Everything You Were Too Afraid To Ask About Gardening
Until now…
Do you suffer from reluctant rhubarb, bothersome borders or wilting wisteria? Well, help is at hand at the first ever Question the Gardeners Time at Kent Elms Library, on Tuesday 16th July.
A panel of local gardening experts will be available to help you on a range of subjects, from kitchen gardening to ornamental plants, vegetables to flowers – plus a lot more besides.
The initiative is the latest in a series of events held at the popular branch library organised by the Friends of Kent Elms group.
Councillor Adam Jones, says he created the idea to not only help amateur gardeners of all abilities but also to promote the library and create greater community cohesion: “When I moved from a mid-terraced house in Westcliff to a house with a 90-ft garden, I realised very quickly that I hadn’t got a clue about how to manage and look after the veg patch, trees, shrubs and borders that I inherited with the new property. Before then, every house or flat I’d lived in had little more than a few pots to grow plants in, so it was a steep learning curve for me. As the library serves three principal wards (St Laurence, Eastwood and Blenheim) I am sure that there is a wide variety of people who would really like expert advice on making the most of what they’ve got around them. Whether it is a window box, traditional front and back garden or even an allotment, my panel of gardening gurus can help.”
Harry Brickwood is a renowned lily specialist who featured on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners Question Time when it came to Rayleigh last year. His garden has also been featured on the BBC TV programme Gardeners’ World and he was part of a team that won a Gold Medal at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. Harry and his wife, Heather, open their garden at Orchard Cottage, Rayleigh for the National Garden Scheme, which supports various cancer charities, and over the past 10 years have raised approximately £20,000.
Harry will act as chairman of the evening and is joined by Phil Baxter, Brian Kersey and Leo Smith.
Brian has wide ranging experience and knowledge but his current passion is for orchids. As Harry says: “Brian is just the person to have in your team, at a gardening quiz!”
Phil is an accomplished grower of vegetables for the kitchen and for exhibition purposes. He also cultivates daffodils to display at local shows and at national level, enjoying much success, and is currently a member of the Essex Guild of Horticultural Judges.
Leo Smith will be known to keen cooks as the owner of the award-winning Taste Italia Cookery School. His Ramsden Heath location boasts a six-acre, organic garden and Leo is looking forward to sharing his knowledge of growing seasonal produce and when and how to eat it.
Tickets for the Question the Gardeners Time are priced at just £2.50 per person (including refreshments) and can be bought in advance from staff at Kent Elms Library, 1 Rayleigh Road, Leigh on Sea, Southend, SS9 5UU. The event starts at 7:30pm and runs until 9pm.
For more information, please call Kent Elms Library on 01702 215011 or Councillor Adam Jones on 01702 216 or
658/07818 061 503.
