FORTHCOMING EVENTS AND MONTHLY MEETINGS 

2008

 Meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month except in July and December. We meet at the Parish Hall, High Street, Henlow at 7.30p.m.

(Limited parking available behind the Hall)   

January 31st Members' Evening  - demos by Committee and Show slides August 16th/17th Meppershall Church Display
February 28th Ray Bradbury talks on Species August 20th  Visit to Wisley for British Fuchsia Society Display
March 29th Norah Arnold  -  Cacti and Succulents August 28th Brian Sawford - Nature programme
April 24th Ann Tofts from Willington Garden Centre   Containers and baskets September 25th Committee on overwintering
May 29th Dave Green    -   Species collecting in the Andes October30th Annual General Meeting and Fish'nChip Supper
June 26th Gwen Rolt  -  Hybridising November 27th Christmas Social
July 12th/13th Caldecote Fuchsia Festival- St Mary Magdalene Church December There is no meeting this month
July 26th/27th Society's  Fuchsia Festival at Henlow Parish Hall ************* *************************************************

FESTIVAL NEWS

Following the huge success of our 2006 Fuchsia Festival at St Mary Magdalene Church, Caldecote, Herts, we are  pleased to be invited back again this year.The 2008 Festival will be on Saturday July 12th & Sunday July 13th open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.  St Mary Magdalene is a picturesque little Church situated in the middle of farmland. The tiny and compact 14C building lends itself ideally to floral decoration and we look forward to filling it with flowers over that weekend. Proceeds go to Caldecote Church Friends, a local group who assist the Friends of Friendless Churches, owners of the building. There will be plants for sale and light refreshments on both days.   

In 2006 more than £500 was raised and the event was featured on Anglia News. 

UPDATE JULY 2008   Our Festival this year attracted slightly fewer visitors, probably due to the weather which was not as kind to us as in 2006. However, we made more money this year  and are pleased to report that Caldecote Church Friends were able to present a cheque for £800 to the Friends of Friendless Churches. Beds and Herts Fuchsia Society also made £245 on our plant stall which means that a total of more than £1,000 was raised altogether.

               

         St Mary Magdalene  Caldecote

About the Church

This tiny Church measures only 51 feet long by 14.5ft wide and has an octagonal font dating from 1480.  It was built from clunch found in nearby Ashwell quarry.   In 1978 it became redundant and has been in the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches ever since, opening once a year to retain its status as a Church. Since its debut as a venue for our Fuchsia Festival in 2006, St Mary Magdalene has come into its own. The recently formed committee of Caldecote Church Friends has further plans for this delightful little place and we look forward to seeing it take its rightful place in the community once more.

 

     

      The font in the evening sunlight

 

 

Flat windowsills ideal for pots

    
          

View from the church door across distant wheatfields

                       

 

       

                                    Fuchsias surround the altar
             

Visitors crowd into the tiny church

Tom West and Fantasias surround               Through the church door

                   the font

 

 

Meppershall Church Display   

  On  Saturday  August 16th & Sunday August 17th 2008  the Society holds its final Display this year. Details below

St Mary the Virgin, Meppershall

(near Shefford, Beds)

‘FUCHSIA FESTIVAL’

presented by the Beds and Herts Fuchsia

Society

 

Sat Aug 16, 10 - 5; Sun Aug 17, 11- 5.30

Free admission – donation for restoration

details : 01462 813334

Refreshments – fuchsias for sale

Festival service Sunday 6p.m.

 

                                                                        

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