All,
A Happy New Year to you and yours!
Here are the plans for the MBS for this year.
Our NEXT (and now FIRST) Meeting of the New Year 2026 is Thursday 5th February for some early year Repotting and Root Pruning.
It’s also a good opportunity to pay your Annual Membership Subscription which has been FROZEN (just like the recent cold weather we have experienced) at £34.00.
Just a friendly reminder that sadly we had to CANCEL/POSTPONE January’s Meeting due to the sudden inclement and adverse weather conditions (snow and ice).
| Month | Meeting Activity | Notes |
| January 8th | Membership update Open workshop (work on your own trees) Members’ forum | Form show sub-committee |
| February 5th | Repotting & Root pruning | Membership update Committee Meeting/ show sub-committee meeting? |
| March 5th | Ian Homer – Forest planting & have a go yourself! | Membership update Donations request: Tombola, raffle & bottle prize draw. |
| April 2nd | David Cheshire – Displaying trees – Stands & Showing | Donations request: Tombola, raffle & bottle prize draw. |
| May 7th | Final show prep Bonsai Bring & Buy (Tarun’s idea & Vic’s pots) | Bank Holiday Bluebell woodland walk – Malcolm Beach? Committee Meeting Donations request: Tombola, raffle & bottle prize draw. |
| June 4th | Styling & Refining Tools & Uses Sketching & planning trees | Show classifications Sunday 7th June = show |
| July 2nd | Nigel Saunders | |
| August 6th | David Cheshire Group Workshop | Shrubs for working on – auction off at end of evening |
| September 3rd | Malcolm Hughes | |
| October 1st | Moss, ferns & accent plants | Video presentation – TR |
| November 5th | Pests & Diseases | Committee Meeting |
| December 3rd | AGM, Nibbles & Quiz |
Please note that the items in the right hand column are meant as an aide memoir, principally to Committee Members, but everyone can of course join in!
The following few paragraphs give details of “things we are thinking about/things to think about/even things for you to react to!”
Events
MBS presentations – Brian’s contact at Hampton-in-Arden Garden Centre?
Workshop with David Cheshire? Possible dates: 8th March/ 11th or 12th April/ 10th or 11th October
Visits –
Newstead Abbey, Nottingham (entrance fee = £15 + coach – house =+£8)
OR
Waterperry Gardens, Oxford (entrance fee =£11 + coach)
Tba: May/ June/ July – Avoiding school holidays
MBS merchandise – Window stickers – MBS 50 years 1975 – 2025. Awarded to current Members & as New Member gift.
Fundraising – Easter boost? Bottle prize draw: Ask for donations of anything in a bottle – plant food, alcohol, toiletries, sauces. Each bottle is given a number. Every ticket number wins a bottle.
Any other suggestions and/or recommendations would be welcome and much appreciated.