LODHS Summer Show

Members will, I am sure, be aware that LODHS held its Summer Show at Hazelwood School, and invited our members to put in entries.  A number of our members took them up on their kind offer, with a number of good results for us!

Sadly, we do not have many pictures as the event clashed with our stall at the Tandridge Village Fair, but members may like to see Pat Thorn being presented with the Margaret McNaughton cup for winning the Domestic and Cookery Section, based on points overall.  Congratulations Pat - I hope you have lots of silver polish, because you'll need it given the size of the silverware!

Pat Thorn receiving the Margaret McNaughton Cup
for the Domestic and Cookery Section,
most points overall.

PS The improved quality of the photo compared
to our usual efforts is because it was taken not taken by us!

Club Outings - Staffhurst Wood Guided Walk

O Happy Band of Pilgrims ... a good turnout for the walk!

Many thanks to David and Jane Firmin, for arranging a guided walk through Staffhurst Wood (click the name for details) for the Club.  Also many thanks to our guide,  Bob Crompton, the reserve manager in charge of the woods for the Surrey Wildlife Trust.  This guided tour was extremely popular with the club, with a very good turnout which was pleasing not just for us, but for Bob who had so kindly given up his Sunday afternoon to show us around.  If you missed it, don't worry, as the woods are open all year round for self-guided walks; Bob also does other arranged walks.  The Surrey Wildlife Trust also manages a number of sites around us, and runs a number of events which may be of interest to the members - contact details are listed at the end of the article.

One of the largest oak trees - the clearing has to be managed

One of the great advantages of a guided walk such as this is the ability to discover things that you simply would not have known about, and the workings of the Trust that manages the woodland.  In an early part of the walk, we came across one of the largest oaks in the wood, which situated in a clearing that has to be maintained, and also some wild orchids that we would easily have missed had we been on our own.  We also discovered some Wild Servis trees, which are apparently the hallmark of Ancient Woodland - again, we would have walked right past these on our own, but should you like to try to find them there are identification photos below.

A wild orchid in the grass - we can't say where,
or we would have to shoot you.

And for a well-deserved plug, please note that, if you missed the walk, Bob does arrange others.  They may be found on the Surrey Wildlife Trust website, www.surreywildlifetrust.org (though it does take some work to get to them - try the What's On section).  Also, Bob has a number of volunteers who manage the woodland and is always looking for some more to help - so if the walk or the woodland inspired you, please do contact either the Wildlife Trust, or David Firmin at a club meeting, and offer your services.  Chainsaws, apparently, are not obligatory, nor is singing Monty Pyton's "Lumberjack Song" ...  contact details are info@surreywt.org.uk for general information, or volunteers@surreywt.org.uk if you have time to give.

One of the Wild Servis trees

And the Servis tree bark, which is distinctive ...

Updated Programme - Speakers Confirmed for August and October

In our sunshine yellow programme (more muted next year, hopefully, or perhaps supply us with sunglasses - Ed), we have our later two speakers listed only as "To Be Confirmed".  We are now pleased to confirm that these talks have now been booked and are as follows:

August 12th 2015 - Organic Pest Control, by Dr and Mrs Rae of Ladybird Plant Care

October 14th 2015 - Tulip Mania by Lesley Chamberlain

The link to "programme" on the right has also been updated with the new information - we look forward to seeing you there!

LODHS Summer Show Schedule

A few members have discovered a problem accessing and printing the schedule for the LODHS Summer Show, which is due to be held at Hazelwood School this Saturday.  It appears that some (most?) Ipads will not run the application needed to open and view the LODHS programme successfully. 

As our Club has a reciprocal invitation from LODHS to enter exhibits into each other's shows, we felt that it would be sensible to place basic pictures of the schedule pages onto the blog for anyone interested to view and print off, for members suffering the problem above.  The details for making entries are available from the LODHS site, at LODHSgardens.blogspot.com - essentially, telephone 01883 715496 or email Richard_training@hotmail.com giving your name and classes to be entered.