The speaker at our February meeting is Gill Hazell, who will be telling all about growing and showing sweet peas. Come along to learn how to get the best results for producing these beautiful sweet smelling flowers.

At our January meeting, we welcomed back, Helena Crouch, who gave an excellent presentation on the flora of Somerset Church yards. Helena began by saying that there has always been an interest in the bio diversity of Churchyard flora and there is a charity “Caring for God’s Acre” which aims to make the most of these areas of land.

The Somerset Botany group have surveyed over thirty Churchyards recently and recorded their findings.

Old stone walls are good habitats for ferns, mosses and lichens. Creeping Cinquefoil, Biting Stonecrop and Valerian are regularly found on the grave stones sourcedfrom local quarries.

In the species rich grass between the graves, Daisy, Plantain, Hawksbit and Clover are common.

These quiet areas are wildlife havens too, giving sanctuary to birds, butterflies and insects, often tucked away behind the church, these are true “secret gardens”.

So back to our next meeting.

Come and meet Gill Hazell on Wednesday February 15th at Ston Easton Village Hall. BA3 4DA.

The hall will be open from 7pm ready for a 7.30pm start.

Refreshments, raffle and bric- a-brac are all available. A warm welcome awaits members and visitors alike.

Gillian Hipwood