Dry Stuff, no not the weather - the Draft Constitution

Here are the three pages of the Constitution to be submitted for approval at the Society's AGM on Wednesday 19th February.

You may wish to zoom in on your browser to more easily read the text.

Constitution Page 1

Constitution Page 2

Constitution Page 3

Summer Show 2014

Best wishes for the New Year, in your garden and otherwise.

In August we shall, of course, be holding The Annual Show and, though that is yet months away, we thought some advance notice in a few of the classes may be helpful,  to get you snapping, stitching and painting. 

Photography titles:

* "This always makes me smile."  

* Holidays

* A Winter Scene

* Funny Signs

* A Pond

Handicraft will be the same in most cases, one class, where you may like some advance notice, will be for a Textile Bag (which may be from a kit). 

Art will include your usual classes, so something for pretty much every medium hopefully.

The Schedule will soon be ready for printing and, as last year, when it is complete a full copy will be available for you here. 

Society Christmas meal at the Royal Oak, Drimpton

This time of year is very much taken up with opportunities to enjoy Christmas meals with friends so, as a committee, we offered the suggestion to members that perhaps we change to a New Year meal after Christmas. Perhaps fearing an early-undoing of New Year resolutions to get fit, or shed a few pounds, members opted to stick with tradition. A jolly good decision that turned out to be - we enjoyed a wonderful evening last night at the Royal Oak, the food was very good, the company lively and fun and, except for those poor souls having to work the next day, we continued the evening chatting almost into the small hours.

The months ahead

The weather forecast today has been very much of conditions to wrap up for and also to batten down the hatches. Let us hope that, by the time the events listed below are under way that everyone will have come out the other side in one piece.

December 2013

That is our members traditional Christmas Lunch - but in the evening - work that one out. We are all looking forward to enjoying the hospitality of the Royal Oak.

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January 2014 - Wednesday 15th at 7:00 pm in Drimpton Village Hall

Our very popular Quiz and Puds (and more).

Teams of 4, with entry at £2.50 per person, to include the first pud.
There will also be savoury tastes and, of course, Bob's dastardly brain-teasers.

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February 2014 - A busy month

Potato Day

Saturday 8^th February 2014

10:30 to 2:30

Drimpton Village Hall

Great Food and Children's activities

Welcome to our 6th Annual Potato Day, with Pennard Plants offering a wide variety of Seed Potato varieties for sale, by the tuber or in bags, with information on type, cultivation and disease resistance for each one. Our Potato Day is organised for gardeners, by gardeners; you will find plenty of help, information and encouragement.

The Heritage Collection seeds, plus a selection of Garlic, Onion and Shallot sets, plus herbs, fruit bushes, rhubarb and more will be available. Potato Day is the only opportunity to enter our popular Potato Growing competition, (classes for young people and adults – weigh-in on Show Day, Saturday 9^th August)

Enjoy the renowned Drimpton food, with all day brunches, lunches and cakes, as well as warming drinks. As ever, the popular activities for young people will be here, so there's fun for everyone. Please join us, whether you are an experienced grower or just starting out on veggies, you will find this a friendly and useful event.

There is no need to book, but for further information please contact 01308 868843.

We are on Chard Road (B3162), Drimpton, between Chard and Beaminster. For SatNav: DT8 3RF

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Wednesday 19th February, 7:15 for 7:30 pm

The Society AGM and Social Evening - yes, more fun and food, once the serious business of agreeing a new constitution and electing a committee and officers has been concluded, hopefully successfully.

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Meetings coming up in October and November

On Wednesday 16th October

The Winter Garden, with Guest Speaker John Horsey

John is an experienced speaker on topics from Ponds to Alpines and Shade to the Algarve, so we should be treated to some expert and timely advice.

Wednesday 20th November

A World of Gardens, our speaker will be Graeme Mitchell

Inspiration from around the world right into out back garden

All meetings 7:15 for 7:30, at Drimpton Village Hall.
Visitors always welcome, for £1 entry (members free)

Traditional Woodland Crafts

On Wednesday 18th September we welcomed Terry Heard, who didn't just speak about TRADITIONAL WOODLAND CRAFTS, he entertained, demonstrated, showed a model of a coppice rotation and brought such a variety of tools, and the woodland produce that he creates with them, everything from tent pegs, to staves, brooms, poles and charcoal.

One of the best speakers we could have hoped for, he made a besom during the talk and that will be a star raffle prize next month.

Terry Heard with coppice rotation model

Terry explains coppicing and the sustainable products we can get from hazel

Annual Show - Pictures and winners

The 68th Annual Show, in Drimpton Village Hall, attracted over 70 Entrants showing a total of 540 exhibits, there was hardly space for any more, and fortunate that we had two marquees and a gazebo outside to host the steady stream of visitors through the afternoon.

Trophy Winners

The Society's Perpetual Challenge Trophy (Flowers and Vegetables)
Bill Howarth

The Martineau Cup (Flowers)
Bill Howarth

The Craven Cup (Best Flower Exhibit)
Bill Howarth

The Greenham Rose Bowl (Rose with best scent)
Michael Vickery

The Strawbridge Cup (Vegetables)
Bill Howarth

The Manor Cup (Best Vegetable Exhibit)
Bill Howarth

The Jubilee Cup (Organic Vegetable collection)
Bill Howarth

The Capewell Cup (Best Floral arrangement)
Barbara Wright

The Baker Cup (Homecraft)
Kate Hesketh

The Drimpton Salver (Best Baking Exhibit)
Frances Franklin

The Knorr Cup (Preserves)
Christabel Pilz

The Collard Cup (Best Handicraft exhibit)
Louise Hesketh

The Diana Sprent Trophy (Best Art exhibit)
Anne Cater

The Lyminster Cup (Best Photographic Exhibit)
Trevor Cherry

The Society's Cup (Young exhibitor under 9)
Jemima Leivers

The Clapton Cup (Young Exhibitor 10 to 15)
Georgia Hedditch

The Dummet Cup (Young Person's heaviest potato crop - 315g)
Matthew Medley

The Shepherd Cup (Adult heaviest Potato crop 4765g!)
Rosemary Clayton