Page 62 - SV 3 2024

Kent DA
We had our first meeting of the year in March which was our AGM. This was well attended with 24 DA members being present.
Thank you all for coming. Roger Simmons had decided to step down as
our chairman after over 20 years in the post. We are very grateful for Roger’s long committee service (which continues). Roger and Chris Spree have swapped
roles as shown below. Also, we were very pleased to welcome Marianne Slater as a new committee member. After the AGM we enjoyed a light- hearted quiz. Well done to the winners, Gary and Linda.
The elected committee for the Kent DA were as follows:
Chairman: Chris Spree
Vice Chairman: Roger Simmons Secretary: Chris Passey
Treasurer: Gordon Francis
Show Manager: Gordon Francis Assistant Show Manager: Stewart Corke Committee Member: Marianne Slater
In April we had hoped to have a speaker from Thanet Earth but unfortunately this was cancelled. Instead, Roy Finch from Monkton Nature Reserve came along
to speak about hedgehogs and how we can all help them with good gardening practises.
As I write this, in late April, we are busy preparing for our annual plant sale which takes place in May at the Tonbridge Garden and Craft Show. In the same week we are having a talk by Vanessa Jones about the Asian Hornet. In June our usual monthly meeting is being replaced with a visit to Chris and Di Spree’s garden and woodland. I shall report on all these events in the next issue of SV.
Our DA Annual Show takes place at Wingham in September. After last year’s successful show, we are keen for this event to continue so please give us your support by bringing along all your lovely vegetables to the show bench. Show Schedules will be available from Gordon Francis.
At the time of writing, we still have a couple of gaps in our programme and need to find speakers for September and October. Please keep an eye on the ‘Events’ page of the NVS website for all up to date DA news. In the meantime, here are some dates for your diary.
Kent DA Meetings at Bridge Village Hall:
Wednesday 14th August: Chris Stewart with a talk ‘The Hop Bine and the Hop Pickers of Kent.’
Wednesday 11th September and Wednesday 9th October: TBA
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September:
Kent DA Annual Show
Kent DA Show at Wingham Village Hall.
Staging Friday 6th from 6pm to 9pm and Saturday from 8:30am to 10:45am.
Other Kent Events:
Sunday 15th September, 1:45pm: The
Kent Federation of Horticultural Societies Autumn Show at Ditton Community Centre, Ditton, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 6AH. All Kent DA members are eligible to enter this show.
Unless otherwise stated, 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.
For more information about the Kent DA or any of the above events please contact Chris Passey on 01732 352707 or email chris.passey52@gmail.com
Chris Passey
62 Simply Vegetables