Welcome to the Brightwell-cum-Sotwell WI website

Future Events, Outings & Garden Visits

Plant Identification Made Simple

A study day with Timothy Walker, Director of Oxford Botanic Garden *

Friday 17th July in the Village Hall, 10am – 4pm - £18

Gardeners often want to know the name of a plant that has either lost its label or never had one. Sadly there are more than 1/4 million species to choose from and millions of cultivated varieties.

How does one start to put a name on the plant in your garden? This study day has been running for years at the Botanic Garden in Oxford and has been successful at opening up the world of plant identification to many amateur and professional gardeners alike.

The study day covers:

  • The history & theory of plant classification
  • Naming the bits of plants
  • Using identification keys
  • Putting a name on a plant
TimothyWalker

Refreshments included, but please bring a packed lunch.

Please bring a sharp pen knife, and a hand lens if you have one. If not, one will be provided.

There is a limit of 30 places for this day. Please email to register your interest or ring Viv on 824679. We will need a definite commitment and payment by the end of April, after that we will offer remaining places to other local WI’s.

We are lucky to get Timothy to come to us, so please don’t miss this opportunity,

Warburton Walkers (click on the link on the left for more information and pictures of past walks)

 

16th July 2008 - Sandra, Paul, Annabel and Karin enjoyed a lovely walk around Checkenden ably guided by Annabel. The walk took a more westerly route to the one they walked previously. Yet again they enjoyed fantastic weather and wonderful views. The glorious red of the poppyfields catching the eye.

 

Date for next walk :    Wednesday, 18th February 2009. Annabel has in mind to lead us around Christmas Common, all depending on weather conditions, of course.

 

The format of our walks:

-  about 4 - 5 miles, making it about 2 to 2 and a half hours in time.

-  as shorter Warburton walks have been done we may have to start working out our own. 

-  we meet at 9.30 am,  leaving it optional for people to stay for lunch

-  meet at VH to work out car share

 

For more information ring Karin on 839978

julysm

Garden Visits:

Rofford Manor, Little Milton on Tuesday 7th April at 2.30pm.  On our previous visit we were impressed by the gardens in summer, so I am sure the spring bulbs will be spectacular.  We will have a 1hr 30m tour with John the head gardener -  £5pp + £2.50 for tea & cake (highly recommended!)

 

Pyt House & Willow Tree Cottage, Ashampstead, near Pangbourne.  Friday 22nd May  2.30pm - £5pp + £2.50 tea & cake. This is a joint garden visit, the houses are next door to each other.  Pyt House is a four acre garden owned by a garden designer. Willow Tree Cottage is a small pretty garden with a duck pond.

 

The Old Vicarage, Aston Rowant.  Thursday 25th June -2.30pm. £3.50pp including tea. Romantic 1.75 acre vicarage garden.

 

Burrow Farm, Hambleden.  Wednesday 8th July – 10.30 -12. £5pp. Set in the Chilterns above Hambleden valley where it meets the Thames. Wonderful views.

 

There will be more details about the gardens on the sign-up sheets at our monthly meetings.

 

* We will be having a guided tour of the Oxford Botanic Garden on Thursday 6th August at 2.15pm. The tour will take 1hrs 15 mins and will be £5.50 pp. Hopefully that will tie in nicely with Timothy’s visits to us.

Contact us

If you would like to take part in any of the above then just send an email by clicking on the envelope on the left.