Successful Plant Sale at Helmingham Hall

LETTER FROM SUFFOLK GROUP
CHAIRMAN MAGGIE THORPE

You will all be delighted to hear that our Plant Sale held for the
first time at Helmingham Hall in the spring brought over a
thousand visitors despite the wet weather. Visitors were thrilled
with the paeony and iris borders in Helmingham's magnificent
gardens, and nurseries had a really busy day.

Five new members were enrolled while the Children's Corner
contained a splendid display of Boxford School's gardening efforts
with pots of produce made from their garden which visitors were
able to buy. Christine Mole, our Collections Co-ordinator, decorated
one gazebo with plants and posters from several Collection Holders
including Anthony Pigott's equisetum, one of which was proudly
displaying a 'cone' for the first time. All in all, a very successful
day, not just boosting our funds, but promoting the work of our
Association.

Anne Tweddle grew unusual vegetables which all sold well and
Robert Shepperson's stand brought in an amazing £800.
Congratulations to both.

Following Helmingham we were invited to set up a stand at The
Suffolk Show and I want to thank the members who volunteered to
man the stand for the two days which created much interest in all
our activities and, in particular, brought in offers of Benton irises to
add to Sarah Cook's ever-growing collection.

Our thanks to Ann Bryson and Anne Tweddle for assembling and
producing the 2007 Three Counties Nurseries Leaflet which was
much appreciated when given out free at our plant sales and The
Suffolk Show.

We look forward to our first visit to Kentwell Hall in Long Melford
for the Autumn Plant Sale, a completely new venue for us, on
Sunday 16 September. There is so much to see and do there which
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we hope will encourage people to stay longer, leaving their plants in
the capable hands of Pauline Byford and her team of Plant Creche
helpers.

Our AGM this year will be held in the evening of Monday 26
November at Stoke Priory, Stoke-by-Nayland by kind invitation of
Mr and Mrs Engleheart. To help catering and seating
arrangements, please let me know by the end of October if you
intend to come.

Our NCCPG National Office is relocating to Losely Park on 20
August. Members of Council gave Genevieve Melbourne Webb, our
Executive Officer, a vote of thanks for all the difficulties she has
experienced in finding suitable accommodation. £40,000 has been
granted by various charitable trusts to assist with this move. A new
telephone number will be available by then but please let me know
if you have difficulty contacting the office.

Increasing membership is still vital for our future. Please do all you
can to encourage friends to join, even those who are not interested
in coming to many of our events. By contributing they will be
helping in our conservation work.

Other ways of helping our society: please remember that a gift in
your will for the NCCPG can be exempt from inheritance tax.
Details of will-giving can be found on www.nccpg.com.
Alternatively, families can ask for donations instead of flowers at
funerals.

Finally, do let me have any ideas for future lectures or visits you
would like us to organise or if you feel your garden might be a
suitable venue for a plant swap or social event. You can email me at
smece@aol.com or telephone 01787 211346.