Dear Gardening Members

Welcome to another gardening year.

The CHAPS Committee has put together another really good programme of activities for 2017 which we will hope you will enjoy.

We start our programme on Thursday the 19th of January at Quinnettes with a talk on Planning and Planting a Border by Geoff Hawkins.

Back at the Village Hall on Thursday the 16th of February Lesley Chamberlain will talk about the Secret Gardens of Sussex and on Thursday the 16th of March we will have a talk on Growing Dahlias by Nick Gilbert.

Our day visit this year will be on Wednesday the 21st of June to Borde Hill, Haywards Heath. This is an all-day coach trip and we will depart at 9.30am from the Village Hall. We will be selling tickets for this at our talks and the Spring show. The price will be £20.50 to cover the coach hire and entry to the garden. You can also book your place via the CHAPS website. Just go to the Members’ Area .

Our afternoon visit will be on Tuesday 18th July  to RHS Wisley. Please arrange your own transport for this and meet at the entrance at 12 noon. Entry will be free as part of our affiliation with the RHS.

Our evening visit is on Thursday the 17th August to Wheatley House, Kingsley. Please arrange your own transport and meet at Wheatley House at 6.30pm The entry fee is £5.

Avalon Garden Centre continues to be our sponsor, as well as continuing to offer members a 5% discount on plants. In addition to Avalon many other outlets kindly give CHAPS members discounts – details can be found in the schedule. Remember to show your membership card at the till before your items are put through.

Thank you to all our loyal CHAPS members, without whose support this society would not continue to flourish as it does. 2016 was a really successful year and the Committee members look forward to meeting many of you again throughout 2017.

Happy Gardening.

Maggie Wright