Members' Centres and
Friends' Groups
CHAIRMAN'S LETTER SEPTEMBER 2003
I'm still watering! The garden is so dry. Two weeks away on holioday didn't help. Nor did a further three weeks when daughter and grand daughters aged three and five respectively, came to stay. No energy, let alone time for the garden! I have lost quite a few shrubs. I'm looking forward to the visit tomorrow to The Mill Garden Centre in Armadale as Mr McIndoe the owner, is well known for the quality of his shrubs.
July and August seem to have flown by. It only seems yesterday that we were enjoying Mrs Mary Law's garden at Cuparmuir. A floral display and Mr Law's organ recital made this visit rather special.
In August I attended the RCHS President's Barbecue at Suntrap, and was made very welcome. Mr Fred Last acknowledged the "Friends" contribution and thanked us for helping to look after such a lovely garden as they, the RCHS, were privileged now to use. The sun shone, the bag pipes played and my little three year old behaved beautifully. Thank goodness!
Your committee is working hard on the rest of the programme for the year 2003 to 2004 which will now run from October to September. This brings us in line with most other organisations and will enable us to have our programme published in the National Trust's literature for Members' Centres and Friends' Groups.
Further, we have decided that "Friends of Suntrap Edinburgh", is a more defining title which we will use in future.
In the NTS Bulletin of July, attention was drawn to the "Awards for All", Heritage Lottery Fund Grant Scheme. We will learn more of this at the NTS Conference in Pitlochry in November. There is potential funding for £20,000 or less! A propagation house is at the moment top of the list in desirability and usefulness.
The National Collection of Bonsai is to be accommodated at Suntrap. It has been moved from its old home at Malleny. A secure structure is to be provided to contain it. Yet another most interesting asset for Suntrap!
I shall look forward to seeing you at John Smith's lecture on gardening on difficult sites on Saturday 11 October, 14:30 at Suntrap.
Until then, happy gardening!
Elizabeth Partington
Chairman.