On a warm sunny spring evening, our speaker was Karen Dutton from The Met Office. Karen explained that her talk would cover a short history of The Met Office, how the business works and a discussion on climate change. She began working for the Met Office 22 years ago as a support scientist.
The Met Office was the brain child of Admiral Fitzroy and it was founded originally in 1854. It was in 1919 when Lewis Fry Richardson began forecasting in using mathematical equations. In 1964 it was an agendy under the Air Ministry and then the Ministry of Defence. In 1990 it became a Next Steps agency, a step away from government ties. In 1996 it began trading almost independently and in 2003 it moved to its current location in Exeter. It was the largest IT move in Europe and it came in on time and on budget.
She carefully explained what was need to do a weather forecast. On a daily basis the Met Office processes data of 10 million observations and 100,000 million bits of data. A computer was first used in 1964 and the current one has just been upgraded so it will process in 20 minutes what the capacity of a home computer would take 5 years to process..... This is now what is needed for forecasting and provide more local weather systems.
It is the world's leading centre for predicting climate change. Its customers include the Ministry of Defence; The Cabinet Office for emergency response and the Civil Aviation Authority. It provides reports to local government agencies to help with winter road maintenance; for offshore exploration; the energy industry; the water industry and environment agency.
They are now working closely with a new department of the Environmental Agency to provide data for flood defences to help with the national infrastructure of the country to run efficiently.
It has ties with the Department of Health to detect heat and cold spells to help with patients health.
Energy demands fluctuate depending on the weather so it works closely with the National Grid.
One of our members, Colin Cochrane had emailed The Met Office regarding TV forecasting and the time given to national and local TV weather slots. Karen kindly gave a personal response explaining about the different business models of the various TV stations.
Finally she explained about climate change. The change being a long term change and it was 90% "our" fault. It had been noted that lawns were being cut two weeks earlier than in the 1990's and this is just one of the indicators of change. Globally there had been observed increases in temperatures. Finally she said the temperatures seen in the long hot summer of 2003 would become the norm by 2040.
Her final comment and slide revealed that forecasting the weather was like driving a car backwards being directed by someone looking out the back window.
Several members asked Karen varied questions and included short lessons in chemistry, physics and mathematics.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Thursday, 16 April 2009
More Lanhydrock Photos
A view from the woodland walk
Beautiful blossom surrounding the church
The tulips in the formal gardens to the side of the house.
Garden Visit to Lanhydrock
The first visit of 2009 was to Lanhydrock House and Gardens, near Bodmin, Cornwall. A full coach took new and exisiting members was a great success. The beautiful spring National Trust gardens were at their best.
Lanhydrock was the home of the Agar-Robartes family until 1969. After a fire in 1881 the Jacobean house was refashioned to create a Victorian home with the latest technology.
Tours leader Monica with members
The gardens were planned by George Truefitt in 1854. They surround the house and provide colour all year round but in spring a magnificent display of rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias fill the air with fragrance.
The estate covers 900 acres and is a romantic pastorial backdrop to the house and there are many footpaths to explore in the woodlands.
One of the magnolias in full bloom.
Val Diggle on one of the scooters available for the disabled to use.
Lanhydrock was the home of the Agar-Robartes family until 1969. After a fire in 1881 the Jacobean house was refashioned to create a Victorian home with the latest technology.
Tours leader Monica with members
The gardens were planned by George Truefitt in 1854. They surround the house and provide colour all year round but in spring a magnificent display of rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias fill the air with fragrance.
The estate covers 900 acres and is a romantic pastorial backdrop to the house and there are many footpaths to explore in the woodlands.
One of the magnolias in full bloom.
Val Diggle on one of the scooters available for the disabled to use.
Sunday, 5 April 2009
Spring Flower Show results
The Tiverton Garden Club Spring Flower Show on Saturday at The New Hall was very well supported by new and old members. The spring blooms gave a fragrant and colourful display for the many visitors.
Show Secretary Maggie Roberts with Judges and some of the Committee
Overall view of the hall
Jubilee Class exhibits
Pot Plant Classes
The results were as follows:
In the Decorative Section the principal prize-winners were Ros Nichols, Christine Moore, Mary Wilson and Rachael Hart. Christine Moore won the Award of Merit for her ‘Spring Green’ exhibit.
Rachael Hart won the special award for the novice class ‘A petite arrangement in an egg cup’.
In the Shrubs and Trees Section the principal prize-winners were Angela Moore, Mary Coles and Ann Crawford and Jean Webb with Jean Webb winning the Award of Merit for three camellias.
Jean Webb with her winning camellias
In the Pot Plant Section the principal prize-winners were Ann Steer, Mike Long, Sue Gollop. Stephanie Sporne and Mary Coles with Mike Long winning the Award of Merit for an azalea.
The Members Competition for a pot of Minnow narcissi, provided by the Club, was won by Rachael Hart who won the Sue Gollop Trophy.
In the Photography Section the principal prize-winners were John Mears, Margaret Grose and Jenny Blake with Margaret Grose, winning the Award of Merit with her photo of ‘Spring has Sprung’.
Show Secretary Maggie Roberts with Judges and some of the Committee
Overall view of the hall
Shrubs & Trees section Classes
Decorative Classes
Cut Flowers - narcissi
The results were as follows:
In the Decorative Section the principal prize-winners were Ros Nichols, Christine Moore, Mary Wilson and Rachael Hart. Christine Moore won the Award of Merit for her ‘Spring Green’ exhibit.
Christine Moore with her winning Spring Green exhibit
Rachael Hart won the special award for the novice class ‘A petite arrangement in an egg cup’.
Rachael Hart's winning exhibit
The winners in the Children’s’ Sections were Paige Nichols and Jessica Ridgeway with their arrangements in a Child's Wellie Boot.
In the Cut Flowers Section the principal prize-winners were Alby Berry, Mike Long, Rachael Hart, Roger Pike, Stephanie Sporne, Angela Moore, Ros Pike, Mary Smith and Margaret Grose with Margaret Grose winning the Award of Merit for a vase of small cupped narcissi.
Margaret Grose with her winning narcissi
In the Shrubs and Trees Section the principal prize-winners were Angela Moore, Mary Coles and Ann Crawford and Jean Webb with Jean Webb winning the Award of Merit for three camellias.
Jean Webb with her winning camellias
In the Pot Plant Section the principal prize-winners were Ann Steer, Mike Long, Sue Gollop. Stephanie Sporne and Mary Coles with Mike Long winning the Award of Merit for an azalea.
Mike Long with his winning azalea
The Members Competition for a pot of Minnow narcissi, provided by the Club, was won by Rachael Hart who won the Sue Gollop Trophy.
Rachael Hart with her winning Minnow's
In the Photography Section the principal prize-winners were John Mears, Margaret Grose and Jenny Blake with Margaret Grose, winning the Award of Merit with her photo of ‘Spring has Sprung’.
Margaret Grose's winning photo
Finally, the Jubilee Class was won by Tim Nichols with 24 points for a collection including a flower arrangement, a vase of pansies and a photograph. Second was Ros Nichols and third was Maggie Roberts.
The Committee would like to thank the judges, Chad & Ann Stone and Fred Willitts for their time and hard work and all the helpers and exhibitors – new and old - for a top quality show.
Finally, the Jubilee Class was won by Tim Nichols with 24 points for a collection including a flower arrangement, a vase of pansies and a photograph. Second was Ros Nichols and third was Maggie Roberts.
The Committee would like to thank the judges, Chad & Ann Stone and Fred Willitts for their time and hard work and all the helpers and exhibitors – new and old - for a top quality show.
Refreshments were served by Sue Sharpin & Doreen Long;
Thursday, 2 April 2009
March Talk by Gavin Haig
The speaker for the March meeting was local surgeon Gavin Haig who gave an illustrated talk on the "Celebration of Trees, Birds, Hedgerows and Butterflies" with slides taken at his Spillifords, river side garden.
A large group of members and friends were treated to an informative talk about how humans need nature to achieve a well balanced lifestyle. He discussed many plants which give the basis of treatments for various ailments, including the benefits of stinging nettles.
He explained how he believed that Devon is a stunning county with loveliness all around, if we just looked around us. He showed photos of trees, nest boxes and birds accompanied by bird song on tape. He showed many varieties of butterfly and their food supply in the woodland margin of his 4 acre wildlife garden, which he opens as part of the National Garden Scheme.
He showed photos of flowers growing in hedgerows and explained how the Devon hedgerow is home to many wildlife homes. He developed a picture of Trees, Hedgerows, Birds & Butterflies which played a big part visually as we bonded with nature.
A large group of members and friends were treated to an informative talk about how humans need nature to achieve a well balanced lifestyle. He discussed many plants which give the basis of treatments for various ailments, including the benefits of stinging nettles.
He explained how he believed that Devon is a stunning county with loveliness all around, if we just looked around us. He showed photos of trees, nest boxes and birds accompanied by bird song on tape. He showed many varieties of butterfly and their food supply in the woodland margin of his 4 acre wildlife garden, which he opens as part of the National Garden Scheme.
He showed photos of flowers growing in hedgerows and explained how the Devon hedgerow is home to many wildlife homes. He developed a picture of Trees, Hedgerows, Birds & Butterflies which played a big part visually as we bonded with nature.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
February Talk
A bumper crowd came to see Head Gardener of Marwood Hill Gardens, Malcolm Pharoah at the first meeting of 2009. His talk about Marwood and its plants was enthusiastic and illustrated with slides taken over the last 50 years which showed how each part of the garden had been developed by Dr. Smart and his team.
Malcolm explained how Marwood, with the love from Dr Smart, has become one of Devon's beautiful gardens. Dr Smart fell in love with camellias and introduced them into a special greenhouse in the 1960's. This created bigger blooms, but now the greenhouses provide shelter for tender plants.
He told the history of the garden and explained with illustration how the garden is in a valley setting, only 4 miles from the sea, with a natural stream running through it. The old rose garden has been replaced by herbaceous borders which gives maximum colour. There are areas laid out for the three national collections which they hold. One collection is Astillbes, of which they have over 150 varieties which bloom from June to August. He explained how the plants love to be dug up and divided every 5 years to provide re-growth. These should be in full flower at the time of our planned visit in July.
The two lakes have been the major development at the garden over the last 50 years. A JCB dug out the area to form the lake and it has a natural liner of blue clay. A bog garden was created in 1980 and this is surrounded by Primula and Iris. The area on the hillside looking up to the church has been planted with trees with open vistas. This now gives glorious autumn colour. Hostas can be found with no holes in their leaves and Malcolm believes that this is down to wildlife in the garden and no stone walls. There is an original John Robinson statue on the island in the middle of one of the lakes and a beautiful Cherry tree which stands beside the pathways around the lake.
The current house was built around 1970 and overlooks the valley and lakes. It now houses a tearoom and right outside is a beautiful deep pink Magnolia named Marwood.
To mark the Millennium, Dr Smart's nephew, the current owner of the garden, had a statue of Dr Smart made and this now stands overlooking the lakes and bog garden.
A new waterfall was created about 4 years ago. There is a new area being developed for new summer grasses and a camellia walk. The garden is continually being developed through self finance.
The garden is open all year round and has something special to see in every season.It has 3½ employees and 20 volunteers. They have just held two successful Sunday Snowdrop & Hellebore weekends.
For more information about the garden visit their website - there is a link to it in our Recommended Websites section.
Malcolm explained how Marwood, with the love from Dr Smart, has become one of Devon's beautiful gardens. Dr Smart fell in love with camellias and introduced them into a special greenhouse in the 1960's. This created bigger blooms, but now the greenhouses provide shelter for tender plants.
He told the history of the garden and explained with illustration how the garden is in a valley setting, only 4 miles from the sea, with a natural stream running through it. The old rose garden has been replaced by herbaceous borders which gives maximum colour. There are areas laid out for the three national collections which they hold. One collection is Astillbes, of which they have over 150 varieties which bloom from June to August. He explained how the plants love to be dug up and divided every 5 years to provide re-growth. These should be in full flower at the time of our planned visit in July.
The two lakes have been the major development at the garden over the last 50 years. A JCB dug out the area to form the lake and it has a natural liner of blue clay. A bog garden was created in 1980 and this is surrounded by Primula and Iris. The area on the hillside looking up to the church has been planted with trees with open vistas. This now gives glorious autumn colour. Hostas can be found with no holes in their leaves and Malcolm believes that this is down to wildlife in the garden and no stone walls. There is an original John Robinson statue on the island in the middle of one of the lakes and a beautiful Cherry tree which stands beside the pathways around the lake.
The current house was built around 1970 and overlooks the valley and lakes. It now houses a tearoom and right outside is a beautiful deep pink Magnolia named Marwood.
To mark the Millennium, Dr Smart's nephew, the current owner of the garden, had a statue of Dr Smart made and this now stands overlooking the lakes and bog garden.
A new waterfall was created about 4 years ago. There is a new area being developed for new summer grasses and a camellia walk. The garden is continually being developed through self finance.
The garden is open all year round and has something special to see in every season.It has 3½ employees and 20 volunteers. They have just held two successful Sunday Snowdrop & Hellebore weekends.
For more information about the garden visit their website - there is a link to it in our Recommended Websites section.
Monday, 23 February 2009
The man from Marwood
Malcolm Pharoah from Marwood Hill Gardens visits tomorrow evening to give his illustrated talk on Camillias and a background to the gardens at Marwood.
Come along to the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm if you are interested. Guests welcome at a nominal charge of £1 or why not join the club for an annual fee of £3.
Come along to the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm if you are interested. Guests welcome at a nominal charge of £1 or why not join the club for an annual fee of £3.
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