Essentially Local March-April 17

Gardening
Stony Stratford Floral Club
Stony Stratford Floral Club was
formed almost 60 years ago, in
May 1958. The club is affiliated to
the National Association of Flower
Arranging Societies (NAFAS), which
means that visiting demonstrators
must have attained a high Standard
and you will be inspired by the best.
Meetings usually include a
demonstration by a professionally
qualified flower arranger and outings
to gardens, horticultural shows and
national flower shows are organised.
They also hold a popular annual dinner.
Last year members took part in the
NAFAS Lonely Bouquet day in May
where they left small arrangements
in public places with a note asking
people to take them home and enjoy
the beautiful flowers. They also helped
with the flower festival at St Mary
and St Giles Church to celebrate the
Queen’s 90th birthday.
Members have enjoyed several
successes - Martin Capel took 1st
prize at Blenheim Flower Show in
June with his beautiful arrangement
‘Through the Looking Glass’. Carol
Fuller was commended for her
arrangement ‘Here comes the Sun’.
This friendly and informal club
boasts a membership of around 60, so
if you like flowers pop along to watch
flower arrangements being created for
your pleasure.
You could even be lucky and win
one of the arrangements that go in
the raffle.
Annual membership costs £35, with
visitors welcome to any meeting for
£6. Meetings take place on the first
Tuesday of the month at Russell Street
School Hall. On 31 March they will be
holding their annual charity quiz.
Full details Sue on 01908 564453
or Judy on 01908 569429.
The Floral Club’s 2017 programme
can be found at www.bbando.org.uk
and www.essentiallylocal/events/
Nature Day at The Urb Farm,
Wolverton – time to get out
and about
10.00am-1.00pm,
Saturday, 22 April
This free event for families from all
over Milton Keynes offers some
exciting natural activities. From pond
dipping, bird watching, bird feeding
and bug-house making to a nature
trail, you will be sure to have fun on
Nature Day.
Not only that, this is your chance
to learn about and experience the
fascinating wonders of the natural
world - all for free!
Refreshments and homemade cakes
will be on sale for a small charge, as
well as a variety of Urb Farm plants,
produce and preserves.
Further details: Search for
“Growing People” on Facebook.
Venue: The Urb Farm, between
196-198, Windsor Street,
Wolverton, Milton Keynes,
MK12 5DR
Volunteers are needed to joing the Heron
Watch team at Rushmere Country Park
Volunteers run Heron Watch to
study these fascinating birds and
view them in the wild. At the Visitor
Centre, you can watch the herons
nesting in the heronry through
video cameras. There is continuous
viewing of all the action – herons
building their nests, breeding and
incubating their eggs, as well as
feeding their hungry chicks.
Rushmere Heron Watch started
in February and will run until early June while the herons are active. The nest
activity can be viewed daily from 11.00am-3.00pm.
Get involved
No specialist knowledge is required, just a love of nature
and a friendly personality. Volunteers welcome visitors, give
advice, hand out leaflets and talk to people about Greensand
Trust and Rushmere. Full training is provided, with volunteers
having 2-hour shifts from 10.00am to 3.00pm every day.
If you can help to make a difference, call Sarah Preston 01525 234260
or email: sarah.preston@greensandtrust.org
Many thanks to Peter Ford for his excellent photographs
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