Page 6 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2024

Lady Chair’s Report
SANDRA HALL FNVS, NATIONAL LADY CHAIR
Wow doesn’t time fly, it doesn’t seem five minutes since I was sat here writing my last report or is it because I’ve been busy, Let’s see!
I decided to go to the BBC Gardeners World Spring Show, Beaulieu. Held on the grounds of the British Motor Museum and met up with the Hants DA gang, always
a great bunch of people to meet I stayed with them a couple of days then on my way home called on my sister in Whitney.
I didn’t go to Malvern Spring Festival this year, but my congratulations go to the new team who did put up a display there and being awarded a silver medal, this is a great achievement on your first display. Well done too, to all our branches and DA’s who have been putting together some fabulous displays to advertise the NVS.
When you go away you always have to play catch up when you get back home
at this time of year when things grow so quickly, especially the weeds and because I had The West Midlands DA visiting to have a look round the garden the following Sunday. A report on the day can be found on page 55.
The next big event was BBC Gardeners World Live at the NEC, Birmingham. Graham Brickstock asked if I would help the DA to achieve a Gold medal with my knowledge and advice on how to improve I organized the growers on what plants were needed for a display and people on the education/information side. Well, I’m pleased to say that the team worked really well, and we did achieve that elusive gold. See report, page 54.
Mark and I had decided to open up our house and garden, the barn with a bar
and big screen this summer to friends, family and neighbours to come and enjoy a
summer of sport starting off with the Euro football championships, but while the barn was all set up I organized a couple parties, my mother’s partners 90th birthday and my son-in-laws 40th birthday were around the same time. One being a Wolverhampton Wanderers supporter and the other an Aston Villa, what we call a West Midlands derby. We did them both on the same day starting with afternoon tea at 2pm and a BBQ from 6pm. A great day was had by all, and the weather even played ball as well, so can’t be bad.
Mark took me out for a day, not saying where we were going, a surprise for me. It was well, not a shock, if you know Mark to find out that it was not a social day but a working day. It was a Trade Day to Ball nurseries in Banbury. A trade only nursery (not open to the public) who do experiments and trials of new varieties. Garden centers, nurseries and other horticultural companies were able to look around and see the new flowers and varieties that are available for 2025. Well, I really enjoyed it.... The grounds were stunning and the glass houses full of experimental varieties, including their vegetables range called Kitchen buddies.
In between all these events, the gardening was still going on, albeit the
veg was growing more slowly than usual for this time of year, I think because of the cold nights, but the work still had to be done. At time of writing, I have done two sowings of the Romanesco cauliflower for the chairman’s challenge shield (class 26) at the national championships, because the first sowing, I dropped the seed tray on the floor...aaargh!
The NVS work was still ongoing at this time we’ve had a couple of meetings,
Ball Colegrave Grounds
a general trustees meeting and an
awards review meeting. My warmest congratulations go to all those who were awarded a Fellowship, silver medal or gold medal very well deserved as your hard work for the society is much appreciated.
I’m truly grateful for the large positive response to our email broadcast which was sent out looking for volunteers for our National Treasurer role. Thank you to all who put their name forward, this is really great for the society.
I’m pleased to say that our programme of Winter Zoom talks is starting to come together, so please keep an eye out for details on the NVS web site and members Facebook page.
Finally, I finish this report after another night with friends and neighbours in front of the big screen watching the opening ceremony of the Olympic games and then tomorrow must get my stuff ready to go to the Southern Branch championships
in the New Forest, the beginning of the show season. It’s all go! Happy growing everyone.
6 Simply Vegetables