MICKLETON GARDENING CLUB: There is no doubt that speaker Daphne Everett has a lot of enthuasism and energy for her garden at The Bannut, so called because Bannut is the old name for the Walnut tree which they have in the garden. Together with her husband, 94-year-old mother and outside help for two half days plus a man to cut the hedges when necessary Mrs Everett maintains the 2 1/2 acre gardens which have been divided into rooms rather like the famous Hidcote Gardens in Gloucestershire. Mrs Everett fell in love with heathers when she lived near the Ness Gardens. She set up a successful heather nursery and then moved with her family to The Bannut near the Malverns in 1984 when she needed to expand her premises. In came the bulldozers to create a nursery site and when the work was finished Mrs. Everett was able to supply a quarter of a million heathers. While running the nursery the Everetts also concentrated on developing the grounds around their bungalow. Heathers were used to highlight a cider mill in the front of garden and also to create a knot garden. A bog garden was created where the run-off water from the slightly sloping land collected, a 'mini Westonbirt' was planted in another area, themed gardens were planted and bordered by neatly trimed leyandii and by 1992 Mrs Everett decided to open The Bannut to the public in the National Garden Scheme and for The Red Cross.

It was a great success and when it was time to retire the family decided to open the gardens more to the public. The Everetts converted the shed into a tea room large enough to accommodate 20 people and they set up a small plant sales nursery for visitors. Not without its accompanying headaches but very worthwhile all the same. To finish Mrs Everett showed the members slides of the garden as it is now and which Club members will be able to see for themselves when they visit the Bannut shortly. Janet Edwards gave the vote of thanks and Mrs. Gaye Rochfort won the table top competition for her vase of eight different garden flowers which included a dainty pink and yellow yarrow and a lovely pink rose.

Mickleton Society: A big thank you to Pam Cross for opening her lovely garden to the society, which held its garden party there on the June 16. Eight-five members attended, and everyone enjoyed the summer sunshine and meeting friends in the beautiful setting, while Pam and her helpers served a delicious buffet-supper. John Atherton expressed members' appreciation and the raffle raised £168 for charity.

John then looked forward to the coming event; the church fete, the outing to Broughton Castle on September 18 and the new season's talks starting on October 2.