Page 48 - Simply Veg 4 2022

Scottish Branch Annual Garden Visit 2022
Finally, post covid, the Scottish branch, once again, held their annual Garden visit. This year, as previously reported, a fantastic day was held up in the North of Scotland in the Moray area. Helped with fantastic weather, our members firstly visited the amazing walled garden of Gordon Castle near Forres and we were delighted to see our Chairman, Ian Stocks in attendance for a great day out for all.
Gordon Castle has a truly inspirational beautiful garden with a wide variety of
vegetables, flowers, companion planting and fruit. Our host, Ed Bolom, head Gardener provided a guided tour round the garden, for which we were most appreciative. The work that their team of 4 full time Gardeners has done was wonderful to see.
Lunch (mainly made with fresh produce from the garden) provided a great time
for more chatting before the group then headed off to visit the garden of Peter Fitch.
Peter’s garden was an amazing space which Peter and his wife, Helen have developed through time. Peter advised that he grows for the kitchen and if any is good enough, he also shows it. With a wide array of vegetables and fruit, our members were treated to an interesting visit full
of unique ideas, a fabulous peach tree, amazing variety of vegetables (including some of the DT Brown Seed trial veg).
With the hot sunny day, it was a fabulous treat for us to sample Helen’s homemade Rhubarb cordial and Elderflower cordial for which she has gratefully shared the recipes.
During the visit to Peter’s garden, this provided the ideal opportunity for Ian Stocks to present both Peter Fitch and Rhona Begg with their well-deserved NVS Fellowship awards for their work with the North of Scotland D.A. ( these had been awarded in 2020, but covid had prevented the presentation until now). Well done to Peter and Rhona.
Last but by no means least, the group headed to Kinloss to visit John(Hoss) Martin’s Garden. Once again, it was great to see the various growing methods and ideas used by Hoss (especially your big outside sink to keep you out of the kitchen
at show time). A good variety of veg for show and those onions were amazing John! The team was also delighted at a wonderfully, massive spread of savoury treats and sweet home baking by John’s wife Lesley . (especially when Hoss
had only told her about the visit 3 days before!) Such a lovely surprise and gratefully scoffed by all especially those large strawberry & cream sponge flans.
A fantastic end to a really enjoyable day, sitting in the sun with friends sharing ideas, information, jokes and good old Scottish banter.
Thanks so much to all our hosts on the day who made it so special.
Scottish Branch - 200 Club
All Scottish Branch members will have found a 200-club entry form flier in with your copy of the previous January/winter magazine. For 2022 the 1st prize draw was carried out
at the end of March running. The prize draw is taken at the end of each month, so make sure you send your forms in or print a form from the web site within the “Resources” section.
Below are the last two sets of 2021 draw results, congratulations everyone!
Month 1st Prize (£25)
March George Bartling April Frank Taylor May Ian Craib
June Judith Watson July Ian Archibald
2nd Prize (£13)
Grace Pearson J. Wilson
Les Craib
Joe Proudlock Linda Stocks
Now is not too late to join and you
do not have to be a Scottish Branch member (or even an NVS member) to join, so please encourage friends and family too.
If anyone requires a copy of the 200 club form, you can now find a PDF copy in the “Resources” section of the NVS web site to enable you to print one out. Alternatively please contact Gareth Cameron. 2 Dyke Nook, Yeathouse Road, Frizington, Cumbria CA26 3QL, Telephone: 07935 117 397 or email: garethcameron04@gmail.com (Note change of email address please)
Prize money is dependent on how many 200 Club members we have with half the revenue generated going towards the Scottish Branch funds and half going towards the 200 club prize money.
Thanks again for your support
48 Simply Vegetables
Ian Stocks and Peter Fitch Gordon Castle