Page 48 - Simply Vegetables Summer 2023

Scottish Branch
Chairs thoughts...
Scottish Branch – 200 Club
Thank you to all members who have submitted a Scottish Branch 200 club form, your support makes a big difference.
For 2023 we have once again delayed the start of the prize draw to run from March to Dec to allow for more applications to come in before we start. The prize draw is taken
at the end of each month, so make sure you send in your forms for 2023 or print an extra form or two from the website within the “Resources” section, the more the merrier.
After the first draw results for 2023 congratulations go to first prize winner Niall Currie and second prize winner Gareth Cameron.
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 an extra copy
of the 200-club form, you can now find a PDF copy in the “Resources” section of the NVS website 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
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, it really makes a difference.
Despite a last-minute panic caused by winter weather warnings, we were able to hold the Branch AGM on 11th March at our usual venue in Auchterarder. It was an emotional meeting held just a few days after the funeral of our then Chairman Ian Stocks who had lost his brave battle against cancer. Ian’s death has meant a huge loss to our Branch and to the Society as a whole. Our sympathies go to Ian’s wife Linda and to his family and friends.
Despite calling for other nominations after I was nominated to succeed Ian as Branch Chairman, there were no additional nominations for this role, and I have now taken on the mantle. Neil Muirhead has become Vice Chairman and Liz Louden’s position as Treasurer was ratified as she was co-opted into the position after last year’s AGM. John Martin has agreed
to become our nominated person for updating Branch News and Events on
the Society’s website. We called for a volunteer to become Minute Secretary and although no-one came forward at the meeting this position was filled afterwards. Norman Macbean, who came along to
the AGM accepted an invitation to join the Committee.
Our branch has been criticised in some quarters in the past for having a large Committee, but we see it as having huge advantages in that everyone has a sense of ownership of Branch matters, and it does make things easier when trying to find volunteers when needed.
There were no other changes to the Committee structure.
At the time of writing, we are planning our activities for the coming months. We intend to once again have a presence
at Scone Palace Garden Fair which was hugely successful for us last year, both as a brilliant team effort and also in terms of interacting with the public by giving them advice and making it possible for them to buy our legendary leek transplants and
a selection of other plants ready to plant out at affordable prices. The weather was brilliant last year so we have our fingers crossed that by the time this article is in print we will have had a repeat this year in early June.
Our annual garden visit will follow in July, and we are presently planning for our annual Seminar in November. As always other than exhibiting in shows throughout the season, our seminar has been hugely successful in allowing our members and
others from further afield to meet up and renew acquaintances as well as being
a huge information source through the talks and slideshows provided and at the same time help fulfil part of the aims of the Society set out in the Constitution. Additionally, our members have had the opportunity to talk to and get advice from our commercial partners whose presence and support at the event is hugely appreciated.
At this time of year, (Mid-April at the time of writing) on the cultivation front, it’s difficult to describe what will be happening in the future i.e., when this edition of the magazine is published. Easier to describe the year so far and it doesn’t overstate
the matter to say we’ve had a long winter. Being so far north it is frustrating to see folks south of the border being able to get things growing much earlier than we can but it’s something we have learned to live with.
I normally try to get our kitchen spuds into the ground on 18th April but that’s not happening this year. The ground is just simply too wet and cold. Another couple of weeks won’t affect the crop, it will just be minorly later than usual. I’m spending a fair bit of time growing plants and pricking them out for our stall at the Scone Palace Garden Fair in June and taking up valuable greenhouse space with them as it’s too cold to set them outside to harden off presently, but fingers crossed things will soon improve.
Finally best wishes to all our growers and exhibitors who by the time they read this article will be starting to see the fruits of their labours in the kitchen and/or be looking forward to the start of the show season.
Frank Taylor FNVS
Scottish Branch Championships 2023
For our Scottish Branch members, you will have been provided with a copy of our Scottish Branch Championships Show Schedule and Entry Form with this edition of your magazine.
Please note that we had previously reported the show would take place in the Corn Exchange, Haddington, but as the NHS are still commandeering this venue to support continued Covid related activities, the venue has changed to the Aubigny Sports Centre, Haddington. We look forward to seeing you there on Saturday 2nd September.
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