Page 57 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2024

Hornet. Identification guides were handed out and we were told about the importance of reporting sightings. There is an app you can use for this called ‘Asian
Horticultural Societies Summer Show was held at Ditton Community Centre. Several Kent DA members exhibited their flowers,
Show results will be reported in the next issue of SV.
Forthcoming events:
Wednesday 9th October, meeting at Bridge Village Hall – Stella Cubison from Koppert with a talk about ‘Biological Pest Control’
The Kent DA meetings are held at Bridge Village Hall, CT4 5JZ on the second Wednesday of each month from March to October (except July). Meetings commence at 7:30pm and are open to all. Details for
all meetings and events are posted on the NVS website.
For more information about the Kent
DA please contact Chris Passey on 01732 352707 or email chris.passey52@gmail.com
Chris Passey
Hornet Watch,’ I have it on my phone.
fruit and vegetables. Roger Simmons won the trophy for the best vegetable exhibit with a fine dish of Show Perfection peas. Linda Ellis won the trophy for the best single vase of sweet peas. And Peter Ellis must have got most points in the vegetable section with eleven firsts!
By the time you read this report we would have had
a meeting in Bridge in August with a talk by Chris Stewart on ‘The Hop Bine and the Hop Pickers of Kent’ and our Annual Show at Wingham Village Hall in September.
Also, in May we had our
plant sale at the Tonbridge
Garden and Craft Show.
This two-day show has
been a long running and
(in the past) successful
event in Tonbridge but
sadly over the last few
years it has steadily gone
downhill. Although the DA
did well from plant sales the show overall was poorly organised with very few visitors, especially on the second day. With the outlook for next year looking uncertain
Asian Hornets are not just a nuisance to beekeepers but are voracious predators
we have decided not to return next year but will instead have a one-day plant
sale elsewhere. Details for this will follow. The DA committee would like to thank all members who have helped and worked so hard with our plant sales at Tonbridge.
In June we had a change from our usual monthly meeting at Bridge and instead visited Chris and Di Spree’s Garden and newly acquired historic woodland. About 15 of us enjoyed a guided walk with Chris through the woods which I believe have been untouched or coppiced for many years. After the walk we were treated to a delicious BBQ. Thank you, Chris and Di.
Sussex DA
Sussex DA have their Mini Show on Wednesday 11th September at Ashurst Village Hall. Members will have the schedule emailed to them. Last year we had over 60 exhibits and it is hoped for more this year.
We are looking forward to helping host the National Championships at the South of England Showground on 21st/22nd September. Several of our members have entered the Nationals before but it will be a new experience for several.
At our DA meeting on November 13th we have Lesley Baker talking on her experiences as a lady tree surgeon. Having originally trained with the National Trust, she has over 20 years experience and many interesting tales to tell.
Brian Jeffries, Hon Secretary
At the end of June, the Kent Federation of
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