GARDENING SOCIETY: The March meeting was well attended and a welcome was given to four new members and four visitors. The chairman announced the results of the Inter-club Horticultural Quiz held on February 19 at Blockley. It was a tight competition, the winner was Longborough and Bidford came a respectable third. The monthly competition was 'Small tray of Seedlings', Mrs Freeman was first, Mrs Webb second, Mrs Haynes third and Mrs Kerr fourth.

April's meeting will be 'Story of Heather' by Daphne Everett and the competition will be a 'Bowl of Heather. There will also be a plant and seed bring and buy. The outing on April 5 to Stockton Bury Gardens, Leominster and Lakeside, Whitbourne, Worcester has been cancelled due to foot and mouth. A visit to Oxford Botanical Gardens has been arranged instead, the coach leaves the Crawford Hall at 12.30pm, anyone wishing to come as a visitor please call Mrs Kerr 772296, and if there is space on the coach you are most welcome. Peter Byrne from Findon's Nurseries then gave an excellent presentation. It was a first for the Gardening Society as he used a computer projector for his lecture. He described himself as a 'Plant Factory Manager'. Growing flowers on his father's allotment and winning first prize in a Church Flower Show started his interest. As a commercial horticulturist he makes money out of growing things. After a degree in horticulture he has been at Findon's for 15 years. On March 22, the society arranged a visit to Findon's, and were given an impressive conducted tour and Mrs Kerr expressed members thanks for an interesting afternoon.