CHERITON Fitzpaine Garden Club’s April meeting was very well-attended with several visitors. We were privileged to have Andrew Tolman speak to us.

Andrew worked for several years at Highgrove, and was responsible for developing the stumpery there. He is now a freelance landscape gardener, who lives in Minehead.

He is passionate about stumperies and ferns and told us how to construct and maintain one, and the plants which will happily co-exist with them.

Andrew had brought some ferns to sell and these rapidly disappeared during the tea-break.

Plugs were distributed for geraniums, which members were encouraged to buy and bring in for the summer show.

Plans were also made for our visit to Stockleigh English for our June social in a member’s garden and for an Open Garden and cream tea afternoon on Sunday, June 25.

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, May 18 at 7.30pm in the parish hall, when Peter Savage will be talking about hosts and, hopefully, telling us how to grow ones that are not slug-friendly!

Mary Nunn