W.I. Newsletter October 2026

Once again, it has been a busy month for our members.  Our walking group strolled around St. Mary Bourne and visited the church to see the large black font that had been mentioned by our September speaker Tony Cross.  It is carved from a single massive block of blue-black carboniferous limestone imported from Tournai (modern-day Belgium) and polished to resemble marble and is believe to date from 1150.

Six of our members attended Autumn Live, a Hampshire Federation event, held at the Anvil in Basingstoke. This featured two female poets followed by Patrick Grant of BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee.  He was an excellent speaker and seemed to be very relaxed on stage.  Obviously, he was asked questions about the tv programme and he said that they cannot always tell who will win from the start, but sometimes they have a feeling of which sewers may make the final.  He also revealed that they have just finished filming the 2027 series.  How do they keep the result under wraps for all that time?  However, he really wanted to promote sustainable fashion – he runs his own Company, Community Clothing, and is proud that they know how each product is produced throughout the whole process.  Our members had enjoyed the day, but the ABBA Tribute Band in the afternoon had been a little disappointing, 

At our meeting this month, our President, Lynne, welcomed our speaker, Nick Gilbert from Gilberts Nursery & Tea Rooms in Sherfield English which is approximately 30 minutes from Abbotts Ann – by car.  He emphasised that they were a Nursery, not a Garden Centre, and pride themselves on growing a good majority of their own plants and stock a wide range of sundries for every situation in the garden and accommodate organic growers. 

He gave us a little background in that the Nursery has been on its current site, just off the A27 for 20 years, but have only specialised in dahlias for 13 years.   Dahlias originate from Mexico but were first introduced to this Country in the late 1800s by a Swedish Botanist called Anders Dahl. 

Gilberts grow over 500 different varieties of all colours and shapes including waterlily, ball, pompom, cactus and semi-cactus, fimbriated and hedging to name just a few.  They come in all colours except a true blue.  We were shown slides of various named dahlias and Nick has over the years attempted to produce new varieties of his own by hybridising.  He mentioned there are two methods they use and then if an unknown variety appears, there is a rigorous trialing process by the nursery and then the RHS before the product can be named and retailed.

This summer’s very hot summer had meant that Nick had been up at the crack of dawn to ensure the plants got sufficient irrigation.  He then repeated the process late in the evening.  He had recently received his water supply invoice – he is trying not to look at it too closely!  The hot sun did affect the plants, and they did not put on significant growth, but did produce blooms.  However, since the weather has cooled and we have had rain, the plants have continued to grow.  Their large dahlia field is available to visit, and the best time is probably at the end of August, beginning of September.   Entrance is free, but a donation for local charities is requested.  The dahlia field will be closed from November 2026 to mid-August next year.   Perhaps a visit will appear on our calendar next year.

Nick was an excellent speaker, his voice carried throughout the Hall, he had no notes, but took us through a whole year of growing and caring for dahlias with the aid of slides.   We learnt how to plant, lift, dry out, take cuttings, pot-up, plant, feed, dead head and cut for the home or leave in the garden, stake, cope with aphids and diseases.   They can be grown in pots or direct into the soil if free-draining and sufficient sunlight is available.  Gilberts are organic and uses peat-free compost.  He urged us to put any diseased leaves in our general waste and not our green sack/bin.  Some companies use this recycled material for their products, but if not heated sufficiently the disease can still be present when they are sold. 

Lynda Goldstone thanked Nick for his excellent talk and urged members to visit his Nursery & Tea Room; the latter offers delicious refreshments and is run by his wife.  It was then time for our own refreshments.

Our next meeting is on 26 November, and we can make a Father Christmas bauble if we wish.  Jen from Beaker Button will be demonstrating how to create this festive decoration.  Non-members are welcome to attend, we just ask for £5 entry free to include refreshments.    See below for other information.

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