Meeting for the first time in 2022, members appreciated a return visit by Sally Nex who was last with us in September 2018. At that meeting, she described the Chelsea Flower Show from the perspective of a behind the scenes participant. It was intriguing.
Sally is an inspiring speaker, knowledgeable and passionate and this month we explored gardening without using plastic, one of Sally’s personal missions. Her website www.sallynex.com discusses how and why to use more sustainable materials such paper, card and wood with, for example, benefit to seedlings when they are not constrained by hard plastic walls. Her presentation was a good way to start the gardening year and demonstrated what can be achieved with environmental awareness and some inventiveness.
The hospitable Stapleton Arms offered game pie or hake in lobster bisque followed by a good cheese board or treacle tart. The plates were generously filled and the atmosphere was as ever, convivial and warm. Sitting at a square or circular table is so much more conducive to conversation than long trestle tables of our past lunches. It was a very good afternoon.
Report by Barbara Humphreys