3rd July 2011

3rd July 2011.

Dear All,

I had a trip to the northern RHS garden, Harlow Carr at Harrogate on Thursday. It was the first time I have been there and was very impressed. The three closest members of the RHS Veg Panel were assessing a duplicate of the Broad Bean trial that we saw at Wisley last week. They have a decent edible garden, a new training centre and a beautiful damp valley by a stream.

Harlow Carr

I was back at NIAB on Tuesday to attend a seminar about the history of plant breeding and NIAB’s early days – there a couple of Leeds University students studying the subject for PhDs.
No walk this week due to the Harrogate trip but I went swimming on Wednesday and Kate and I strolled round Swavesey Fen last night which was pleasant apart from the mossies.
It was the start of the judging season yesterday; I was at Stapleford a new show for me. The veg was rather average but the fruit was good.

Stapleford Show

We entertained Judith and Ray for dinner on Monday night. Judith is from the walking group, Irish and one of 11 children – her father trained greyhounds. Ray was a professional trumpet player but retrained in legal matters and worked for the BBC until he retired earlier this year but he is still doing 3 days a week.
No news from Godalming as yet.

love


Mike & Kate