Produce Show. 

Bring your items along to be 'staged' from 3.30pm to 5.30pm

Come to the show and see the entries from 7.30pm

Rules and guidelines can be found here

You can download the schedule from the blog site – look for SCHEDULE PRODUCE SHOW 2022 at the top of the home page, or ask for a paper copy from the Show Secretary, Jane Puddephatt, tel: 01239 851070. pudd8hp@btinternet.com or the secretary, Nina Milton on 01239 851096 email ninahare00@googlemail.com

Start picking out your best produce! There are categories for veg, flowers, especially roses, flower arrangement, homecrafts and arts and crafts. Our new show secretary will be handing out further details and schedule in the coming weeks. 

The show schedules will be up on this blog - check the home page

Rhydlewis Gardening Club members will be also sent the schedule by email.

The show schedule is also available as a paper copy from the show secretary

September 27th.  7.30

"On Bulbs"  

Gardening Workshop with Roger. from Trefhedyn. 

Roger will bring items to show (and for you to buy) and demonstrate how he uses bulbs to create indoor and garden interest.

October 25  The Flower Meadow 7.30

Sara Redman from The Flower Meadow will run a workshop looking at the flowers in your gardens and offering bright and new ideas.

The Flower Meadow grows eco-friendly seasonal British cut and wild flowers which are grown on her smallholding in Penrhiwpal.

November 29th 7.30

It's all in the soil.

A round table discussion on the most important aspect of any gardening. Bring a sample of your soil to have it tested for ph and type, and bring your thoughts, opinions and questions about soil, compost making, enrichers and mulches and much, much more. 

Celebrating the Life of our Dear Chairperson.

It is with such sadness that we're writing to club members to tell them about the sudden death of our chairperson, Liz Blackler. She was a most vibrant and enthusiastic chair, and also took on the role of show secretary. In the photos below, you can see her awarding trophies to prize-winning members during several autumn and spring shows. Liz with a smile on her face is how we will all remember her.

It is hoped that we will be able to celebrate her very full life when her ashes are scattered at her home; The Blue Barn, Castell Farm. This will be after a family cremation. 

In the meantime, we must honour Liz's wish to get the Rhydlewis Gardening Club back up and running after the hiatus of Covid. 

Therefore, we will be holding a club AGM on the 24th of May at 7.30pm at Rhydlewis Village Hall.  We will especially be welcoming along all the new members who have joined during the Covid lockdown, who have not had the chance to try out a meeting yet! 

Please come if you can. There's plenty for everyone to discuss, as we need to sort out a programme for the rest of the year, and talk about having a party, trips to NGS gardens, helping each other in the garden, and any other good ideas you may bring along. 

We are looking for new members for the committee: a refreshments organiser, a show secretary and, of course a new chairperson. Further details can be had from Nina on 01239 851096.. 

One of the last things Liz did was compile a fun picture quiz for the 2022 AGM,  and after the more serious business is completed, we'll be serving refreshments, and enjoying this quiz, designed to break the ice and get people chatting.

So please come along to the AGM, where we may also have further details of a celebration of Liz's life.