Mrs Robin McDonald 

‘Botanic and other Gardens’

Robin is the President of the Orchid Society and founder of the Paphiopedilum Society. Robin is also a member of the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Society and has run their shows for several years. Robin has expanded her interest in plants, especially wild plants to such an extent that she is able to give talks on many horticultural subjects. But for us she will be talking about the wonderful gardens from around the world, including Gothenburg Botanic and Keukenhof Gardens.

It’s Christmas Party Time, starts at 7pm.  

I am pleased to report that our December Meeting (party) will also feature a brief presentation by Thomas Courtauld DL (Deputy Lieutenant for Norfolk) on 'The Queens Green Canopy'.

The precis of the QGC is : The Queen’s Green Canopy is an initiative to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by encouraging people to plant and protect trees as a legacy to Her Majesty’s Service to the Nation. The QGC will invite the four Nations of the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee” and will encourage people to plant well with healthy trees that will not only survive but thrive for generations to come. Everyone from community groups, schools, scout groups, corporates, counties, councils and parishes are encouraged to plant trees – from saplings to majestic avenues of significant trees – to mark this extraordinary occasion. As well as inviting people to plant new trees, existing woodland will also be dedicated to QGC by erecting commemorative plaques to mark the occasion and preserve forests for the future, in The Queen’s name. The QGC was launched in May. There is an excellent website at www.queensgreencanopy.org which explains it all and how your trees can be recorded. 

Andrew Brogan

Owner of Henstead Exotic Gardens

The Story of Henstead Exotic Gardens

This is one of the most well known exotic gardens in the UK and has featured in all the national newspapers and Gardeners World. In 2017 it was voted Britain’s Best Garden by Alan Titchmarch on ITV.

AGM at 7.30 followed by:

Ellen Mary

‘Plants and Nature for Wellbeing’

Ellen has been listed in the Top 5 Women Influencers in Horticulture by Grow Your Own Magazine! She has appeared on many TV programmes and is the Horticultural Co-Ordinator for the Royal Norfolk Show. The wellbeing talk will explore the history of social and therapeutic horticulture and how plants and nature overall help our physical and mental health wellbeing.