OUR first meeting in November at Dines Green Centre welcomed new chairman Jane Flynn, who takes over from John Simpson, who has done a splendid job over the past three years. We all wish Jane all the best.

Our speaker was the owner of the Bannut Garden, near Bringsty Common, who gave a talk with slides on the history of the English garden. The talk began with the first gardens in Roman times, through many local stately home gardens such as Hampton Court Herefordshire, Westbury Court – an example of a Dutch Garden – to Capability Brown’s Croome Court.

With the onset of global warming the next innovation will be the plastic garden.

Our special interest groups are thriving. The local history group has had speakers on the history of the salt industry and the development of Worcester.

One reading group has discussed Winter in Madrid and The Masters by CP Snow and will discuss The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald.

Although some groups are fully booked new members are always welcome at the main meeting on alternate Wednesdays. Group activities open to all are publicised.

For more information contact Hazel on 353534 and Anne on 773474.