Walks report

On 8th December 2011, an intrepid group of a dozen or so hardy walkers braved the inclement weather for a five-mile walk around Ormskirk. We started at the bus station, had a brief coffee stop at Aughton Community Centre and ended at the Fiveways pub, where we enjoyed a very pleasant lunch. The heavy downpour of rain and sleet taught us the difference between water resistant and waterproof and at least two of us found it necessary to invest in a new outer coat.

Our first walk of the New Year found us meeting at Sandhills Station for a five-mile linear walk ending at the Britannia Inn. Despite the gloomy weather forecast, on this occasion we were blessed with beautiful sunshine. The walk took us along the canal towpath, past the Eldonian Village, then down to the river’s edge passing the Three Graces and on for a short break at the New Museum of Liverpool. We then continued along the excellent path all the way to the Britannia Inn for an enjoyable carvery lunch.
We had to alter our planned journey home. Due to a suspected gas leak, trains were not stopping at Central Station so we trekked across town to Moorfields station where we caught the train for Maghull.

The February walk will commence from the Hare and Hounds, Liverpool Road North – almost opposite the site of old Library – at 10.30 as usual.
This will be a circular walk around rural areas of Maghull including part of the Mersey Forest.

Jobs for gardeners in Febuary

There are numerous jobs to start in February and most gardeners will be thinking of the coming spring.

Do not rush, the season hasn’t  started and there is a lot of time to catch up.

I usually plot and plan. February is a great time to be sorting out all your ideas for the spring. I have decided to grow some veg this year in tubs and and large pots and will now sow seeds of broad beans and early carrots plus some lettuce .

Flowers and Shrubs: you can now plant anemones, ranunculus, gladioli in groups where you want them to flower.

Divide clumps of perennials, plant evergreens like Laurel and if you have a greenhouse sow some hardy annuals. One job I do now is to cut back winter flowering shrubs as they finish flowering.

Lawns: Aerate and rake as often as possible this will ensure you have a healthy lawn when the grass starts to grow. it’s a job I do weekly whenever the weather permits and visitors to my garden always remark on my lawn –  it’s all down to preparation, so start now .

Dahlias are one of my favourites and its now I place the tubers in a box with  compost near a window in the garage and within 4 weeks they are starting to show signs of growth it enables me to take cuttings and the dahlias are also well established by May for planting out. Norman.

Noson Lawen – Welsh Fun Night


There was many a member who was secretly worried about our ‘Fun Night’.  Some who worried they might not be able to join in the singing, some who thought their art work would let them down when it came to the illustrating a proverb, some who worried that their Laurence Olivier gene would fail to kick in when it was their turn to have ago at the improvised drama and many who thought that their knowledge of welsh History wouldn’t stand up to close scrutiny …….. but!

In the end everyone had a brilliant time.  No embarrassing moments, no being tongue tied and no worrying about saying it in Welsh as saying it in English did just as well. Continue reading