February’s meeting was well attended and chairman, Dot Wickham, was warmly welcomed back after recent health problems.

Members also expressed their great appreciation for the years of service given to the club by secretary, Val Bidgood and treasurers, Margaret Barnicoat and Pauline Birkett, who all stood down at January’s AGM. All three have been presented with flower arrangements made by Carol Bailey.

After business was concluded our guest speaker for the evening, Alistair Rivers, took centre stage to talk about ‘Ponds and Water Features’.

Alistair’s opening comments were from a garden designer’s perspective. “Water,” he said, “is the most difficult thing to get right in a garden”. Moving on he stressed the importance of the size and siting of any pond or water feature within a garden to maximise the reflective qualities water possesses. Ideally, they should not be tucked away in a corner near trees, have half of the surface free of plants, and also be in sunlight from midday to evening. Early morning sun in winter can warm the water too quickly and have a detrimental effect on plants and wildlife. It is important to ensure that ponds provide easy access in and out for wildlife.

Maintenance of ponds is not to be taken lightly, particularly in the fight against ‘green water’ so predominant in summer months. Barley straw is a great ally in these times. Another key element of a pond’s wellbeing is to provide protection from falling leaves and debris in autumn as the toxins they produce on decomposition is harmful, particularly oak and beech leaves. Using tap water to top up ponds should be avoided if at all possible, but if this is the only option, the water should be left to stand for at least three days to allow the chemicals within to evaporate. Aeration is crucial to maintain good health with waterfalls or fountains being good tools to achieve this - running either for only a few hours each day will provide adequate oxygenation.

Alistair encouraged members to exercise caution before accepting plants from other ponds. Check the host pond first and research carefully so as not to unwittingly introduce an unwelcome or invasive plant. Of great importance when introducing a new plant to your pond, he stressed, is to plant it at the same depth as it is used to. Failing to do this can cause plants to die, particularly upsetting if it was an expensive water lily. Water lilies are easy to divide but it is important to let the wounds heal for at least 12 hours before potting on.

Alistair covered different plant types associated with ponds: floating; submerged; marginals; and bog and each of their characteristics. He suggests mixing the different types as too small a number or diversity can lead to a disappointing display on occasions. In conclusion, water gardening can provide enormous pleasure if planting and maintenance is carefully managed.

Our next meeting, at 7pm on Monday, March 17 features a talk by Truro City Parks Head Gardener, Richard Budge.

Members meet at Mabe & Youth Community Project Hall in Primelin Place, Cunningham Park, Mabe. New members and guests are always welcome. For further details, please contact Sue Mitchell on 01326 376418.