2018 Calendar of Events

Our meetings & outings organiser is Myra Smith. Give her a call on 01462 621961

January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Click on a month to navigate down the page or use your browser’s ‘Find’ function (usually CTL-F) to search for specific entries

January				to top
3rd	10:00am	Tapps is still closed for it’s new year break so no coffee morning today.		more > Monthly Coffee Morning at Tapps - January 2018 Close Coffee Morning at Tapps Garden Centre 3rd January and every first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am Get the gardening year under-way and come along to the first coffee morning of 2018. LDGA members are entitled to 10% discount off all items from the garden centre and tea room. This is also a good opportunity for you to renew your membership for the next 12 months. (Please show your current membership card for all discounted items) Homeland, Wallington Road, BALDOCK, Herts, SG7 6RS map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or contact Tapps direct on 01462 896302.
18th	7:00 for 7:15pm	‘Sausage Sizzle Social’ – a social evening with sausage & mash	Methodist Church Hall	more > Monthly Meeting - January Close ‘Sausage Sizzle Social' Thursday 18th January at 7:00 for 7:15pm Join us for the second edition of our new social evening. We are offering sausage 'n' mash with onion gravy followed by apple crumble with custard, soft drinks and a fun garden themed quiz all for £5 a head. Tickets are still available, if you would like one contact Myra on 01462 621961 or email meetings@ldga.org.uk Non-members welcome Central Methodist Church Hall, Pixmore Way, Letchworth SG6 3TR map
28th	9:00am	Trading Store reopens for the season with ‘Potato Day’	Flint Road	more > Special Event - Potato Day Close ‘Potato Day’ Sunday 28th January 9:00am to 12:30pm We reopen the Trading Store with a ‘Potato Day’ when there will be 10% discount on all seed potatoes plus advice on which varieties to choose and how to grow them. To keep you warm, we will be serving free leek and potato soup while supplies last. It's also a great opportunity to renew your membership for another year. The Trading Store, Flint Road, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 1HJ map For more information email trading@ldga.org.uk
February				to top
7th	10:00am	Coffee morning at Tapps	Tapps Garden Centre, Baldock	more > Monthly Coffee Morning at Tapps - February Close Coffee Morning at Tapps Garden Centre 7th February and very first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am Make a note on your calendar to come along to the first coffee morning of 2018. Let's see if we can make it a record turn out. This is also an ideal opportunity for you to renew your membership for the year. (Please show your 2018 membership card for all discounted items) Homeland, Wallington Road, BALDOCK, Herts, SG7 6RS map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or contact Tapps direct on 01462 896302.
15th	7:45pm	Annual General Meeting followed by an insight into the work of ‘Growing People’ the Letchworth based mental health charity	Methodist Church Hall	more > Monthly Meeting - February Close Annual General Meeting Thursday 15th February at 7:45pm This is your opportunity to find out what’s been going on in the LDGA. Please come along, meet the committee and give us your feedback on how the association is being run. We always need more help with this, so please contact Maureen Hersee or Jo Tofts with your nominations for new committee members by end of Wednesday 7th February. If you would like to vote at the AGM you must show your 2018 membership card - there will be an opportunity to take out or renew memberships before the meeting starts. The guest speaker will be Alison Shersby who will give us an insight into the work of ‘Growing People’ the Letchworth based mental health charity who use horticulture to help people's wellbeing. Entry - members free / non-members £3 (including refreshments) Raffle tickets will also be available to purchase. Central Methodist Church Hall, Pixmore Way, Letchworth SG6 3TR map Take look at the 2017 Annual Report.
March				to top
7th	10:00am	Coffee morning at Tapps	Tapps Garden Centre, Baldock	more > Monthly Coffee Morning at Tapps - March Close Coffee Morning at Tapps Garden Centre 7th March and every first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am March is the time when gardeners emerge from hibernation so why not come long and meet fellow members at our monthly coffee morning. LDGA members are entitled to 10% discount off all items from the garden centre and tea room. Membership renewals can also be taken. (Please show your 2018 membership card for all discounted items) Homeland, Wallington Road, BALDOCK, Herts, SG7 6RS map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or contact Tapps direct on 01462 896302.
15th	7:45pm	Gardeners’ Questions with Pippa Greenwood + invited panel	Methodist Church	more > Monthly Meeting - March Close Gardeners’ Questions with Pippa Greenwood Thursday 15th March at 7:30pm (doors at 7:00pm) This is our charity evening with an expert panel: Pippa Greenwood - Botanist / Gardener / TV & Radio Broadcaster Nicholas Warliker - Professional gardener / broadcaster / lecturer Graham Tapp - Owner of Tapps Garden Centre / LDGA President Philip Whaites - Head Gardener at NT Wimpole Hall since 1987 To receive the experts' answer to your gardening troubles, please email your question in advance to secretary@ldga.org.uk Central Methodist Church, Pixmore Way, Letchworth SG6 3TR map Tickets are £7 each and are available from: Letchworth Local & Tourist Information Centre, 33-35 Station Road, Letchworth, SG6 3BB Tapps Garden Centre, Wallington Road, Baldock, SG7 6RS The LDGA Trading Store during normal opening hours. Myra, by calling 01462 621961 or emailing meetings@ldga.org.uk Subject to availability, some tickets will also be available on the door. All profits go to Growing People and Garden City Hospice Care. For more information call Myra on 01462 621961, or take look at our Gardeners’ Questions poster
April				to top
4th	10:00am	Coffee morning at Tapps	Tapps Garden Centre, Baldock	more > Monthly Coffee Morning at Tapps - April Close Coffee Morning at Tapps Garden Centre 4th April and every first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am Easter is coming so why not treat yourself to a chocolate cake with your coffee at April's morning get together. This year's mystery seeds will be available. Just £1 to the Tapps nominated charity (Please show your 2018 membership card for all discounted items) Homeland, Wallington Road, BALDOCK, Herts, SG7 6RS map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or contact Tapps direct on 01462 896302.
19th	7:45pm	‘Developments at Hyde Hall’ by Robert Brett	Methodist Church Hall	more > Monthly Meeting - April Close ‘Developments at Hyde Hall’ by Robert Brett Thursday 19th April at 7:45pm Robert is a lifelong horticulturalist and has been the curator of the gardens at Hyde Hall for nearly 3 years. He will tell us about plans for the site. LDGA & LALG Members £2, Everyone else £3 (includes refreshments) Central Methodist Church Hall, Pixmore Way, Letchworth SG6 3TR map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or visit the RHS website
20th	5:30pm – 8:30pm	Members NGS Open Garden	Serendi, 22 Hitchin Rd, Letchworth.	more >
22nd	11:00am – 5:00pm	Members NGS Open Garden	Serendi, 22 Hitchin Rd, Letchworth.	more >
28th	2:00pm – 5:00pm	Grow It yourself Organic – Spring Event incl. talk by Chris Collins	Free Church Hall	more >
May				to top
2nd	10:00am	Coffee morning at Tapps	Tapps Garden Centre, Baldock	more > Monthly Coffee Morning at Tapps - May Close Coffee Morning at Tapps Garden Centre 2nd May and every first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am With the season well under way now why not take a break from the garden and come along to meet fellow members at our monthly coffee morning. LDGA members are entitled to 10% discount off all items from the garden centre and tea room. (Please show your 2018 membership card for all discounted items) Homeland, Wallington Road, BALDOCK, Herts, SG7 6RS map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or contact Tapps direct on 01462 896302.
16th	7:30pm	Baldock Horticultural Society host ‘My Devon Garden’ by Anne Swithenbank	Knights Templar School, Weston Way, Baldock	more >
17th	7:45pm	‘Propagating, growing & using herbs’ by Zsuzsa Serer of Herbal Haven	Methodist Church Hall	more > Monthly Meeting - May Close 'Growing & Using herbs' by Zsuzsa Serer of Herbal Haven Thursday 17th May at 7:45pm Zsuzsa, chief propagator at Herbal Haven will be giving us an insight into the world of growing herbs on a large scale and how we can all use them in our cooking. LDGA & LALG Members £2, Everyone else £3 (includes refreshments) Central Methodist Church Hall, Pixmore Way, Letchworth SG6 3TR map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or visit the Herbal Haven website.
27th	10:30am	‘Children’s Gardening Workshop’	On a Letchworth Allotment	more > ‘Children's Gardening Workshop’ Close ‘Children's Gardening Workshop’ Sunday 27th May 10:30am to 12noon We are very excited to announce the start of a new children's group called 'Seedlings'. It is aimed at young gardeners aged 4 to 10 years old. Our first event will be a ‘Children's Gardening Workshop’. During the workshop, which will be held under parental supervision on a real allotment in Letchworth, each child will learn how to make their own paper plant pot, sow their own sunflower seed, cress head and wildflower pot. Each child will receive a certificate. The cost is £3/child. Email Kay Walker on workshops@ldga.org.uk to book a place, first come first served. Children love getting their hands mucky, so gardening can be the perfect activity to do together that will help them learn more about nature whilst having fun.
June				to top
6th	10:00am	Coffee morning at Tapps	Tapps Garden Centre, Baldock	more > Monthly Coffee Morning at Tapps - June Close Coffee Morning at Tapps Garden Centre 6th June and every first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am With planting out pretty much done now why not treat yourself to coffee and cake with fellow members at our monthly coffee morning. LDGA members are entitled to 10% discount off all items from the garden centre and tea room. (Please show your 2018 membership card for all discounted items) Homeland, Wallington Road, BALDOCK, Herts, SG7 6RS map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or contact Tapps direct on 01462 896302.
9th	All Day	Coach Outing	West Dean Gardens, nr. Chichester	more > Special Event - Coach Outing to West Dean Gardens Close Outing to West Dean Gardens Saturday 9th June We leave Letchworth from outside the former Plinston Hall at 9:00am and arrive back at approx. 5:00pm. LDGA members £19, non-members £22. You will see an impressive collection of working Victorian Glasshouses, a 300ft pergola, a spring garden with flint bridges and a walled garden. There is also a restaurant and the Gardens shop. If you fancy going on this outing or need more information, please contact Myra on 01462 621961 or email outings@ldga.org.uk To see exactly what's on offer, visit the West Dean Gardens website
17th	11.00am – 5.00pm	Letchworth Open Gardens	Around the town	more > Letchworth Open Gardens Close Letchworth Open Gardens Sunday 17th June 11:00am – 5:00pm As part of the 2018 Letchworth Festival, LALG invite you to tour over twenty open gardens in Letchworth. As well as a warm welcome, some will be offering refreshments and plant sales. The location and description of gardens can be found on the Open Gardens website and entry is by programme only. Programmes are available from the beginning of May at Letchworth Tourist Information Centre, 33-35 Station Road, and David's Bookshop, Eastcheap. They are priced £6 in advance or £7 on the day of the event from any of the gardens. LGCHF minibuses will tour the gardens approx. every 30 mins. from the free park and ride at Spirella car park SG6 4AA
21st	7:45pm	An evening with TV celebrity gardener Christine Walkden	Methodist Church	more > Monthly Meeting - June Close 'The Life and Times of a Gardener' with Christine Walkden Thursday 21st June at 7:30pm (doors at 7:00pm) Celebrity gardener and resident ‘One Show’ gardening guru, Christine Walkden visits to us to tell us everything we need to know about ‘The Life and Times of a Gardener’ – This talk tells of the thrills and spills of a life as a gardener and broadcaster. It is entertaining and inspirational, often making people laugh and cry during the same evening. Central Methodist Church, Pixmore Way, Letchworth SG6 3TR map Tickets are £10 each and are available from: • Letchworth Local & Tourist Information Centre, 33-35 Station Road,Letchworth, SG6 3BB • David’s Bookshop, Eastcheap, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3DE • Tapps Garden Centre, Wallington Road, Baldock, SG7 6RS • The LDGA at meetings or at the Trading Store during normal opening hours • Myra, by calling 01462 621961 or emailing meetings@ldga.org.uk • Subject to availability, some tickets will also be available on the door priced at £12 For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 Presented as part of the Letchworth Festival 2018
30th	10:00am – 4:00pm	LDGA at the Letchworth Festival	Leys Square	more > Special Event - Letchworth Festival Stalls Day Close LDGA at the Letchworth Festival Saturday 30th June 10:00am – 4:00pm As part of the 2018 Letchworth Festival we will be taking part in the community stalls day in Leys Square. We will be having: ● a display all about bees. ● a flowers, fruit & veg plant sale. ● and loads of info about the Association.
30th	12.30pm – 4.00pm	Hitchin Horticultural Show	Ickleford Village Hall	-
July				to top
4th	10:00am	Coffee morning at Tapps	Tapps Garden Centre, Baldock	more > Monthly Coffee Morning at Tapps - July Close Coffee Morning at Tapps Garden Centre 4th July and every first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am It's time to be thinking about your entries for the Summer Show. Why not come along this month and chat with fellow members about what they are planning to do. LDGA members are entitled to 10% discount off all items from the garden centre and tea room. (Please show your 2018 membership card for all discounted items) Homeland, Wallington Road, BALDOCK, Herts, SG7 6RS map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or contact Tapps direct on 01462 896302.
8th	1:00pm – 5:00pm	Open Garden	Garden House Hospice Care Gillison Close, Letchworth.	more >
12th	Up to 8:00pm	Last chance to enter the Summer Show Entries close this evening a 8:00pm	See Summer Show page for details of how to enter	more >
14th	2:00pm – 4:30pm	SUMMER SHOW including a beekeeping talk by Gary Hammond & a patchwork demonstration by Heather Wadsworth	Free Church Hall	more >
15th	11:00am – 5:00pm	Members NGS Open Garden	Scudamore, 1 Baldock Rd, Letchworth.	more >
19th	7:45pm	‘Plants – Molecules, Medicines & Mischief’ by Gwenda Kyd	Methodist Church Hall	more > Monthly Meeting - July Close 'Plants - Molecules, Medicines & Mischief' by Gwenda Kyd Thursday 19th July at 7:45pm Gwenda, scientist and complementary medicine practitioner with an interest in plants and how we use them, tells us about the uses and misuses of a selection of well-known and less well-known examples. LDGA & LALG Members £2, Everyone else £3 (includes refreshments) Central Methodist Church Hall, Pixmore Way, Letchworth SG6 3TR map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or read more about Gwenda on the Edinburgh University website
August				to top
1st	10:00am	Coffee morning at Tapps	Tapps Garden Centre, Baldock	more > Monthly Coffee Morning at Tapps - August Close Coffee Morning at Tapps Garden Centre 1st August and every first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am Had enough of picking and dead-heading for a while, then come along and join fellow members at our monthly coffee morning. LDGA members are entitled to 10% discount off all items from the garden centre and tea room. (Please show your 2018 membership card for all discounted items) Homeland, Wallington Road, BALDOCK, Herts, SG7 6RS map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or contact Tapps direct on 01462 896302.
16th	7:45pm	Garden Designer, Nurseryman & Lecturer – Andrew Sankey	Methodist Church	more > Monthly Meeting - August Close Garden Designer, Nurseryman and Lecturer - Andrew Sankey Thursday 16th August at 7:45pm Paul Harrington, our advertised speaker won't be able to join us. Andrew Sankey who came to us last June to talk about Chatsworth and Joseph Paxton has very kindly agreed to step in. We'll leave it up to Andrew to choose the topic but rest assured it will be an informative & entertaining talk. For this month only we will be meeting in the church itself, please come in by the side door as usual. LDGA & LALG Members £2, Everyone else £3 (includes refreshments) Central Methodist Church, Pixmore Way, Letchworth SG6 3TR map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961
September				to top
2nd	12.00noon – 4.00pm	Knebworth Horticultural Show	Stevenage Garden Centre, Graveley Road, Graveley
4th	All Day	Coach Outing – FULLY BOOKED	RHS Wisley Flower Show	more > Special Event - Coach Outing to RHS Wisley Flower Show Close Outing to RHS Wisley Flower Show - FULLY BOOKED Tuesday 4th September all day Leave Letchworth at 9:15am and arrive back approx. 5:45pm. Members £13, non-members £16. This is the first day of the spectacular RHS late summer show at Wisley. It features 55 nurseries & 22 trade stands, the National Dahlia Society Show & floral displays by the Surrey area of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS). If you would like to add your name to the reserve list, please contact Myra on 01462 621961 or email outings@ldga.org.uk To see exactly what's on offer, visit the RHS website
5th	10:00am	Coffee morning at Tapps	Tapps Garden Centre, Baldock	more > Monthly Coffee Morning at Tapps - September Close Coffee Morning at Tapps Garden Centre 5th September and every first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am It's time to be getting your entries in for the Autumn Show. Why not come along this month and chat with fellow members about what they are planning to do. LDGA members are entitled to 10% discount off all items from the garden centre and tea room. (Please show your 2018 membership card for all discounted items) Homeland, Wallington Road, BALDOCK, Herts, SG7 6RS map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or contact Tapps direct on 01462 896302.
6th	Up to 8:00pm	Last chance to enter the Autumn Show Entries close this evening a 8:00pm	See Autumn Show page for details of how to enter	more >
8th	2:00pm – 4:30pm	AUTUMN SHOW including a flower arranging demonstration by Claire McNamara proprietor of Arlesey florist ‘Hello Flower’	Free Church Hall	more >
16th	10:30am	‘Children’s Gardening Workshop’	On our own children’s allotment in Letchworth	more > Children's Gardening Workshop Close Our Second Children's Gardening Workshop Sunday 16th September 10:30am to 12noon We are very excited to announce our second 'Seedlings' workshop for young gardeners aged 4 to 10 years old. During the workshop, which will be held under parental supervision on our own allotment in Letchworth, each child will make a mini beast hotel, plant some bulbs ready for spring and help with the pumpkin harvest. Each child will receive a certificate and will get to take home the insect hotel and the potted bulbs. The cost is £3/child. Email Kay Walker on workshops@ldga.org.uk to book a place, first come first served. Children love getting their hands mucky, so gardening can be the perfect activity to do together that will help them learn more about nature whilst having fun.
20th	7:45pm	‘Bordering on Insanity’ by Oxford University Botanist Timothy Walker	Methodist Church Hall	more > Monthly Meeting - September Close ‘Bordering on Insanity’ by Timothy Walker Thursday 20th September at 7:45pm Timothy, an Oxford University botanist looks exclusively at the herbaceous border in his Wife’s garden covering the principles and practicalities to be adopted when creating an all year round border. LDGA & LALG Members £3, Everyone else £4 (includes refreshments) Central Methodist Church Hall, Pixmore Way, Letchworth SG6 3TR map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or visit Timothy's website
29th	All day	Produce and Publicity Stall	Wimpole Hall
October				to top
3rd	10:00am	Coffee morning at Tapps	Tapps Garden Centre, Baldock	more > Monthly Coffee Morning at Tapps - October Close Coffee Morning at Tapps Garden Centre 3rd October and every first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am Why not come long and meet up with fellow members and some of the committee at our monthly coffee morning. LDGA members are entitled to 10% discount off all items from the garden centre and tea room. (Please show your 2018 membership card for all discounted items) Homeland, Wallington Road, BALDOCK, Herts, SG7 6RS map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or contact Tapps direct on 01462 896302.
18th	7:45pm	‘A year with a Horticultural Photographer’ by Michael Warren	Methodist Church Hall
November				to top
7th	10:00am	Coffee morning at Tapps	Tapps Garden Centre, Baldock	more > Monthly Coffee Morning at Tapps - November Close Coffee Morning at Tapps Garden Centre 7th November and every first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am Why not come long and meet up with fellow members and some of the committee at our monthly coffee morning. LDGA members are entitled to 10% discount off all items from the garden centre and tea room. (Please show your 2018 membership card for all discounted items) Homeland, Wallington Road, BALDOCK, Herts, SG7 6RS map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or contact Tapps direct on 01462 896302.
15th	2:30pm	‘Unusual Perennials’ by Roger Harvey	Methodist Church Hall
18th	9:00am	Last chance of the year to get your garden essentials.Trading Store closes for the season at noon	Flint Road	more >
December				to top
5th	10:00am	Coffee morning at Tapps	Tapps Garden Centre, Baldock	more > Monthly Coffee Morning at Tapps - December Close Coffee Morning at Tapps Garden Centre 5th December and every first Wednesday of the month at 10:00am Why not come long and meet up with fellow members and some of the committee at this, our last coffee morning of the year. LDGA members are entitled to 10% discount off all items from the garden centre and tea room. (Please show your 2018 membership card for all discounted items) Homeland, Wallington Road, BALDOCK, Herts, SG7 6RS map For more information call our Meetings Organiser on 01462 621961 or contact Tapps direct on 01462 896302.

Your feedback please – let us know what you think of the meetings and outings that we arrange. Tell us which ones you enjoyed most and what you would like to see in the program for next year. Please send in your comments to meetings@ldga.org.uk or speak to us at the meetings