dennisB

You don't have to book - just turn up with your membership card.. cheers Dennis

Hi this year's visit to Kew Gardens is on Saturday June 9th. We will be meeting at the Elizabeth Gate at 1pm. The visit includes a behind the scenes tour of Kew's extensive CP collection glasshouses which are not normally open to the public and a visit to the Herbarium. The visit will be led by Dr Martin Cheek of Kew Herbarium, our journal editor. Please note that this a member's only event and is free. Remember to bring your membership cards. cheers Dennis

Hi just a reminder that the society is holding its Annual General Meeting at Reading University, Harborne Building, White Knights Campus, Pepper Lane, RG6 6UR at 1pm on Saturday May 5th. In addition to the formal business of the day, there will be talks on CPs, plants will be available for sale/swap and a plant auction in aid of the conservation fund will be held. Refreshments will be available. The meeting is open to members only so remember to bring your membership card. You can join or renew your membership prior to the meeting. regards Dennis Balsdon Chair The Carnivorous Plant Society

Hi we are waiting for a response from Kew. I'll let you know as soon as I know anything. CDennis

The membership secretary has been away from home on a training course and is now catching up. Dennis

Thanks Christian Dennis

Any further news of this year's EEE? Dennis

Hi the Carnivorous Plant Society arranges around 15 open days each year across the UK. We haven't had an event around Bristol for some years and would welcome one now. If you are a member of the society your event(s) would be advertised on our website (www.thecps.org.uk), in our newsletters and on this forum. There may even be some financial support available. In addition we provide grants to other CP related conservation organisations, have stands at RHS Chelsea flower show, other RHS shows and CP weekends at RHS gardens, our Journal Planta Carnivora is published twice a year and our Newsletter also twice a year, we have one of the world's largest seed banks, arrange talks at Horticultural Societies and Garden clubs and fund this forum. You can join via our website. UK membership costs £20 pa. cheers Dennis Balsdon Chair, the Carnivorous Plant Society

Hi the latest edition of Planta Carnivora (the journal of the UK Carnivorous Plant Society) was mailed yesterday. If you don't receive your copy please contact me by PM or through the contact page on our website (www.thecps.org.uk). regards Dennis Balsdon Chair

Hi The Carnivorous Plant Society is holding its End of Season Meeting on Saturday 16th September from 1pm to 5pm at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3TR, . (Note: this is a different location to Winterbourne Gardens we have held previous meetings at). Entry to the gardens is free to CPS members with an up to date membership card. The society will have a large plant display which will be open to the public. Talks will include Mike King on his new greenhouses and his use of Melcourt products, a video of a talk at the ICPS conference entitled "The Search for Carnivorous Seaweeds"(!) and one on Spiders and Ants and Termites and Bats and Tree Shrews and Nepenthes. Chris Crow will have a comprehensive range of plants for sale. On Sunday the Gardens are hosting the Edgebaston Tricentenary Festival. In conjunction with the festival the plant display and plant sales will be open to the public and we will be giving public introduction to CP talks. Entry to the festival is free but you must apply for tickets in advance to www.calthorpe.co.uk/festival. cheers Dennis

Hi this weekend the CPS is putting on a CP event at RHS Wisley this weekend. The Society will be putting on a comprehensive plant display, the Society and Chris Crow will have a large selection of plants for sale and there will be introductory level talks on CPs generally. Carnivorous Plant Society members get free entry on production of a membership Card. cheers Dennis

Hi Mark the CPS' charitable objective (which are shown in our society rules on our website) is: To advance the education of the public in the study of carnivorous plants and to promote the conservation of such plants. We do this by having a website with lots of information, having stands at major RHS shows (Chelsea and Tatton Park this year), holding CP weekends at RHS and other gardens (RHS Rosemoor, RHS Harlow Carr, RHS Wisley, the National Botanical Garden of Wales and Birmingham Botanical Garden this year), giving talks to garden clubs and other organisations, publishing journals and newsletters and participating in media programmes/events. We also have a conservation fund which was considerably boosted following our hosting last year's ICPS conference at Kew. We use this fund to make financial contributions to various conservation activities. In the past these have included a grant toward the maintenance of the S. rubra Ark (held by Mike King) and we have made a largish grant to the Nepenthes Ark and expect to provide further grants to it in the future. We also provide advice to and source plants for other charitable institutions who are seeking to create or expand their CP collections including most recently the Eden Project. A list of some of our other conservation activities is shown on our website under conservation. The vast majority of the work associated with meeting our charitable objectives are undertaken by the small group of enthusiasts who form our committee. If and when you decide to rejoin the Society we would welcome your participation. best regards Dennis Balsdon Chair, the Carnivorous Plant Society

I'm obviously out of date then. Dennis

Hi what people like Mike King are using is Melcourt's composted fine bark. Dennis

Bug Clear vine weevil killer is very effective against mealy bug, and other nasties on sarracenia. The only problem is that it is a systemic insecticide, and will kill flies going for the nectar - often before they fall into the trap. Dennis

Hi I guess you will be travelling down the A30. In which case you could call in at Chris Crow's near Okehampton on the way down/back. If you wasn't to do this, PM me as I'll give you his contact email address. cheers Dennis

Great stuff Stephen! Dennis

Welcome back. There are quite a few members from Scotland. Dennis

It is meant to be used to talk about CP related matters not covered by other forums - we won't be removing it. Dennis

I'd just like to remind people that this is a forum about carnivorous plants. It is not the place for political rants nor is it acceptable to insult those with different political views to your own. Dennis

Hi there are 3 CP events taking place in the South West on 17 and 18 June. 17 June, 5 to10pm - John Sirkett's open evening in Redruth, Cornwall. A fabulous collection with a vast array of plants. Home built grow areas adorn Johns' vast garden. John also grows many other plant species. Must be seen to be believed! Contact Details: Address: Care View, 46 Lanner Hill, Redruth, Cornwall, TR16 6DA 17 June, 1pm - Eden Project CPS members can get free entry to the Eden Project and will get a guided tour of their CP exhibits. Please PM me if you would like to attend. 18 June, 10am to 5pm - Dennis Balsdon's Open Day in Paignton Devon. There are two 12 x 8 and one 8 x 6 greenhouses stuffed with CP's as well as numerous cold frames, mini bogs etc. There will be many plants for sale/swap and I hope that other people will bring plants along too. A buffet lunch (including pasties) will be served by my catering manager Contact Details: Address: 13 Stella Road, Preston, Paignton, Devon, TQ3 1BH Email: [email protected] Hope to see you at one or more of these events. cheers Dennis

Hi MG often the best places for buying plants are here on CPUK or at the many Carnivorous Plant Society open days which are held each year across the country. A list of events can be seen at www.thecps.org.uk. Dennis

Hi we were very pleased to get a silver gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year. Here is our display. Both Nigel Hewitt-Cooper and Matthew Soper received golds! cheers Dennis

Hi in addition to problems with the database (which has now be fixed) the membership secretary had to resign because of health problems. We have found a replacement but these two incidents have inevitably resulted in delays which could not have been avoided. We usually send out new members packs within a few days and consequently we don't routinely send out payment acknowledgements. A look at the events page on our website will demonstrate the how active the society is. I hope you will play an active part. cheers Dennis

Hi just a reminder that the CPS AGM is being held at East Horsley Village Hall, Kingston Avenue, East Horsley, Leatherhead, KT24 6QT at 1pm on Saturday 6th May. This is a members only meeting - though you can join prior to the meeting. Dennis