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The Gardens Association is for anyone interested in gardening or gardens, for those just starting out who wish to expand their gardening horizons through to those with a wealth of knowledge, for those who grow plants in containers on the windowsill or balcony to those who have acres to play with, and for those armchair gardeners who love to dream. Click here to find out how to join us.
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Our News
Gardeners World Autumn Fair - Saturday 30th August, 2025
We’ve planned a wonderful day out to Gardeners' World Autumn Fair, held in the stunning historic grounds of Audley End House in Saffron Walden.
Join us for a day packed with seasonal garden inspiration and expert advice from a stellar line-up, including Gardeners’ World presenters Adam Frost, Frances Tophill, Arit Anderson, and Rachel de Thame. Full details and booking form here Matthew Biggs - Lessons from Great GardenersThursday 13th March 7.45 for 8.00 pm, CSG Memorial Hall
We are excited to announce that Matthew Biggs will join this month’s Gardens Association meeting. Known for his work on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time and Channel 4’s Garden Club, Matthew is a Kew-trained gardener and prolific author with a passion for plants. He regularly contributes to BBC Gardeners’ World magazine, Gardens Illustrated, and the Royal Horticultural Society’s The Garden.
His wealth of knowledge and engaging storytelling promise an insightful session filled with inspiration for gardeners of all levels. Matthew will draw on his extensive experience and deep understanding of the horticultural world to explore the traits and techniques that define the most influential figures in gardening history, illustrating their legacies with vivid anecdotes and practical advice. 2025 Holiday to Lincolnshire
Our 2025 holiday takes us to Lincolnshire where we will be visiting gardens and other places of interest staying four nights on a half board basis at the 4* Forest Pines Hotel at Broughton. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar, indoor swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi and a steam room. All of our allocated Classic Rooms are ensuite and feature a television.
A double or twin room will cost £679.00 per person, for single occupants there is an additional £119.00 supplement. Lunches, holiday insurance and gratuities are also not included. For more details of the holiday, please click here We have agreed a full and varied programme of excursions that will appeal to garden lovers and entry to the gardens is included, except National Trust Gardens, which will be free to NT members. We will be visiting:
Christmas Dinner at The White Hart
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Community Orchard News
PROPOSAL SENT TO THE TRUSTEES OF MILTON'S COTTAGEWe would like to create a community orchard, managed in a natural way, full of wildflowers and a haven for wildlife, a place we can all share, that can help revive forgotten skills and an interest in our fruit growing heritage. Our vision is to make the orchard a valuable addition to village life, offering the opportunity for cross generational learning and involvement in a community project.
Click here to see the proposal and here for the plan. Why Chalfont St Giles should have a Community Orchard |
RESULTS FROM THE AUTUMN SHOW
First prize and the Fenton Cup went to Caroline Jackson
Joint Secord was Chin Fenton and Heidi Nolan Joint Third Sumitra Patel and Briony Wickenden Click here to see full results in the October Newsletter
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AUTUMN SHOW AT THE AGM - 14th October 2022
Following the popularity of the event in 2021, we have decided to repeat the Autumn Show. It is just for fun, please bring your exhibits to the Memorial Hall between 7.15 and 7.30. We might have a number of very talented gardeners within our membership, but it is such fun to see what others have grown regardless of their level of experience. So, please, try to bring at least one exhibit.
Class 1 Vase of Asters, 3 blooms
Class 2 A spray of Fuschia blooms,
Class 3 Vase of Roses, 3 blooms, 1 variety
Class 4 Chrysanthemums, 3 blooms of any kind, may be mixed
Class 5 Any other flower from your garden, at least 3 stems, can be a mix of varieties
Class 6 Dahlia, 3 blooms, 1 variety
Class 7 3 Apples, dessert or cooking, 1 cultivar
Class 8 Any other fruit
Class 9 Tomatoes, same variety or 1 truss, any type, with calyx in a dish
Class 1 Trug or basket of salad plants, at least 3 varieties, not more than 60cm x 30 cm, judged for variety appearance and freshness
Class 11 1 Pumpkin / Winter squash or Gourd
Class 12 Cook’s Delight, trug or basket of mixed vegetables, at least 3 varieties not more than 60cm x 30 cm, judged for variety appearance and freshness
Class 13 Flowering Pot Plant (in flower) can be indoor or outdoor, including bulbs & orchids (max pot size 8”)
Class 14 Foliage Pot Plant – (No flowers) can be indoor or outdoor, max pot size 8 inches
Class 15 5 bunches of culinary herbs, different kinds, not varieties, named and displayed in individual containers.
Class 16 Mixed Foliage Display (No Flowering Material) in a vase or jug.
Class 17 Cactus or succulent, pot no to exceed 20 cm
Class 18 Bonsai tree, pot not to exceed, 15 cm
Class 19 Carnivorous plant, any variety, pot not to exceed 15cm
Class 1 Vase of Asters, 3 blooms
Class 2 A spray of Fuschia blooms,
Class 3 Vase of Roses, 3 blooms, 1 variety
Class 4 Chrysanthemums, 3 blooms of any kind, may be mixed
Class 5 Any other flower from your garden, at least 3 stems, can be a mix of varieties
Class 6 Dahlia, 3 blooms, 1 variety
Class 7 3 Apples, dessert or cooking, 1 cultivar
Class 8 Any other fruit
Class 9 Tomatoes, same variety or 1 truss, any type, with calyx in a dish
Class 1 Trug or basket of salad plants, at least 3 varieties, not more than 60cm x 30 cm, judged for variety appearance and freshness
Class 11 1 Pumpkin / Winter squash or Gourd
Class 12 Cook’s Delight, trug or basket of mixed vegetables, at least 3 varieties not more than 60cm x 30 cm, judged for variety appearance and freshness
Class 13 Flowering Pot Plant (in flower) can be indoor or outdoor, including bulbs & orchids (max pot size 8”)
Class 14 Foliage Pot Plant – (No flowers) can be indoor or outdoor, max pot size 8 inches
Class 15 5 bunches of culinary herbs, different kinds, not varieties, named and displayed in individual containers.
Class 16 Mixed Foliage Display (No Flowering Material) in a vase or jug.
Class 17 Cactus or succulent, pot no to exceed 20 cm
Class 18 Bonsai tree, pot not to exceed, 15 cm
Class 19 Carnivorous plant, any variety, pot not to exceed 15cm
Visit to National Memorial Arboretum and Hill Close Gardens, Warwick
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At the end of July, we had a thoroughly enjoyable trip, brilliantly organised by Eleanor O'Connor. If you were unable to join us, both the Arboretum and Victorian gardens are certainly worth a visit.
What a gem the Hill Close gardens were. Even in this dry spell there was plenty to see. These were "real" gardens, lots of ideas to take home (and plants to buy!!) Caroline Jackson Plans are afoot for a Christmas outing. Watch this space! |
CSGGA Holiday to the Peak District, 2022
On the first Sunday of “flaming June”, we left a rainy Chalfont St Giles, to enjoy the delights of the Peak District. From out hotel in Buxton we visiting some fine gardens as well as Jodrell Bank. Gardens visited included:
- Dorothy Clive Garden
- National Trust’s Biddulph Grange
- Thornbridge Hall
- Chatsworth House
- Renishaw Hall
- Park Hall, near Chesterfield, runner-up in Daily Telegraph Great British Gardens Competition 2018.
- Cascade Gardens
- Felley Priory
Community Orchard Awareness Day
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Come and find out about the proposal for a Community Orchard for Chalfont St Giles
We are holding a Community Orchard Awareness Day
at
Milton’s Cottage 11.00 – 13.00.
Fun activities for all ages
Orchard Café 14.00 – 16.30
Reading Room Garden, High St, Chalfont Saint Giles HP8 4QH .
ALL WELCOME!
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Children’s Competition to Make Bunting for the Queen’s Jubilee
Bunting Template
Chalfont St Giles Gardens Association is sponsoring a competition for children and young people to design and create (sew, applique, draw or print) jubilee themed bunting flags using recycled fabric.
We are inviting the children and young people of Chalfont St Giles to design and make some bunting to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. There will be a prize for the best entry. The bunting entries will be sewn together and displayed around the Church over the Jubilee weekend. Adults can also join in and enter, but prizes will only be awarded to those under 18!
How to Enter
Using a template for the bunting which can be found here, you can decorate the front as you wish. You could:
See below or click here for ideas or go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOVxBfHUAJY
Have fun!
We would like you to use recycled fabric. While the official colours of the Jubilee is purple and platinum, we would prefer you to use red, white or blue fabric as the bunting will be used to decorate the Competitions Marquee of the Village Show in future years. If you don’t have any suitable scraps of fabric or have any other questions, please contact [email protected]
When your jubilee bunting is ready, please contact [email protected] Judging will take place on 28th May.
We are inviting the children and young people of Chalfont St Giles to design and make some bunting to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. There will be a prize for the best entry. The bunting entries will be sewn together and displayed around the Church over the Jubilee weekend. Adults can also join in and enter, but prizes will only be awarded to those under 18!
How to Enter
Using a template for the bunting which can be found here, you can decorate the front as you wish. You could:
- Use fabric paint with a ready-made stamp or make one from a potato or sponge;
- Glue or sew on ribbon, felt, fabric, buttons or lace.
- Use fabric pens to draw a picture
- Embroider it
See below or click here for ideas or go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOVxBfHUAJY
Have fun!
We would like you to use recycled fabric. While the official colours of the Jubilee is purple and platinum, we would prefer you to use red, white or blue fabric as the bunting will be used to decorate the Competitions Marquee of the Village Show in future years. If you don’t have any suitable scraps of fabric or have any other questions, please contact [email protected]
When your jubilee bunting is ready, please contact [email protected] Judging will take place on 28th May.
Next Meeting - Thursday, 16th June – Summer Outing to Stokes Poges Memorial Gardens
Church Lane, Stoke Poges, Slough, Berks, SL2 4NZ
Please note: it is on the 3rd Thursday of the month on this occasion.
After Frazi Cheesman’s talk about the Memorial Gardens at Stoke Poges, many members were keen to see them for themselves. So, we have arranged a vist there for our Summer Outing. The gardens contain formal and informal water features, a colonnade, rose garden, woodland, rock garden and open parkland with stunning views across the Capability Brown landscape and Repton bridge to Stoke Park.
The gardens will be open exclusively for our visit, Franzi and her colleague will give us a guided tour and then we’ll be free to wander before regrouping to enjoy prosecco or elderflower presse and strawberry tarts. We do need to know the numbers by Thursday 9th June and there will be a small charge of £6.00 per person for entry and the tour – the refreshments are being subsidised.
Please let Sam Patel know if you will be joining us so that we can buy the correct number of strawberry tarts! 01494 875319 [email protected]
Please make your own way there, parking is available. We will do our best to facilitate car shares, if necessary. Please let Briony or Sam know if you can offer a lift or would like one.
Please note: it is on the 3rd Thursday of the month on this occasion.
After Frazi Cheesman’s talk about the Memorial Gardens at Stoke Poges, many members were keen to see them for themselves. So, we have arranged a vist there for our Summer Outing. The gardens contain formal and informal water features, a colonnade, rose garden, woodland, rock garden and open parkland with stunning views across the Capability Brown landscape and Repton bridge to Stoke Park.
The gardens will be open exclusively for our visit, Franzi and her colleague will give us a guided tour and then we’ll be free to wander before regrouping to enjoy prosecco or elderflower presse and strawberry tarts. We do need to know the numbers by Thursday 9th June and there will be a small charge of £6.00 per person for entry and the tour – the refreshments are being subsidised.
Please let Sam Patel know if you will be joining us so that we can buy the correct number of strawberry tarts! 01494 875319 [email protected]
Please make your own way there, parking is available. We will do our best to facilitate car shares, if necessary. Please let Briony or Sam know if you can offer a lift or would like one.
Proposed Community Orchard2022 is the Queen’s platinum jubilee year and we are all being encouraged to plant a tree for the jubilee. Additionally, the Government is urging us all to “plant for our planet”. Read more
We've set up a CSGGA Facebook Group - March 2021
Our Facebook page is open to all, not only CSGGA Members. Anyone with an interest in gardening can join this group to discuss gardening matters, ask or answer questions about gardening and just chat all things garden! Whether you have a garden, a few plants on your windowsill or containers, join in the conversation! We’re a group of enthusiastic amateur gardeners who are sharing thoughts, knowledge and experience but any advice is not professional (unless stated otherwise).
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December 2021
On the coldest day of the year, just over 20 of us visited Waddesdon for their Christmas Lights. Perhaps it was the cold but there were mixed reviews, some preferring Kew and Wisley. I really enjoyed it. The sky was clear when we arrived and we watched the sun set before the lights turned the landscape into a magical wonderland – the elephants were particularly spectacular as was Waddesdon Manor.
Our Plant Sale - date to be confirmed in May, 2022
As things stand at the moment, we will be able to hold our annual plant sale on the Village Green again this year, so please remember to plant some extra seeds, make additional divisions and take extra cuttings in preparation!
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