We have many enthusiastic and knowledgeable gardeners in Blackwater U3A and it is quite a challenge to produce an interesting and varied programme each year. We meet once a month with the exception of December, usually on a Monday. In the winter months of January and February, we have indoor meetings. This could be a speaker or maybe a quiz. The latter is very light-hearted, a most enjoyable afternoon with refreshments, giving group members a chance to get to know each other. For the rest of the year we visit gardens probably in either Essex or Suffolk. A large proportion of these belong to the NGS scheme and they vary in size, style and contents.

Generally speaking, we have a private tour and are shown round by the owner, which of course makes the trip special. We have yet to visit one that no one likes. We are fortunate in having some famous gardens locally such as Hyde Hall and Beth Chatto’s and these we visit at different times of the seasons. We travel mainly in shared cars, each passenger giving a donation to the driver according to the distance travelled. We do pay to visit the gardens, most of this is given to charity by the owners. Our other social activity is our "plant swop" afternoon. One group member hosts this and we arrive with treasures to share or, unwanted plants to lose! This afternoon is full of hints and advice and much merriment. We have a planning meeting usually in November when members give me ideas for next year, we discuss what we have seen. I do arrange one coach outing when we go further afield to a special place which has a house and garden to enjoy.

It is a pleasure to coordinate this group, they enjoy everything, we have all made many new friends. We would be delighted to see you if you would like to join us in one of our visits.

April 23rd	Visit to Beth Chatto’s Garden Colchester
May 14th	Visit to Snares Hill Cottage Private Garden Stebbing
June 25th	Visit to Sissinghurst
June 27th	Visit to Red House with History Group
July 23rd	Visit to Private Garden  Wickets
July	Thompson and Morgan  open weekend no date yet
August 20th	Visit to Otley Hall and Garden near Ipswich
September 10th	Visit to Porters Farm Kelvedon
October 15th	Visit to Woodpeckers Burnham
November 26th	Social afternoon