OUR monthly meeting was held at the Fleece Inn as the memorial hall was in use for local elections.

Barbara, our secretary, opened the meeting by warmly welcoming four new members before Alison introduced our guests, Rob and Diane Cole. Rob proceeded to give us an interesting and amusing talk on 'Fostering a Wildlife Meadow'.

They moved to Meadow Farm, Feckenham in 1998 to establish a nursery. After getting organised they found that they still had a large amount of meadow land which hadn't been cultivated at all during the last century. They were pleasantly surprised to find many wild flowers already growing there including cowslips, bluebells, aconite and ladysmock. Rob discovered a double ladysmock, which he knew was very unusual, he sent a photo to an expert who told him he could name it. He called it Diane's petticoat as the petals were so frilly! Due to Rob and Diane's thoughtful and skilful planting of additional habitats it has over the years attracted an increasing number of birds, dragonflies, moths and unusual butterflies.This talk generated much interest amongst the members and we hope to arrange a visit to this lovely meadow in Feckenham.

The meeting closed with members offering help at the forthcoming Open Gardens event on June 4 from 11am-5pm, which is followed in the evening by an Open Air Church Service and Asparagus Auction at 7pm in aid of St. Leonard's church.

ANN WHITE