News

Visit to Spring Platt

11th February 2025

A small group of SVGA members met up at Spring Platt yesterday. Carolyn was there to answer our questions and show us round her and Johns beautiful garden. So many varieties of snow drops, all placed in alphabetical order on the viewing platform and advice on how to grow and divide the bulbs. We thank Carolyn and John for their hospitality and the delicious soup, tea/coffee and cakes to warm us after our viewing.

 

The Rebel Farmer

Ed Kyrke-Smith

Afternoon Talk 23rd February 2025 at Sutton Valence Care Home

Rebel Farmer was set up to rebel against the normal practices of food consumptions by market gardener Ed Kyrke-Smith. The platform is used to promote and produce local seasonal food, ethically grown on a smaller scale, and educate communities on growing techniques. With a smaller more localised consumer/producer relationship, the negative impact of farming on the environment is reduced and a more robust food system is created. 

The talk was very well attended and Ed also brought with him some of his own produce for the audience to purchase if they wished. Lots of questions were asked and answered and it proved to be a good, interesting afternoon.

 

 

From Bramleys to Cut Flowers

Bek Bibby

Afternoon Talk 23rd March 2025 at Chart Sutton Village Hall

Bek Bibby is the co-founder of Blooming Green, a flower growing and floristry business set up on 2007 with her cousin Jen Stuart-Smith. Bek grew up on a fruit farm at Laddingford near Yalding. She studied environmental biology at university before working for nearly 20 years as a countryside conservation officer for KCC which included being a compost adviser. Running Blooming Green has been a chance for Bek to focus her various expertise on growing flowers using the no dig technique, which goes hand in hand with organic principles. In all, Bek has 30 years experience of environmentally friendly growing methods, and 17 years growing flowers for cutting. As if this isn't enough to keep her busy she has recently founded The Patch, a regenerative farm, offering work based training in horticulture for those with learning disabilities.

Our first SVGA talk using Chart Sutton Village Hall proved to be very successful with 48 people attending and some new faces too.

Bek Bibby from Blooming Green gave an interesting talk called From Bramleys to Cut Flowers. It was about how her little seed of an idea grew into her dream job with the help of family and friends and lots of arm twisting, gentle persuasion and persistence . She told us about obstacles in the early days, how she came to meet Monty Don and about her most recent venture: ‘The Patch’ offering work-based training in horticulture for those with learning disabilities.

There was very good participation in our "Flower of the Month" competion and the winner Janet took away the silver cup.

Carolyn and Bek had plant tables for those who wanted to buy something for the garden. There was a busy raffle and tea and home made cake at the end. A really successful first time at Chart Sutton Village Hall.

 

Boldshaves Garden Visit

Woodchurch, Ashford in Kent

16th April 2025

A group of 7 SVGA members visited Boldshaves Garden which is a lovingly restored garden and Arts and Crafts house in Woodchurch, Ashford in Kent for the bluebell walk. We were given a garden and woodland tour by the owner and tea and home made cake. A thoroughly lovely afternoon when the sun shone for us. If you are interested in going, the website address is - boldshaves.com

 

Sale on the Green

Chart Sutton Village Green ME17 3RP

3rd May 2025

It was a lovely sunny day on Saturday 3rd May when the annual plant sale took place on Chart Sutton Village Green to raise money for St Michaels Church.

 

Visit to Goddards Green

Cranbrook, Kent

September 2025

A small group of  members visited Goddards Green Garden this September. The weather didn't dampen their spirits and as you can see the garden had colour even at this time of year. John Wotton took the group around to show them different parts of the garden .Their recent project is to plant an arboretum with almost 100 different types of tree and there is a mature mixed orchard of apple, pear, plum and cobnuts . The various parts of the garden are in contrasting styles : a traditional long border in front, shading into a meadow and birch grove, formality of structure in the Water Garden and they have extended their collection of camellias, hydrangeas and magnolias. There was lots to see and admire . The group were then treated to tea and cake inside the house as the weather looked doubtful . Altogether a lovely visit . 

The Hop Bine & Hop Pickers of Kent

Chris Stewart

Afternoon Talk 26th October 2025 at Chart Sutton Village Hall

The SVGA talk on Sunday 26th October was at Chart Sutton Village Hall where about 50 people came along to listen to Chris Stewart talk about all things hops and hop farming. The first thing Chris told us was that the most important tool in a gardeners box should be a pair of safety glasses which he proceeded to demonstrate with a pair from his pocket. The talk was really interesting and made more so by the many anecdotes Chris added throughout together with the slides and pictures. At the end, he took a number of questions and he wasn't put off by the number of farmers attending who knew a thing or two about hops themselves. Flower of the month was won by Angela Tweddell who organises and runs the raffle with her husband Philip. The afternoon was finished off by tea and homemade cakes. 

                                                          SVGA A.G.M.

                                                         Sutton Valence Village Hall Sunday 23rd November 2025

There was a very good turn out for the 2025 A.G.M. At least 40 people came along on a bright, cold Sunday afternoon to hear about the year and elect the officers for 2026. Blair (chairperson) welcomed everyone and told us about what had gone on throughout 2025. This was followed by  David (the treasurer) explaining the accounts, John Killick telling the audience about the voluntary work he does one day a week with children and teachers from Sutton Valence Primary School and then Sue Killick explaining about the new website for SVGA.  Tikki presented Ross (secretary) with a Christmas wreath for the fantastic work she does for the association - over and above what is required for the role.

After a break for tea and cake and the raffle, we were lucky enough to have Sue Davies show us how to put together a Christmas table centre piece with foliage, berries etc from our gardens or hedgerows. A very productive afternoon.