Topsham Allotments and Gardens Society
TAGS Social Events
TAGS has proved to be a good way of making friends as well as learning about gardening and having an allotment.
OUTING BY COACH TO ABBOTSBURY TROPICAL GARDENS AND SWANNERY
Wednesday 12th June - OUTING BY COACH TO ABBOTSBURY TROPICAL GARDENS AND SWANNERY Leave Holman Way car park at 9.30am, The Nelson at 9.35am. Return Topsham at about 5pm. Tickets for coach and garden to cost £25 for TAGS members, £26 for non members.
GARDEN VISITS
Usually we organise three trips to gardens, usually including one to RHS Rosemoor where we can take advantage of our affiliation to the RHS by offering free entrance. Most of the trips are by coach.
TAGS OPEN GARDENS - Friday 23rd June 2023
Three TAGS members gardens were open on the afternoon of Friday 23rd June 2023 from 2pm to 4pm - 9 Grove Hill, 16 Grove Hill and 21 Grove Hill.
We started the afternoon at number 9 as there are chickens who live there and they enjoy an afternoon walk around their estate so we visited their garden between 2pm and 3pm then the lovely girls were able to have a peaceful walk afterwards. TAGS Members were invited to tea and coffee at number 21.
All three gardens were a wonderful show of colour and an amazing variety of plants and the sun was shining and we all had a lovely afternoon.
We are hoping to repeat this in 2024 and would welcome volunteers to open their gardens.
Winter events
We also organise at least 3 winter events, usually talks by garden experts on a wide range of subjects. We often host a “Gardeners Question Time” with 3 local garden experts on the panel. During COVID these moved to Zoom, but we have resumed talks in St Nicks as well as having Zoom talks.
RHS GARDEN ENTRY CARD
As an Affiliated member, the Society has a card available for Members to borrow, which permits half price entry for 2 people to RHS Wisley, Rosemoor, Bridgewater, Hyde Hall and Harlow Carr.
Contact Social Secretaries on topshamags@gmail.co.uk or 877318 to borrow the card.
If you have any ideas for trip or talks then we would be pleased to hear them, just email topshamags@gmail.com.
Also if you would like to go on any of the trips then please either email topshamags@gmail.com or phone the Social Secretaries on 01392 877318. We prefer payment to be made at least 2 weeks before the trips, some do get sold out so don't leave it too late. Cash or cheques made payable to Topsham Allotments and Gardens can be left in the Trading Hut or sent to the Social Secretaries at 67 Newcourt Road, Topsham EX3 0BU, but the easiest way to pay is by bank transfer, details will be provided when you book.
Members have priority in the first instance. If you would like to go on these trips please email topshamags@gmail.com and we can update you with further details nearer the time.
It is not necessary to book our talks in advance. We would love it if you stay for a chat afterwards over tea, coffee and a biscuit.
2024 to 2025 Programme of Events
TAGS Programme 2024-25PLEASE BOOK AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE OUTINGS – PAYMENT FOR COACH TRAVEL AND ENTRANCE FEE ON BOOKING. BACS, CASH OR CHEQUES PAYABLE TO TOPSHAM ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS. PLEASE BOOK AT THE TRADING HUT OR WITH DAVID AND STELLA McLARIN on 877318, OR EMAIL topshamags@gmail.com
Tuesday 16th April - OUTING BY COACH TO CAERHAYES CASTLE GARDEN Leave Holman Way car park at 9.30am, The Nelson at 9.35am. Return Topsham at about 6.00pm. Tickets for coach and Garden to cost £24 for TAGS members, £25 for non members.
Saturday 4th May - SEED AND PLANT SWAP at the Trading Hut at Butts Park 10.30am-12noon. Bring any spare seeds, seedlings and plants to swap. Bring tea/coffee and enjoy a chat with other members.
Wednesday 12th June - OUTING BY COACH TO ABBOTSBURY TROPICAL GARDENS AND SWANNERY Leave Holman Way car park at 9.30am, The Nelson at 9.35am. Return Topsham at about 5pm. Tickets for coach and garden to cost £25 for TAGS members, £26 for non members.
Wednesday 10th July – Michael Jordan of the Fungus Conservation Trust on The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 7.30pm in ST NICHOLAS CHURCH Members £4, non members £5 including tea and coffee.
Sunday 28th July - PHOTOGRAPH COMPETITION - Last day for entries. Details to follow in the Estuary magazine and by email to members.
Friday 16th August - BBQ or picnic (venue to be advised) 6pm. Bring your own food and drink to share. All TAGS members welcome.
Sunday 18th August - FLOWER AND VEGETABLE SHOW, MATTHEWS HALL Staging of entries and judging in the morning. Open to the public at 2pm. Why not give it a go, it's free to enter and free admission to the Show. All surplus produce welcome for the stall.
Thursday 12th September - OUTING BY COACH TO RHS ROSEMOOR Leave Holman Way car park at 9.30am, The Nelson at 9.35am. Return Topsham at about 5.30pm. Tickets for coach, garden and house to cost £10 for TAGS members, £11 for non members.
Wednesday 16th October – Sue Minter on Walled Gardens 7.30pm in ST NICHOLAS CHURCH Members £4, non members £5 including tea and coffee
Wednesday 20th November – Caradoc Doy on Wonderful Winter Flowering Interest 7.30pm in ST NICHOLAS CHURCH Members £4, non members £5 including tea and coffee.
Thursday 16th January 2025 - Topsham Wassail Time and place to be advised.
Wednesday 12th February 2025 – TAGS own GQT 7.30pm in ST NICHOLAS CHURCH Members £4, non members £5 including tea and coffee.
Wednesday 12th March 2025 - Annual General Meeting 7.30pm Studio above Matthews Hall.
Tuesday 1st April 2025 - MEMBERSHIP FEES DUE. Please pay at the AGM, Trading Hut or send to the Membership Secretary.
Topsham Wassail - 2024
We work with Topsham Folk Club on the Topsham Wassail on the third Thursday in January each year when we usually host the final sing song in the Trading Hut.
If you are unable to get to our Wassail then you can celebrate your apples trees at any time using our DIY Topsham Wassail, see OTHER USEFUL ARTICLES