King's Lynn Horticultural Society klhs.co.uk
KLHS News
July 2017 Volume 4, Issue 3
The glasshouse by Stephen Fairweather. ow which was on a sloping site, a large new BY KELVIN FAIRWEATHER glasshouse with desert, tropical and temperate On Sunday, 4th June, a zones with special tropigroup of 23 members and cal displays. guests went by coach from King’s Lynn and Other members visited Downham Market to the the fruit field, vegetable 240-acre RHS garden at garden, trials field all of Wisley, in Surrey. an extensive size. The trials field is where plants As you can imagine, it are tested before being was only possible to see given the prestigious small parts of this imRHS Award of Garden pressive ground in the Merit. four hours or so available before heading home. Other areas which time and energy prevented us We visited the wild garvisiting were the National den, alpine houses, rock (Continued on page 2) garden, and alpine mead-
Bright and cheerful, a red poppy brings a taste of summer to the allotment.
WISLEY VISIT
klhs.co.uk
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Wisley Visit
2
Annual Show
3
Big Butterfly Count
3
Muntjac Deer 4
Inside the alpine house. (Continued from page 1)
Heather Collection, Jubilee Arboretum, rose gardens and 128-metre long by six -metre wide mixed border and rhododendron and azalea area. We left King’s Lynn at 8am, arrived Wisley at 11.30am, departed 4.30pm and arrived back at 8.30pm.
A display of alpines by Kelvin Fairweather.
ANNUAL SHOW The Society’s annual show is now just a few weeks away. There is again a whole range of classes for adults and youngsters. Choose from entering your plants, fruit or vegetables, try out your cooking or your art-work. Young entrants can choose from such classes as making a miniature garden, entering three tomatoes or radishes, or painting a flower on a plate. Once again, the show is being held at South Wootton Village Hall. Bring your entries along on Saturday, August 12th, between 8am and 10am. The public will be able to visit from midday. Mrs Carol Bower, now Mayor of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, will return to present the prizes again this year at 4pm. Light refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon. It is hoped that the new schedule, to cover the years 2018 to 2020, will be available to take away at the event. Let’s hope the 2017 show will be as well supported as recent ones.
For further details, or copies of the current schedule , which contains some entry forms, please contact the Show Secretary, Rachel Vyse, telephone 01553 631820. Please remember, no entries will be accepted after Friday, July 11th.
BIG BUTTERFLY COUNT The annual Big Butterfly Count, run by Butterfly Conservation, is now under way. Last year, 2016, was the fourth worst year on record for British butterflies, with most species suffering declines in numbers. The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme reported that a mild winter followed by a cold spring, resulted in conditions that caused both rare and widespread species to struggle. What better way of enjoying some time in the fresh air than by spending 15 minutes in a sunny spot counting the butterflies you see? Then report your sightings at www.bigbutterflycount.org, where you can also find an ID chart, or download the free app. The count started on July 14th and runs until August 6th.
MUNTJAC DEER Some years ago I was on holiday in Banff, Canada and was very amused to see deer in people’s front gardens – there it was caribou. I am not laughing now – I have deer in my front garden munching my plants! These deer are Muntjac, the oldest known species, they are small (about 50cm to the shoulder). They have a hunched posture as their haunches are higher than their front. They are russet brown in colour in the summer and grey brown in winter. Males have short antlers and a ginger forehead with vshaped black lines, females have a diamond pattern. Apparently they were brought from China to Woburn Park in Bedfordshire in Muntjac tucking in. the early 20th century and have now spread to most of Eastern England. Most days I will see one in South Wootton (we have seen five different ones in the grass/ woodland at the back of our road this winter and spring). If you don’t see them you will certainly hear them (otherwise known as the barking deer) – a very loud rasping bark (Stella calls it a dog with a sore throat!). They are a pest in gardens because their favourite diet is new shoots which they will prune off to their height. Our front garden is open plan so no chance of keeping them out – one Christmas I had a whole tub of violas chomped. Our back garden is protected from the field by a fence and steep slope; however I know they are good jumpers – I have seen a muntjac jump over the wall into St Mary’s Churchyard and out again! They are difficult to control, having no predators and an all-year round breeding cycle. All you can do is protect vulnerMale muntjac. able plants with netting or fleece to above their height. By Nolan Mills