Welcome back to all our members and visitors. Our programme started with a lecture tailored especially to us by Ray Broughton, who give us an enlightening talk full of tips and tricks about the cold greenhouse and alpine gardening.

Ray is a highly qualified horticulturist, teacher, lecturer and examiner. He has more than 30 years experience of talking to garden clubs and was awarded a fellowship by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture for his service to horticulture.

Ray covered a wide range of techniques including tool cleaning, propagation, pesticides and creating liquid feed. Ray has written a series of notes which he is happy to share with gardening groups in return for a donation to the charity Perennial, which supports people working in horticulture.

If you’d like to receive Ray’s notes please bring a cash donation to the next meeting or email John at chilternalpinegroup.com. We’d suggest a donation of £2-£5.

The leaflets cover these subjects:

1 pruning principles

2 pruning revision

3  the control of moss

4  tips for the allotment

5 tips for ponds and water plants

6 make your own nutra ball fertiliser

7 quick compost making

8 how to make nettle  compost tea