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Greenhouse

Ventnor Botanic Garden

 
In 2008 the Ventnor Botanic Garden Friends Society will be celebrating 21 years since its formation. To mark the occasion we have arranged a number of special events.

21st. Anniversary Celebration of The Friends

Simon Goodenough and Alan Titchmarsh open the Temperate House 1987

Saturday 27th. September 12 noon - 4pm

The Friends will be holding a special event day at Ventnor Botanic Garden. We are delighted that Alan Titchmarsh, celebrated gardener and this year High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight, has agreed to come as our guest to launch a public fund to replace the now ageing GreenHouse. Alan's presence is particularly appropriate as he opened the present greenhouse, then known as the Temperate House, 21 years ago, in 1987. The event will take place at 1 pm.

Preceding this will be a plant sale, which is normally held in September. At 2pm there will be an auction of plants and other donated gifts, followed by the presentation of prizes for the fiendish Isle of Wight Quiz. The afternoon will conclude with a conducted walk with Simon Goodenough, the Curator, particularly highlighting projects which have been supported by money raised by the Friends. From the year 2000 until now, £72,000 has been donated from bequests, donations and funds raised by the Friends.

During the opening time there will also be a gardening and cookery book stall, a produce and bring-and-buy stall and a tombola. If anyone is willing to donate items for this worthy cause we would be most grateful. For further information please contact Jonyth on 01983 730532. We look forward to seeing you on the day. If possible, please use the bus from Ventnor, which stops at the garden, as parking can be difficult.

Great Isle of Wight Quiz

Chris Bull, a member of the Society and one of the former finalists in the Isle of Wight Quiz (set by the late Dr Eric Laidlaw to raise funds for Ventnor Botanic Garden), has set another fiendish Great Isle of Wight Quiz.
You could win a share in £200 worth of book tokens offered as prizes by answering questions such as these: What was Wootton Bridge Time? Can you describe a Wild Irishman?
Quiz Sheets may be obtained for £1.00 and are available from Ventnor Botanic Garden, Island Libraries and Tourist Offices, IW County Record Office, Quay Arts Centre, Ventnor Heritage Museum and the IW Family History Society.
The launch date was in December and will run until the end of July. The results and prize-giving will be in September, a confirmed date to be announced later. The answers will be published on this web site during October.
For further information please ring the Honorary Secretary - 01983 292107

Exhibition

An exhibition about the Society will be held in the Visitor Centre, Ventnor Botanic Garden, from March 2008 and will remain throughout the year.

Wine and Cheese Evening

In July, a Wine and Cheese Evening will be held in the Echium Terrace. Photographs and memorabilia will be on show to members, depicting some of the projects supported in past years. A conducted walk around the garden to view areas where considerable funds have been used to develop projects will take place before the refreshments.

Other Events

A full programme has been arranged, commencing with the Annual General Meeting in April. Following official business, our President, Brian Kidd, will be entertaining members with his son Chris Kidd (Head Gardener at Ventnor Botanic Garden), .
For dates and times please check the programme.
For further information please ring the Events Co-ordinator - 01983 730532