At the end of June over 20 members of Phoenix Ladies group were given a tour of Morton Hall Gardens by the owner, Anne Olivieri, with occasional input from the head gardener, Harry Green.

The Georgian house built around 1780 with the 8 acre garden being re-designed following the sale of the house to the Olivieris in 2007 by landscape architect, Charles Chesshire.

It was a beautiful sunny day and the renewed gardens - a series of distinct rooms with transition areas seamlessly linked together- were in full bloom. The hard work and attention to detail of the Anne and her garden team were very appreciated by the group.

The July meeting was the annual summer party held for the second year running at Ellenden Farm Kitchen, by the kind invitation of Sara and David Tuner, who not only own and run the farm shop and kitchen, but grow the food, rear the animals and farm the land too. The members all contributed to the superb ‘bring and share’ supper with savouries and sweets.

The entertainment for the evening was the magician and comedian, Paul Ray. His tricks amazed and jokes, impressions and audience participation certainly entertained; laughter was the abiding theme of the evening.

The raffle, with many donated prizes raised nearly £90 for our charity of the year, the Alcester Cafe, who supports people with memory problems/dementia, their families and carers.

Alice Blunt from St Richard’s Hospice will be giving a talk at the next meeting on 1st August in the village hall at 7.45pm. All ladies are very welcome as members or visitors; for more information please contact Barbara (870791) or Ali (870179).

ALISON RUSHWORTH