As many of you will be aware, it was with great regret that the Committee members of the Horticultural Society had to take the decision to cancel the Social Evening last October. The reason for this was that, with the departure of Rachel & Brian Watts to Cumbria and the sad loss of Bryan How, we simply do not have enough Committee members to run this type of event.

Despite several attempts to recruit new committee members, both before and since the Watts house move, no new members have stepped forward and so we, the remaining five committee members, are faced with a choice:

• Fold the Society – we could not run either the Annual Show or Social with such a small number of committee members and we really did not want to do this especially as the society is now in its 70^th year, or

• Look for a new way forward.

So we took the decision to approach Chesham Horticultural Society, we were aware that they were having similar difficulties and we wanted to ascertain whether there was potential to merge the two societies.

They were very open to the idea and so we put this to the vote at the AGM in March and it was carried unanimously. The proposal for this year is to simply combine events, without a full merger, with a view to merging the two Societies constitutionally in 2020.

This will involve the renaming of the combined societies and we would welcome your input on this. Ideas so far are: CAB Leisure Gardeners Club (CAB standing for Chesham Asheridge & Bellingdon), CAB Gardeners Club or Chesham and Villages Garden Club. Please let us know your thoughts.

We all see this as a positive step forward for both Societies and an opportunity to increase both membership and the number of events we can put on for our members. We hope you feel the same way and will support us enthusiastically in this, as you have always done.

Please find below a list of combined events for 2019. We look forward to seeing you at any or all of these.

For more information contact Nicola Parkes on 07973 558675 or Tracey Ryan 01494 775568.

Chesham & Bellingdon Horticultural Societies COMBINED EVENTS 2019

Trading Hut – Plot 3, Cameron Road Allotments Open every Saturday until Saturday  May 11th – 10 to  11.30am. Hut can be opened at other mutually convenient times by calling Adrian Norris on 07718609719.

Spring Social (Chesham Hort Soc) – Tues 16^th April 7.30pm at the McMinn Centre, East street, Chesham. Bring Food contribution and own Drinks. Tea/Coffee provided.

Plant Sale (Bellingdon Asheridge & District Hort Soc) – 18^th May 2019 10am, Bellingdon Village Hall. Mostly bedding and basket plants grown by committee members. Also Vegetable plants and some perennials. Refreshments available.

Plant Sale (Chesham Hort Soc) – 18^th May 2019, 9am- 12 noon. Steps outside United Reform Church, The Broadway, Chesham. Mainly the sale of home-grown vegetable plants, herbs, herbaceous plants, shrubs and some annual flowers donated by members.

Coach Outing – organised by Chesham Hort Soc. Sat 8^th June to RHS garden Hyde Hall. See separate slip to book.

Early Summer Show (Chesham Hort Soc) – Sat 6^th July at Trinity Baptist Church, Chesham. Open to public from 2.30pm to 5pm. Apply Adrian Norris for a schedule on 07718 609719.

Late Summer Show (Chesham Hort Soc) – Sat 7th September at Trinity Baptist Church, Chesham. Open to public from 2.30pm to 5pm. Contact Adrian Norris for a schedule on 07718 609719.

Annual Show (Bellingdon Asheridge & District Hort Soc) – Sat 14^th September at Bellingdon Village Hall, Bellingdon. Open to public 2pm. Contact Nicola Parkes 07973 558675 for a schedule

Social (Bellingdon Hort Soc) – Friday 18^th October 7pm. Three course meal plus Quiz. Tickets £7.50 per person. Contact Nicola Parkes 07973 558675. Theme to be confirmed.