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Letter from the Director

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Letter from the Director

Dear Member

Welcome to autumn 2008. In this quarter, we embrace the cornucopia of plants that give us autumn fruits. One fruit in particular plays a starring role at our Apple Day. You’ll find a plant at the centre of most aspects of our lives. In this issue, Edward Skinner tells us how to put free food on the table grown from our own garden plants. Simon Gulliver tells us how to bring threatened native plants back from the brink and Celia Lester transports us on her travels to Kirstenbosch, South Africa’s paradise of plants.

Autumn events at the Gardens include stunning shows of Dahlia, Cyclamen, Cacti and Orchids. Admission is free, come along, you might get hooked and join the friendly societies that spend all year preparing the glorious display of plants on show.

Charitable events include the Rotary Country Music Festival and our Plant Hunters’ Fair; all proceeds to good causes. Family Funday and Conservation Day offer wonderful entertainment and unusual visitors.

Our Growing Schools Garden is a big hit with our visitors who love the colourful planting and child friendly features there.

Sadly, due to essential maintenance, we have said goodbye to our playground slide which had been here since the 1950’s, a tribute to Wicksteed who built it. We are planning new play attractions to replace it; by popular demand, a slide will be a central feature. If you are missing our old friend, our shop is full of original toys and back to school gifts to keep you amused until the slide returns.

A warm welcome to to Chris Morgan, gardener, and five new students who begin work here in September. If they do as well as Patrick Wiltshire, our former student, who won the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition this year, we will be delighted. His success adds to the Gardens’ reputation as a national centre for excellence in horticultural education.

Finally, our fundraiser, Liz Ellis is raising funds for new educational facilities here. She also organised a very popular summer reception and business networking event for the Gardens with cocktails on the terrace on a wonderful summer’s evening, an experience we would all like to repeat. If the Gardens can work in partnership with your business on a project that will help us both grow, please get in touch.

James Wheeler Chief Executive and Curator