Page 60 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2024

Southern Branch
Chairman’s Report
With the Southern Branch hosting the 2024 NVS National Championships in September, we have assembled a strong organising Team with Chris and Diana Spree as our Show Managers, Keith Hine as an advisor and myself as Show Secretary.
Originally, the venue was to be the RHS Gardens Wisley but as mentioned in my Winter 2023/24 report, circumstances dictated that this would now have
to change to the South of England Agricultural Society (SEAS) showground
in Ardingly, West Sussex, which is a drive of approximately 15 minutes (8 miles)
from Junction 10 (Crawley) on the M23.
See included map. We were originally going to hold the Championships in the Robins Building but SEAS have proposed that we use the Abergavenny Building instead. Those who are familiar with the Showground will know that this is a far better location and the eagle eyed amongst you will recognise it from the BBC series Bargain Hunt which has been held at Ardingly on several occasions. By the time that you read this, all of
the planning and staging
layouts will be completed,
judges, judges’ stewards
and general stewards will
have been appointed and
notified, hotels, where
appropriate will have been
booked and the Schedule
either printed or in-print.
The SEAS Autumn Show
website is at https://www.seas.org.uk/ autumn-show and a site map together will all other relevant information can be found on the Visitor Information page at https:// www.seas.org.uk/visitor-information. A comprehensive list of places to stay close
to the Showground can also be found at https://www.seas.org.uk/places-to-stay.
The NVS Southern Branch AGM will be held on Saturday, 6th April 2024, probably a week after the time that this edition of SV lands on your mat. Full details are available on our Events Page on the NVS website and will be included in an email sent to all Southern Branch members who
have registered their email address. No final agreement on venue yet as we are still looking. A full report will be in the summer edition of SV.
As mentioned previously, I have been forced due to some health issues to give up my allotment. This has not
stopped me from growing vegetable both for the table and show, just that the variety and quantity has been reduced and has made me conscious that the best use of my limited space is of paramount importance, hence using more containers to grow in.
The greenhouse heated sand beds and grow lights have all been “serviced” and ready for action, although by the time that this is actually published most vegetables will be ready for moving on, apart for the likes of cucumbers, melons, chillies etc. all needing a warm location. I am sure that some tweaking will be required for next year (2025) and maybe even a change
of varieties and veg types. Gardening is all about trial and error, no matter how long one has been gardening or how experienced one is.
Since passing the NVS Judges exam
last October together with Neil Blumsom, Colin Redshaw, Q Dickinson and Ron Nuttall (congratulations to all) I now have a number of judging assignments booked for 2024, God only help the veg growing and showing public out there, they know not what they have let themselves in for!
Have a good growing 2024, and if showing, then good luck and may your place cards be red ones.
Norman Dickinson F.N.V.S. Southern Branch Chairman
God only help the veg growing and showing public out there
Essex DA
We have another full programme of events for 2024. By the time you’re reading this, we should have had our first two talks of the year. However, I have summarised those that will be taking place from April onwards below:
• Sunday2April:talkbyStuartMillsfromFargroon“Alternativestopeat”.
• Sunday19May:talkbyVanessaJoneson“Asianhornets”.
• Sunday14July:EssexDAMiniShow
• Sunday13October:talkbySandraHallon“Growinginmypolytunnel”.
• Sunday24November:EssexDAAGM
We still have a vacant Secretary position on our Essex DA committee. If anyone is interested in taking up this role, please get in touch.
For further information on Essex DA events, please contact Emily Harris on emily. plumb@btinternet.com or Sherie Plumb on 01621 741787.
Surrey DA
At the time of writing the Surrey DA have a full programme of speakers booked for 2024, unfortunately with a number of committee members standing down at the AGM in February the future of the DA is not guaranteed.
Hopefully new committee members will come forward and the DA will continue.
Keith Hine
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