NIWA-SW
The South West  Group of the Japanese Garden Society

This page was last updated on 20th July 2002

The South West Group are currently putting together a programme for the year starting June 2002. Please advise if you would like to be on our mailing list to receive programme updates (either e-mail or send 6 stamps for a postal service).

July 31 - August 4 - Sanders Garden World (J22, M5) Brent Knoll, one of the South Wests major garden centres, is having a Japanese Gardening Weekend. We have designed a display garden in the form of a teagarden and provided some marketing materials. I will be giving an illustrated talk, the Shishu video will be shown continuously and some items of granite and bamboo water machines will be available for sale. Sencha tea will be served. The Society will be represented and available to answer questions. On the back of this a Japanese gardening package will be assembled with hopefully other weekends and other venues.

24th August 2002  - Margam Country Park near Newport South Wales is having an official opening of it's permanent Japanese Garden - this day appears to be a Sony (sponsor) corporate event. Details available of the garden is somewhat sketchy at this stage and still under construction, although we hope to post more information later. I will be visiting the site shortly and hope to arrange a JGS presence for the opening and have already secured a personal invite.

10th September 2002 - Illustrated talk on the Development of Japanese Gardens as seen in the gardens of Kyoto at East Pennard Gardening Club (Nr Glastonbury, Somerset). I am sure that I can secure some guest invites.

Late Summer 2002 - One of our members has offered to show us his garden and guide us on a visit to the National Botannic Gardens of Wales in Llanarthne, near Carmarthen. We will probably arrange for a minibus from the Somerset area with pick up points depending on numbers.

Autumn 2002 - Our last visit to Westonbirt Arboretum saw the acers at their best. A rerun of this is proposed but must be a weekday as visitor numbers during October weekends are substantial. The 3rd week in October is usually the best time. Westonbirt also has a wonderful display of azaleas, rhododendrons and cherry blossom not to mention the bluebells and the orchid field. Mid to late April is a good time depending on the advancement of Spring.

Winter 2003 - A one day workshop on Japanese Gardening will be available in the Mid Somerset area lead by one of our local garden designers.

Winter 2003 - We have had an offer to give a talk on subject TBA by one of the West Country's leading horticulturists and garden writers.

We are looking to members gardens for further visits - any ideas welcomed. You can me an e-mail from this site by selecting the E-mail David option.