FRIENDS OF NEWTON St. CYRES ARBORETUM
Latest Newsletter
ARBORETUM NEWS
October 2017
There has been a lot of action in recent weeks in the Arboretum and by the Friends of the Arboretum.
There has been a lot of action in recent weeks in the Arboretum and by the Friends of the Arboretum.
Many of you will have seen that we now have a path suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs through the middle of the higher area in the Arboretum and extending to the Summerhouse. We thank James Ayre, our contractor for doing such a good job. The establishment of the path was made possible through a bequest from the late Tim Packer, a grant from Tesco and a contribution from the funds of the Friends.
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Unfortunately some weeks ago a major limb of a beech tree – one of the largest trees in the Arboretum - came down and took with it some other trees. There was extensive decay in the basal part of the surviving trunks, so that the remainder of the tree has now been taken down on safety grounds. The felled timber will shortly be removed, but with this work, and the work establishing the new path, there has been quite a lot of wheeling through the Arboretum, making parts look a bit of a mess. We will be working on this during the next months to achieve recovery.
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The Friends have carried out two recent fund raising activities. Firstly in early September we staffed the Matford car boot on behalf of Exeter City Council. Then on 7 October we held a Coffee Morning in the Parish Hall. The Coffee Morning made just over £200 and we would like to thank the many people who donated prizes and goods for sale and those who helped on the day and came to support this successful event.
With the expenditure on the new path, surgery on the beech tree and the need for major repair or replacement of our mower, there is a lot of pressure on our funds just now. Support from Friends and for fund raising activities is particularly important to enable us to continue to maintain and improve the Arboretum.
Do come and walk round the Arboretum this autumn. There should be some good colours to see.
Roger Wilkins, Secretary, Friends of Newton Arboretum
With the expenditure on the new path, surgery on the beech tree and the need for major repair or replacement of our mower, there is a lot of pressure on our funds just now. Support from Friends and for fund raising activities is particularly important to enable us to continue to maintain and improve the Arboretum.
Do come and walk round the Arboretum this autumn. There should be some good colours to see.
Roger Wilkins, Secretary, Friends of Newton Arboretum
Newton Arboretum
We have three events coming up and would appreciate your help and support:
1. Items for Car Boot Sale on Sun 3 Sept We are providing six volunteers to help man the car boot sale at Matford during the morning. A good team has already been signed on by David. We receive £250 for doing this. We are also accepting the option of having a boot/table without payment. If you have any items that we can sell for the Arboretum please could you deliver in advance, hopefully by Friday 1 Sept, to one of David and Brenda Vallance, Manesty, Sand Down Lane (851266), Andrew and Sue Gee, Glebe House, Church Lane (851164) or Nicola and Michael Baker, Pickwicks, West Town (851985). Any things not sold at Matford will be put on a stall at the Coffee Morning (see below).
2. Welcome Day on Sun 24 Sept We are repeating the Welcome Day held in the Spring. Visitors to the Arboretum will be welcomed and we will get their views on the Arboretum, promote the Friends and give some messages on dog fouling. Please let me know if you are able to spend an hour or so at the gate and I will arrange a rota.
3. Coffee Morning on Sat 7 Oct in the Parish Hall This is a fund raising and social occasion. We will put up a small display about the Arboretum and also have a number of stalls and a raffle. Please let Roger Wilkins know(851377) if you are able to help. Donations of raffle prizes, cakes, garden produce and books for stalls would be much appreciated. Support from you and your friends coming for a cup of coffee would also be much appreciated. The Coffee Morning runs from 10.30 to 12, but it would be helpful for items for sale to be delivered a bit earlier in the morning or to any Committee Member. Another possibility would be dropping items into the Hall lobby on the Friday evening from 7 to 9.30.
1. Items for Car Boot Sale on Sun 3 Sept We are providing six volunteers to help man the car boot sale at Matford during the morning. A good team has already been signed on by David. We receive £250 for doing this. We are also accepting the option of having a boot/table without payment. If you have any items that we can sell for the Arboretum please could you deliver in advance, hopefully by Friday 1 Sept, to one of David and Brenda Vallance, Manesty, Sand Down Lane (851266), Andrew and Sue Gee, Glebe House, Church Lane (851164) or Nicola and Michael Baker, Pickwicks, West Town (851985). Any things not sold at Matford will be put on a stall at the Coffee Morning (see below).
2. Welcome Day on Sun 24 Sept We are repeating the Welcome Day held in the Spring. Visitors to the Arboretum will be welcomed and we will get their views on the Arboretum, promote the Friends and give some messages on dog fouling. Please let me know if you are able to spend an hour or so at the gate and I will arrange a rota.
3. Coffee Morning on Sat 7 Oct in the Parish Hall This is a fund raising and social occasion. We will put up a small display about the Arboretum and also have a number of stalls and a raffle. Please let Roger Wilkins know(851377) if you are able to help. Donations of raffle prizes, cakes, garden produce and books for stalls would be much appreciated. Support from you and your friends coming for a cup of coffee would also be much appreciated. The Coffee Morning runs from 10.30 to 12, but it would be helpful for items for sale to be delivered a bit earlier in the morning or to any Committee Member. Another possibility would be dropping items into the Hall lobby on the Friday evening from 7 to 9.30.
AWARDS AT ARBORETUM AGM
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The highlight of the AGM of the Friends of Newton Arboretum on 17 May was the presentation of certificates to Margaret and Courtney Ware and Ron Nethercott making them Honorary Life Friends of Newton Arboretum. In making the presentation, Andrew Gee, Chairman of the Friends, said that these awards were made to mark the fantastic contribution that Margaret, Courtney and Ron had made over the last years to the maintenance and improvement of the Arboretum, involving very many hours of volunteer work. This was the first time that such awards had been made.
Some 40 Friends participated in the tours and the AGM. One tour was led by Frances Watkins, who provided insights to the mosses, liverworts and lichens in the Arboretum. The other was co-led by Vaughan Gallavan and Geoff Jackson. Vaughan featured trees and shrubs that had been planted over the last two years and plans for further planting, whilst Geoff demonstrated the fern garden that he has established with more than 40 contrasting ferns. At the AGM, Andrew and Peter Watts, Treasurer, reported a very successful year. The number of Friends increased to 80 and their support makes a major contribution to the costs of maintaining the arboretum. With the recent award of £1,000 from Tesco and accumulated funds, a sum of £3,000 has been set aside to be used later this year for the improvement of paths to increase their suitability for push chairs and wheelchairs. Brenda Vallance and Richard Whalley retired from the Committee and they were thanked for all their help. Sarah Curtis, Jill Melling and Margaret Ware were elected to join the Committee, with other members continuing to stand. |
COMING UP
MidSummer Fest: Sat 24 June. An early evening event organised jointly by the Friends of the Arboretum, the Church and the Parish Hall. This will follow the pattern of the very successful event held in 2015. There will be bring-your-own picnic, competitions, live music, socialisation and relaxation. More details will be given in the June Newton Wonder.
Newton Arboretum
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The Arboretum has been looking superb this Spring and we hope you have been able to make a visit There are two events coming up that will be held in the Arboretum: Arboretum tours and AGM: Wed 17 May. Assemble in Parish Hall Car Park at 6.30pm Two alternative tours will be offered. Frances Watkins will provide insights into the lichens, mosses and liverworts in the Arboretum. Geoff Jackson and Vaughan Gallavan will demonstrate some of the ferns, shrubs and trees planted in the last two years. The tour will be followed by tea and biscuits in the Hall and the AGM of the Friends. ALL WELCOME No charge for subscribing Friends, but others will pay £2. This will be re-funded if you join the Friends (subscription £10) on the day MidSummer Fest: Sat 24 June. An early evening event organised jointly by the Friends of the Arboretum, the Church and the Parish Hall. This will follow the pattern of the very successful event held in 2015. There will be bring-your-own picnic, competitions, live music, socialisation and relaxation. More details will be given in the June Newton Wonder. |
PLEASE NOTE THE CORRECT DATE FOR THIS EVENT - 17TH MAY 2017 - ASSEMBLE IN PARISH HAL CAR PARK AT 6.30 PM
