Page 61 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2025

Bucks DA
IT’S OUR 15TH ANNIVERSARY
THIS YEAR
On a wet and windy December evening
in 2009, a few 50-plus good people met
one evening in Wingrave to discuss if there
was enough support to form what we now
know as the Bucks DA of the National
Vegetable Society. On the 23rd of January
2010, the first committee meeting and the
Buck DA was formed. Our first committee
members are listed below, two of whom are
on the committee today*
.
President Bernard Flay
Chair Ian Mortimer
Secretary John Branham*
Treasurer Vikki Hewitt
Vice Chair Jim Styles*
Deputy Secretary David Elkins
Publicity/ Functions David Killick
Our first talk was kindly given by Jim
Thompson, on Setting Up a New Vegetable
Garden on 18th February 2010. Our second
talk was given by Medwyn Williams MBE
on Growing Short Carrots on 23 April 2010.
As you can see below Medwyn is helping
us kick off our 15th year by coming to our
AGM And spending the evening talking
About his years of growing the most
amazing vegetables.
A YEAR OF WONDERFUL TALKS
LINED UP FOR YOU ALL!
•
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•
•
•
•
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February 18th, AGM and An evening
with Medwyn Williams MBE
March 18th, Phil Gowing quality veg in
small spaces
April 10th, Nursery Visit
June 25th, Annal visit John and Jill
Branham’s open garden (date TBC)
July, Montana Garden in Cholesbury
near Tring Garden visit (date TBC)
October 21st Growing Salad leaves all
year with Jake Sale
November 18th, Growing Peppers TBC
DA AT MEDWYN WINTER
WONDERLAND
Last November a bunch of Bucks DA
members travelled up to the Victoria
Hotel at Mount Snowdon for an excellent
weekend and gardening seminar at
another level. Starting with a glorious Male
Welsh Choir and on for two wonderful days
of talks and socialising. We managed to
herd some of our members together for a
group shot with Medwyn but if you’ve ever
tried getting cats to pose for a photo, you’ll
appreciate how hard this can be. To top it
off a few of us ordered some of Medwyn's
bulk items and he arranged for them to be
delivered to our cars, one can’t say fairer
than that, can you?
WE’VE GOT LEEKS FOR SALE
We know this will not come as a surprise
to many of you, we have quality Leeks and
Onion plants for sale to raise the money
we need to help run the Bucks DA. The
seeds and pips all come from some of
the best championship growers in the
country. As you can see from the photos
(taken in January) these plants are in tiptop
condition. If you haven’t already contacted
one of the committee, please feel free to
do so.
The cost is £10 for a dozen in a tray and a
little more if they are in individual pots. You
must collect these at one of our talks or in
person by arranging this with John or Jake.
We don’t post these as we are not in that
market or competing with guys who sell
plants as a part of their businesses.
P.S. if you win big with our plants do let
us know.
BUCKINGHAM’S 2024 HIGHLIGHTS
WEATHER FROM DAVID KILLICK,
FNVS AT THE DAGNALL WEATHER
STATION (AONB)
It was a record-breaking year in the UK and
for us, it was in the Dagnall area, the centre
of the Bucks DA area.
There were 10 named storms during
the year, resulting in seven months when
the rainfall was around twice the average.
The largest of these was in September
which saw a total of 197.2mm (7¾ inches)
of rainfall. This was 3½ times the average.
We recorded rain on 213 days, the wettest
of which was 22nd of September when
we had 71.2mm (2¾ inches) of rainfall. The
year as a whole saw 136% of the average
amount of rain at 1073.8mm. Unusually,
August was the driest month with only
24.2mm of rain.
2024 was a mild year. February was one
of the warmest on record with an average
mean temperature of 8.6ºc in Dagnall.
May was also relatively warm and had an
average mean temperature of 13.1°c, while
December was very mild dipping to 1.6ºc
at its lowest point. The summer, however,
was cool.
All the storms brought high winds, but
it was perhaps Storm Bert in November
which was the windiest. Gusts of 51mph
were recorded at the Dagnall weather
station – the highest speed we have ever
recorded.
For weather data 24 hours a day,
updated every 15mins, visit:
www.dagnallweather.co.uk
If anyone has a question, comment or
wishes to contact me please email: david@
dagnallweather.co.uk or telephone: 01442
843883.
Dagnall weather now has an app for your
iPad & iPhone! Just go to the apple store,
search for Wunderstation and follow the
instructions to Dagnall Weather Station.
Now updated every minute.
Jake Sale
Simply Vegetables 61