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A GROUP of green fingered growers and allotment owners is delighted to be hosting BBC Radio4’s Gardeners Question Time (GQT) as part of their birthday celebrations.
Wokingham Horticultural Association marks its 70th year on November 1.
For its festivities, the group will host GQT’s expert panellists later this month.
The radio show will be recorded in Wokingham Town Hall, and broadcast to growers all around the country seeking hints and tips for their gardening woes.
“We’re very excited to be hosting the recording, and very pleased to be able to use our beautiful Town Hall for the event,” said vice chair Janet Gordon.
“Tickets for the event are limited, and very much in demand.
“We’ve already had a fabulous response from our members and the public.
“People were queuing up to buy tickets at our recent meeting.
“Everyone is very keen to come along to the recording, and our members are already working out what tricky question to put to the panel.
“The harder the better, as the experts have no prior knowledge of what will be asked.”
GQT visits a different town each week, focusing on local growing conditions and taking questions about fruit tree failures, and dahlia disasters.
Borough gardeners listeningt to the Wokingham broadcast can learn how to combat local pests and diseases, and keep their gardens, and indoor plants, healthy.
The Wokingham Horticultural Association was set up in 1953.
It evolved from Wokingham Produce Association, founded 10 years ealier to encourage Dig for Victory during WWII.
“As we celebrate our 70th year we still remember those who initially started the WHA,” said Ms Gordon.
“And we aim to continue with the original values of nature, nurture, wellbeing, friendship and laughter.
“These are as important today as they were several decades ago.”
Members currently number nearly 400.
“We have a lot of very keen, friendly and enthusiastic allotment holders and gardeners of all ages.
The group holds four seasonal shows annually, and this year is restarting its winter talks for members and their guests.
“These had to stop during the pandemic, but we are now all working hard to get some interesting talks together for the new year.,” added Ms Gordon.
WHA members have contributed to Wokingham In Bloom projects across the town, since the town joined the campaign.
“We were delighted in 2022 to be awarded gold in the Thames and Chilterns region.
“One of the Bloom projects, called Link To Nature, has resulted in a strong working relationship with the Link Visiting Scheme.”
The Wokingham charity helps to combat loneliness with a befriending scheme for older people in the borough.
Wokinahm Horticultural Association’s next meeting will be at St Paul’s Parish Rooms, on Thursday, October 26, at 7.30pm for a 7.45pm start.
The Radio4 broadcast will be recorded at Wokingham Town Hall, on Tuesday, October 31.
For more information about WHA, visit; www.w-h-a.org.uk
To learn about The Link, visit: www.linkvisiting.org
And for more about GQT, log on to: www.bbc.co.uk and search for Gardeners Question Time.
