Dorset Cuttings


GARDENERS CUTTINGS


a look at news, events and happenings in Dorset


A great weekend for all at the Dorset County Show


Many of the thousands who flocked to the Dorset County Show on the first weekend of September went to see the wonderful displays in the Floral Pavilion ranging from cacti and ferns to magnificent dahlias and perennials.


Bob Hendley of Robert Hendley Flora, based at Child Okeford, won a large gold medal and Best in Show for his display of dahlias, and was presented with his trophy by Country Gardener publisher Alan Lewis.


Bob Hendley of Robert Hendley Flora, based at Child Okeford, won a large gold medal and Best in Show for his display of dahlias


Other winners of large gold medals in the Floral Pavilion included Island Garden Plants of Upwey near Weymouth, Holmes for Gardens of Wareham, and Coach House Cacti of Toller Porcorum.


Karen Tester Garden Design, of Gillingham, won a large gold, as did Poundbury Garden Centre. Cold Harbour Nursery of Wareham won a gold medal, as did Warden Hill Farm, Dorchester. Silver gilt medals went to Blooming Hill Plants of Shepton Mallet, Crawford Hardy Ferns of Spetisbury, Delma’s Seeds of Alresford and the display by the National Vegetable Society.


Independent nurseries displayed their wares along the Plant Avenue


More than 55,000 visitors enjoyed the county show, with its spectacular arena events, huge variety of exhibitors and all the traditional show classes including the well supported horticultural competitions. Many independent nurseries displayed their wares along the Plant Avenue, a new venture for the show, enabling local producers to showcase and sell their plants.


Country Gardener staff met many members of the public who visited the stand over the two days. The competition to guess the identity of the plant on the Country Gardener stand was won by Pam Seaton of Dorchester, who wins a £50 voucher to be spent at Stewarts GardenLands in Christchurch or their other garden centre, Stewarts Country Garden Centre at Wimborne.


The plant was a Tibouchina urvilleana, but one young competitor, George Wilson, raised a lot of smiles when he suggested ‘Norman’ as the plant’s name!


Autumn gold at Minterne


The Hidden Gardens of Minterne offers some wonderful arrays of colour beginning to show on the magnificent collection of plants you can find at this Dorset location. The stunning warm colours of the leaves and berries, and even barks will entrance you as you walk this very tranquil garden. Little known for its dazzling autumnal feast of colour, over 200 Acers and Maples will delight any visitor. Cercidiphyllums and Swamp cypress, together with many mature specimen trees provide an extravaganza of scarlet, russet, orange and yellow.


Floriferous displays of ‘Minterne’s Miniatures,’ dainty woodland cyclamen and autumn crocus, brighten up corners of this wild woodland garden, set amidst streams, waterfalls and cascades. Open daily until Wednesday 9th Adults £5, accompanied children under 12 free. www.minterne.co.uk


November from 10am to 6pm.


Conservationists celebrate hobby chicks at Upton Heath


Conservationists are celebrating as a pair of hobbies has managed to raise three chicks - despite the dramatic fire that hit Upton Heath this year. The birds, which first nested in 2010 in an artificial ‘hobby basket’ placed by Dorset Wildlife Trust, returned this year in May and survived the fire, which missed their nest site.


Hobbies are small and extremely agile falcons, about the Country Gardener 3


size of a kestrel, which can catch food, including dragonflies and even swallows and martins, on the wing. Heaths such as Upton Heath, which has recently been named one of the top sites in the country for dragonflies, are particularly attractive to them, providing plenty of food through the summer and into early autumn for this late-nesting falcon.


For more details, visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/uh or telephone the Urban Wildlife Centre on 01202 692033.


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