2023/24 Programme of Events
Details are subject to alteration - please check nearer the time in the Parish Magazine or on the website: tatsfieldhorticulturalsociety.weebly.com
The 2023/2024 Year Book holds the schedule for the Spring Show on April 13th
so do dig it out and look to see what you can enter.
The next part of the 2024 Programme is as below:
Plant Sale May 4 9.30 Westmore Green
Wisley Visit May 18 10.00 at RHS Wisley
So please put these dates in your diary.
the 2024/25 diary will be issued when the 2024/2025 Year Book is produced . We are in the process of putting together the new Year Book.
HORTICULTURAL SPRING SHOW REPORT 2024 Thank you to each and every one of you who entered the Horticultural spring show. Sadly there were only 30 of you who entered the show. However we are extremely grateful for your efforts and the hall looked full of colour and amongst the spring flowers - you were welcomed by the scent of the daffodils and various blossoms. We had over 150 entries. The Committee and helpers work tirelessly for an hour to set up the Village Hall for the shows on the Friday evening prior to the show, and remain in the hall for most of the duration on Saturday, and then dismantle again at the end of the afternoon. Why do we do it? Yes I question this myself sometimes. Lots of you enjoy coming along to see all the colourful and interesting exhibits that give you lots of pleasure and happiness,.....maybe the beautiful spring flowers be it daffodils, tulips, blossoms or colourful and interesting pot plants to name but a few. We have our talented artistic artists, many of whom belong to a village Art Group, and a few of the handicrafters amongst you. Keen photographers looking for inspiration, Master Chef cooks looking for tasty ideas or our flower arrangers, most of who decorate our Tatsfield Church on a regular basis. We also had a good turnout of Junior’s this time; so massive thanks to the parents who supervised their efforts which were richly rewarded and the local Nursery groups. The afternoon teas are always popular and we try to set out the tables in a Café format. A mug of tea at £1 and a big slice of homemade cake for £1.50 is a bargain to sit and chat to your friends or someone you haven’t seen recently. We also hold a raffle and an auction of goodies at the end of the afternoon after Prize Giving. Thank you to those who supported the Society, and of course all the Committee and Helpers. We really do need more of you on the committee. If the Society is going to continue in its present format we definitely need more help especially a Treasurer. Please do speak to a committee member or someone you might know on the committee if you are interested. However you will not be thrown in at the deep end! Without more volunteers we will struggle to continue. There is something about Volunteering-it gives everyone of us a different and very kind perspective on life. Our next events are the Plant Sale on May 4th at 9.30am on the Westmore Green. Please bring any donated plants beforehand. I will have some home grown Sweet Williams for sale. Our Annual Wisley Visit is Saturday May 18th at 10am. Meet at the entrance on or before 10am. Sue Warren The Tatsfield Horticultural Annual Wisley Visit Saturday June 17th 2023 at 10am 18 people arrived at the RHS Wisley Gardens ready for our group entry at 10am. It is an event we arrange every year as we are allowed one visit for up to 40 people with free entry with our affiliation to the RHS. If you had to pay it would have cost each person £18.90 entry, so you can see what a massive benefit this is. Wisley is the flagship garden of the RHS and one of the most visited and loved gardens attracting over a million visitors a year. There are 75 gardeners, 25 students, 4 apprentices, and over 100 volunteers. The gardens cover an area of 240 acres. George Fergusson Wilson, a keen grower of fruit and orchids, bought the garden in 1878. After Wilson’s death, Sir Thomas Hanbury purchased the garden along with a neighbouring farm and donated it to the RHS. Fortunately the weather was warm for our visit; the sun was shining and I was greeted with lots of happy faces ready for the delightful experience which lay ahead. We are allowed to enter the gardens with the allocated tickets, as and when you wish and not as a group. Some people enjoyed a coffee plus a warm pecan pastry in my case! I decided to venture off around the gardens stopping first at the Unusual and Heritage Plant Show marquee. It was supported by various Societies, including Sweet Peas, Dahlias, Iris, Roses, plus stalls of Hostas, various Geraniums, and Heritage Plants. You could buy many of the plants on display and packets of seeds at a good price. From here I walked through to the sweet pea trial beds, as I have a special interest. It was fun comparing the growth of the autumn sown seeds to the spring own ones, and taking photos of new varieties that caught my eye. I start the seeds germinating at the end of February and then they don’t get out of control before planting out in April. I always enjoy walking in the woodland gardens amongst the massive trees and shrubs on Battleston Hill, exploring the plants from far off climes. The different varieties of Cornus Kousa’s were the Stars today. I sauntered down the hill to the massive 12 metre high Glass House, built to celebrate the RHS bicentenary. It covers an area equal to 10 tennis courts. The glasshouse was constructed using recycled glass from the previous glasshouse. There was a vast pelargonium collection which showed how many different varieties and colours there are. The Tropical plants were enormous and unbelievable that you could be stood in such a jungle setting. We read that robins and wagtails are able to operate the automatic opening vents and make their nests in there - clever birds. There is also a Dry Arid garden section which is full of cactus and succulents. Coming outside again for fresh air I walked over to the new Science Research block, called Hilltop. This building opened in 2021, and is home to their Scientists who are hard at work researching the issues that affect our everyday lives. I walked through the Orchards to the Allotments for my first ever visit. This was an absolute joy. From here I wandered over to view the Bowes-Lyon rose beds, built to commemorate Sir David Bowes-Lyon RHS President 1953-61. The scent was breath taking. No visit is complete without a stop at the shop and garden centre. This time it was just a packet of Sweet William seeds. I am picking last year’s sowing right now. Sue Warren Tatsfield Horticultural Society Plant sale - Saturday 13th May 2023 On the day that was put back one week due to the King’s Coronation, and how thankful are we for that as it rained all morning, the Plant sale went ahead on a chilly but supposed to be a promising day weather wise. Up with a 7am alarm the Committee and helpers were in the village centre by 8am waiting for the delivery of the purchased plants and arranging the collection of the trestle tables from the Container on the allotment site. Soon we were all busy unloading the trays and pots from the delivery van from our family run West Sussex nursery who have supported us well with the pricing to enable us to keep the prices as low as possible for the members of the society. So we set up the Bedding, the Trailing plants and the Flowers in expectation of a busy morning which was matched by all of the locally donated plants from residents in the village including runners beans and strawberries and tomatoes to name but a few. And then the donations from our good friend and supporter Bryan Everest, who we thank very much, of a whole range of tomatoes with various names cabbage chives leeks and other too numerous to mention. We were prepared by 9.15 ready for a 9.45 start but were inundated by villagers and members up there early and wanting to be served , so having had our reviving cups of Tea, Coffee and Hot Chocolates from Sheree’s we got started and it was not stop selling until just after 10.50 . A hugely successful morning which raised £ 290 for the THS funds so a big thank you to everyone that supported the event and thank you to your committee for another huge effort on your behalf. The next event will be the visit to Wisley on the 17th June. Details can be found in the Parish magazine Martin Allen Tatsfield’s Horticultural Spring Show was held in perfect weather on Saturday 22nd April 2023 . Doors opened at 3pm and it was a huge success. This year it was good to walk into the entrance and be welcomed by Roy Bell explaining what was happening to everyone. The Village Hall looked superb this year with all covered tables laid out in neat lines with astounding arrays of all sorts of items including flowers, vegetables, plants, clothing, cakes, crafts and pictures. Topping that was the stage with a whole line of cups and trophies. Using the new PA system, the M.C. of the day was Horticultural expert Jon Allbutt who introduced everyone to the Tandridge District Councillors Chairman Jackie Wren who gave a cracking welcome to everyone. Sue Warren emails her report for the Community News readers in the Surrey Mirror Newspaper and also for the Reach internet as follows, “Around 260 entries-125 at our last Show 2022 and 200 at our Autumn Show. Cups and Prizes presented by TDC Jackie Wren who spoke from the Village Hall’s new sound system so everything was loud and clear. “Jackie gave an excellent speech, thanking certain people for their exhibits which especially caught her eye. I met Jackie for the first time and I can only say that we are all lucky to have her in the community. “Jackie joined the committee and judges for lunch in the Village Hall, kindly supplied by Cook in Oxted at a Community Rate, which was absolutely delicious. Huge thanks goes to Sue the Manager who also happens to live in Tatsfield. “The committee worked hard behind the scenes to do hall set up, be helpful and welcoming to exhibitors arriving to display their flowers, vegetables, produce or crafts-some arriving for the very first time, thanks also to raffle donations and lastly to the ‘Kitchen Cooks’ who kindly baked and served homemade cakes and refreshments. The hall was buzzing and everyone who attended certainly went home uplifted, as the Hall looked vibrant and colourful, partly due to the fact that our Vice president Bryan Everest donated 16 pots of daffodils at our March garden club evening for us all to grow on and display in Class 10 in the horticultural section, because when he judged this class in 2022, there were NO entries. “Around 10 pots arrived to be judged, and I was lucky to be awarded a second prize. I should also mention huge support from our neighbours in Biggin Hill who also exhibited many entries. “Our next event is our Annual Plant Sale, where we will be selling a selection of bedding and basket plants, plus donations of tomatoes from Bryan and of course many more ‘Villager Donations’ – please bring along anything in a pot, as this is 100% Profit, outside the Village Shop -Sherees, Westmore Green, on Saturday May 13th at 9.45am. Well done THS Team yet again.” The results of the excellent Spring Show went as follows; Becky Walters – Manager of Monkey Puzzle-Juniors trophy, Angela Leslie-Miller Most points in the Art Section, Shelia Alexander – Best Art in Show, Jackie Wren – TDC Councillor Chairman, David Hadden -Most points in Horticultural + Best daffodil exhibit, Pauline Brown- Most points in the Domestic Section, Sue Saunders- Best in Show flower arranging, Pat Walsh-Most points in the flower arranging section, Valerie Payne – Most points in the Craft section. Tatsfield Garden Club Meeting with Bryan Everest on 7th March 2023 Our garden club meeting in March was well supported by 27 keen Tatsfield gardeners and wow were we in for a treat. Bryan Everest entertained us so much that he lit up the WI Hall with his wit and humour and had us all in fits of laughter. Bryan began talking on how we should be pruning roses and care after dead heading. You must be ruthless, cut out the dead wood and then cut back hard to just above a leaf joint and you will be rewarded with a strong healthy rose bush. He feeds his roses twice a year, once now and again during flowering, plus spray the stems with a Black Spot treatment- as he said it is never too early to tackle the problem and continue this on a regular basis. He explained in detail how to take dahlia, chrysanthemum and delphinium cuttings and it is these new plants that will be full of vigour and give you a wonderful cut display. Then he diverged into the vegetable world, especially onions, shallots and garlic. He buys his Sets in early January – before anyone else apparently, and plants them in single cells and keeps them in a cold frame or greenhouse ready for planting out in mid-March. He sows all his vegetable seeds in single cells, often three seeds to a cell so he can thin them out. By this he meant cauliflowers, cabbages, leeks, lettuce and beetroot. You must sow parsnips and carrots straight into the ground where they are to grow as they cannot be transplanted. The Bryan moved onto our Spring Show. He was disappointed when he visited last year’s show that we only had one pot of daffodils exhibited, so Bryan being Bryan he bought along 10 pots of daffodils for people to take home and grow on for the show. He had orders for 6 more, which he will deliver to Kay Longley in the next week. We had a break for refreshments and we were greeted to steaming mugs of coffee and tea along with homemade fruity bread and warm lemon drizzle cake. We all left the hall far happier than when we had arrived with daffodils, trays of onions, shallots and garlic, plus sweet peas and chrysanthemums. Thank you Bryan for sharing your expertise and good sense of humour. TATSFIELD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY – 2021 TATSFIELD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY “VINEYARD LIFE BY A TOUR GUIDE” A talk by Malcolm Knight of the Carr Taylor Vineyard, East Sussex Tatsfield Village Hall, 8pm on Tuesday 9th November Come and hear the inside story of life on a vineyard by Malcolm Knight, a guide at the well known Carr Taylor Vineyard in East Sussex. There is the prospect of free samples of wine to try! All Welcome Tickets £5 including a glass of wine and snacks. Tickets from Christine Stainer on 01959 577803 or email [email protected] or from any other committee member or pay at the door. THE TALK WILL BE PRECEDED AT 7.30 PM BY THE SOCIETY’S AGM. Pease do not dispose of your Yearbook too soon. We are very hopeful that we can use the 2020/2021 handbook for Autumn 2021 show and Spring 2022 show. Having had had the opportunity the review the practicalities with the current restrictions lessening we are planning positively for the Autumn Show but will confirm this when the position gets clearer. So do not dispose of your Yearbook too soon. There will still be an opportunity for you to purchase the Yearbook if you were unable to do so last year. All you have to do is contact the Subscription Secretary on 577803 and she will arrange to enrol you. So at our last committee meeting in March we considered the Society Year for the rest of 2021 and regrettably consider that we have to cancel the Plant Sale ( 8May) the Wisley Visit (26 June) but hope to put a visit in the diary for later in the year.But stay in touch through the website or Tatsfield Talk or with one of the committee members as to whether this programme will again be affected by Covid or other unforeseen circumstances. TATSFIELD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ANNUAL VISIT TO THE RHS GARDENS WISLEY A record 38 THS members gathered for our annual visit to the Wisley gardens on Saturday 26th June. For those who are not regular visitors it was a very different Wisley that greeted them; the old entrance, the plant centre and gift shop are all gone and where is the new entrance? All this has been replaced with elegant landscaping leading down a gentle slope to the new area. The removal of the old entrance and gift shop has revealed the old laboratory building now under scaffolding and undergoing renovation to be opened in the near future for a new purpose and visitor access for the first time. The main attraction for this visit was the new Hilltop Centre just opened on the site of the old public glasshouse. This new facility has changed the focus of the gardens. On approaching the site we walked through new gardens – The Wellbeing Garden, the Wildlife Garden and the spectacular World Food Garden. Inside, we walked through the public information displays in a bright airy room, almost too much to take in! Up the stairs, or the lift, we emerged on to the Sky Terrace giving spectacular views over all the gardens and views beyond. Everywhere there were tables and chairs, refreshments and even an ice cream van with a long queue. Walking back down through the main garden area there were some new garden sculptures made of driftwood and other materials; at the top of Battleston Hill stood a new huge sculpture of a horses head made in metal panels. The famous rock garden area continues to be changed and improved, a big surprise at the bottom of this area next to the Jellicoe Canal was a wet area full of carnivorous perennial plants. The tiny native Butterwort was growing happily amongst the wet moss catching tiny flies on its sticky green leaves. The Portsmouth Field trials ground is closed ready for the construction of a new garden feature – a lake and associated landscaping. The new trials ground is already open and in use with a rectangular beds of trials of red roses, hebe, nemesia and some wild flower mixtures, these will be judged by one of the RHS trials committees later in the year with the best being awarded The Award of Garden Merit (AGM). The landscaping in the new rose garden has matured and the roses and perennials were in full bloom, a dazzling display of colour, form and fragrance. The visitor centre, gift shop and plant sales areas are now one unit that flows from one to the other with much improved space to browse in comfort. Many thanks to Sue Warren for organising a very successful visit on a warm sunny day. Jon Allbutt photo's from the visit can be found under the more Heading Wisley 2021. Programme for 2021 ( subject to change or amendment) Autumn Show Sep 11 3.00 Village Hall Gardening Club Sep 14 7.30 W.I. Hall Plant Sale Oct 9th 9.45 Westmore Green Gardening Club Oct 12 7.30 W.I. Hall AGM and Big Talk Nov 9 7.30 Village Hall So please put these dates in your diary. Website Need. Lastly but very importantly the Horticultural Society is looking for some help from someone with the knowledge and time to spare to keep our website up to date , current and of interest to the membership, the wider village and for those from Tatsfield who have moved away but still want to keep in touch. If you are that person or know someone who can help us then please go to The website http://tatsfieldhorticulturalsociety.weebly.com to have a look and satisfy yourself that it will not be an onerous task and then contact either myself on 577210 or Martin Allen on 577201. Minimising Health Risks at the Composting Site and in your garden Disease and plant risks Legionellosis (Legionella): caused by Legionella bacteria, this is an infectious disease that can be caught by anyone, but elderly gardeners and those with a suppressed immune system are most vulnerable. There are two types to which gardeners may be exposed: Legionella longbeachae, occuring in soil and compost, which can lead to a respiratory disease; and the more common L. pneumonophila, which leads to a type of pneumonia known as legionnaires disease. The latter form occurs naturally at low levels in watercourses but can multiply in standing water to potentially harmful levels when the water temperature is between 20°C to 45°C. Bioaerosols: these are airborne micro-organisms including spores, bacteria and fungi (e.g. Aspergillus fumigatus) that are naturally present in decomposing material. Gardeners are most likely to breathe these in when turning compost, especially in warm weather. People with an existing chest conditions such as asthma or bronchitis or those prone to allergies are most at risk. Tetanus: the tetanus bacterium can enter through cuts or wounds. Since gardeners regularly handle thorny plants, soil or manure, they are at a higher risk of being infected than non-gardeners. Sepsis: although rare, sepsis can be triggered by an infection in any part of the body, following an injury in the garden such as a cut. You can find out more about the symptoms on the NHS website. Minimising the risksWhat can we do to minimise the risks? Here are some simple precautions to take;
Pamela Bishop Chairman Tatsfield Horticultural Society News from 2020 see below It is with further regret that the Tatsfield Horticultural Society committee have taken the decision to cancel the October Garden Club and to cancel any thoughts of the autumn visit to Wisley . BUT Do not dispose of your Yearbook as the Spring 2021 show details are in there already. At this moment we are trying to arrange the AGM, but without a big talk this year. So hold the date November 10th 2020 for further details. If you have not yet purchased your membership through the Yearbook they can be purchased from Sheree's stores in the village centre or details are on the home page of this website. It is with great regret that the Horticultural Society committee have made the decision to cancel all activities until further notice due to the situation with the Corona Virus and at this stage it is unclear when we may be able to start them again. Regarding the Tatsfield in Bloom Village displays , COMMEMORATION OF THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN ARRANGED BY TATSFIELD IN BLOOM Was held at 3.30 PM ON FRIDAY 10 JULY 2020 BY THE TATOL BED, WESTMORE GREEN, TATSFIELD, THE SITE OF THE MAIN BATTLE OF BRITAIN DISPLAY Which forms part of the village display this year. Formally in attendance was Hannah Gray, Mayor of Bromley, who kindly offered her time and commitment to this ceremony and said a few words about the volunteers of the Tatsfield in Bloom team. This was followed by a few words from the Sponsors of the display Colin Hitchins the Community Engagement and Events Manager from Biggin Hill Airport, who reminded us that Biggin Hill Airport has been part of the local life for something like 100 hundred years. On display were three paintings representing the actions from Biggin Hill during the war (see attached photo’s) which were painted by Ben Holmes, the local artist whose paintings they were. David Pinchin, Vice Chairman of Tatsfield Parish Council responded and thanked everyone for their hard work and efforts to make the display what is was. Finally the Revd Wendy Harvey, member of the Limpsfield and Tatsfield Ministry, closed the ceremony with a blessing to all of those who had lost their lives during the conflict The event was hosted by Bob David MBE the Vice Chairman of Tatsfield in Bloom, who in turn thanked all of the volunteers both present and those who were unable to attend. A small gathering of villagers were fortunate to be able to attend the ceremony by maintaining strict social distancing measures. Upon completion of the ceremony the party then walked the short distance to the village pond on the green, to view the display of model warplanes suspended over the pond where The Mayor and invited guests met villager Simon Cook the maker of the model aircraft, Tatsfield in Bloom is an organisation of about 50 volunteers who keep the village looking clean and attractive all the year round. They have a different theme for their displays each year. As immediate neighbours of Biggin Hill, with whom Tatsfield share a boundary, they thought it very appropriate for Tatsfield to adopt as the theme this year the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and were very glad to have the sponsorship of Biggin Hill Airport. The main display is on the corner of the village green at the entrance to the village centre, consisting of three large paintings depicting different aspects of the Battle of Britain, by a local aircraft artist, Ben Holmes, beneath which is a floral carpet design with a Spitfire and a cloud and sky background. Tatsfield in Bloom have also planted the many containers and beds around the village with the RAF colours of blue, white, red and yellow. |
Tatsfield in-bloom - Potting lesson
Use the link below to be directed to a video showing the troughs being potted out ready for display in the village. left click on the link and it will take you there https://vimeo.com/425225204 It is with further regret that the Tatsfield Horticultural Society committee have taken the decision to cancel the Autumn 2020 Show and the September Garden Club.
We intend to hold a further committee meeting in early September in the hope that something can be done to maintain the October garden Club and The AGM, may be without a big talk, in November. If you have not yet purchased your membership through the Yearbook they can be purchased from Shertee's stores in the village centre or details are on the home page of this website. Please continue to SUPPORT TATSFIELD'S GOOD CAUSES BY BUYING TICKETS IN THE TANDRIDGE TOGETHER LOTTERY. Details on the TDC website. |