When Sutton and Barnby Moor Gardening Club held its first meeting for 2024 it was a change of evening and a change of venue.
The same warm welcome from the same old faces made everybody relaxed on arrival and happy. Despite the changes, a group of 30 members and friends made the effort to attend the event.
Chairperson Jenny Bailey welcomed members and any guests and prospective members to the event and gave out any official notices before introducing the guest speaker.
The guest speaker for the evening was Rachel Barrowcliffe, who has addressed the club on previous occasions and is more like an old friend, popular and well-known to most. Rachel’s talk for this session was entitled ‘How to Futureproof your Garden’ and alerted those present to review and think carefully before making changes.
For example, electric car? Install necessary power Pod before laying pathways or concreting drives etc. Make sure paths are wide enough for two people to walk abreast, should you need to support someone in the future, and likewise wide enough for wheelchair use.
A variety of garden sheds and summerhouses are available on the market. Rachel’s advice – make sure there is enough room to turn around with lawn mowers or other garden equipment! Hire a professional if possible and use top quality materials; remember there are still a lot of cowboys out there, so beware.
The speaker often went off at a tangent (warning given beforehand!), but this held the group’s attention and nobody dropped off to sleep during the talk. The only nodding taking place was the members nodding in agreement with the advice and tips given by Rachel, which was eagerly taken on board by those present!
Another very informative meeting and seemingly enjoyed by those in attendance. At the next meeting of the group, Thursday 1st February, Sue Smith (7th Heaven Hedgehog Rescue) will address members on the subject. One not to be missed!