HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: There are three important dates in the calendar:

On June 29 there is an evening visit to Mrs Lucy Abel-Smith's garden, The Old Rectory, Quenington, including the sculpture exhibition, meet at 5.45pm at the war memorial, transport will be provided by members and the tour starts at 6.30pm. The competition will be a buttonhole to be worn. There is no charge for this tour but a bucket will be passed around for donations, and guide books will be available.

On July 6 there is a day trip to Coughton Court. The ground floor of the house has ramps so that disabled visitors get a chance to see the main rooms. There will be three pick-up points, Pulhams depot, corner of Rissington Road and Rye Close, and the war memorial, and everyone should be picked up by 10.15am to arrive at Coughton in time for coffee. Cost is £12 per person. There are free wheelchairs, call 810388 for information.

On August 27 the annual village show includes various classes for vegetables, fruit, flowers, floral art, and many other arts, crafts and skills.

Schedules are available from Ray Fardon, Gorse Leigh, Rissington Road; Rosemary Russell, Berkeley House, (next to police station) Moore Road; and Ruth Manning, South View, Clapton Row.

The speaker was Mr Roger Umpelby, a professor of entomology from the Vale of Evesham, who has worked there for the past 20 years liaising between the Government and local farmers.

He retired two years ago but is still busy. His talk and slides were on Friends and Foes in the Garden. He gave detailed information on which bugs were good or bad. Rosemary Russell has a list of friends and foes from Mr Umpelby's talk, contact her on 810388. A vote of thanks was given to Mr Umpelby, who also judged the monthly competition which was won by Mrs Sheila Thorpe. There will be no meeting next month, instead there will be the two outings. The next full meeting in September will be a Swap Shop and Idea Exchange.