AT the beginning of April the speaker was Mick Poultney, award-winning veg grower, lecturer, demonstrator and judge from the Black Country.

His title was the catchy ‘Compost in Four Weeks’ which, to start with, none of the audience believed.

He was very persuasive and managed to convince them that, providing that you can spend many hours sourcing the right materials, keeping the mixture wet and finding the right activators, it is entirely possible. Mick was an entertaining speaker and something of an obsessive about his subject. He is a great advocate for vegetable growing and runs a school gardening club at a primary school as well as several gardening clubs and allotment societies.

There is still time to make a booking for this years’ trips if accompanied by a small deposit. This year the trips are to Biddulph Grange on June 21 and RHS Wisley on August 9.

The gardening club always welcomes new members or guests. The meetings are mostly on the first Thursday of every month at the centre, Jubilee Court, St Faiths Road, Alcester. Membership is still only £10 per year and includes refreshments at the meetings. Guests can attend at any time for a fee of £2.50.

Any enquiries can be made to the secretary on 01789 765105.