WHITLEY WI

On Wednesday 1st August 2018 we went to “The Moorings” overlooking Anderton Marina for a social evening organised by Anne O’Neil.

We were treated to a lovely two course meal followed by a quiz. We were tasked with putting names to famous faces. Our group thought we’d done well but we made a mistake with a photo we thought was of Mr and Mrs Macron; it wasn’t his wife he was kissing it was Melania Trump!

We all had a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Summer in Whitley…usually with mixed weather is a good time to see the best of a country garden.

As all know this summer has been exceptionally hot and dry, hose pipe ban still to come.

Whitley WI had planned a ‘garden party’ or a ‘party in a garden’, give it the title you choose. Early in the year Jean P had happily offered us her garden for this very sociable event, and what a wonderful evening it proved to be.

Nearly all the garden group arrived, clutching buffet food of an excellent standard… Yes it was an evening where we could enjoy each other’s company, share good food and chatter but most of all look at Jean’s garden and what I can only describe as a “Visa” not just a view of the distant Cheshire countryside with the Welsh Hills just hiding on this unusually non-sunny summer evening…..at least we didn’t sizzle which had started to become the norm.
Jean apologised that the garden was dry…no apology needed as her garden looked like an oasis in the desert that Britain had become.
Jeans husband Fred, told us how he had made the garden from scratch on his potato field. The pond with some very big Koi-Boys was formed what remained of a large pit. … It contained so many healthy fish that you could watch them all day.

A welcome of a scented Jasmin was special, as were the huge clumps of coloured perennials. Happy members enjoyed each other’s company, or did the prosecco help out?
A thank you gift of a Hydrangea Paniculata Bobo was given to Jean and Fred as a thank you for their wonderful welcoming hospitality… we all hope it grows, but knowing the green fingers of our hosts, it will thrive and flourish.

Thank you Jean and Fred for letting Whitley WI enjoy your garden on a very special summers evening

Culture club’s latest outing was into Manchester to watch “The Queens of the Coal Age” a play at the Royal Exchange Theatre.
This told the 1993 story of a quartet of miner’s wives ..Including Anne Scargill, the wife of the infamous Arthur, in their quest to stop the closure of Parkside Colliery, Newon -le Willows, the last working pit in Lancashire.

 

These political, passionate, activist women didn’t succeed in this quest…but at least they gave it their best shot, by raising awareness on behalf of their men folk.
Yes …the WI is about educating women and Culuture Club learnt a lot of local history in this beautiful old pink marbled Manchester building. 

Thank You to Chris for organising this outing.

PS….sorry if some devices open the pictures upside down.. They were put in the right way up…technical hitch!!

Was that a chill we could feel in the air? No just wishful thinking as 8 of Whitley WI’s walking group met for their July walk.

It was a beautiful day for a visit to the magnificent expanses of Tatton Park; one to enjoy and remember.
Entering the park, a shady walk was appreciated, through tall trees and paths lined with rhododendron bushes.

The walk continued along the side of Tatton Mere where the summer drought had bleached the vast undulating surrounds of the Mere, to a rich golden colour.

 

Today there were definitely no “boggy” bits to avoid. Lots of dragonflies and butterflies were all around and the Canada Geese were happy to play and enjoy the water. A dip would have cooled us down, but the no swimming signs were obviously there for a reason.

 

It was hot and eventually we arrived at the Courtyard of Tatton Hall, where a sit down and some Cheshire Dairy Farm ice-cream cooled us and enhanced the picnic we had brought.

The long walk back started, which we knew (or thought we knew) would be through a path lined with Beech Trees to keep the sun off us as the temperature kept rising. It wasn’t our lucky day as the path had been fenced off to allow the young deer herd to enjoy.

We are a hardy lot, and with a couple of water stops in some shade we happily got to the gates of the park.
A walk through old Knutsford with a stop to look at some wild teasles with pollinating bees, led us back to our parked cars.

 

 

 

Thank You to Ann O’B for a lovely day out. Your leadership which is very much appreciated.

WI’s gardening group, along with a few Dutton WI friends visited the Garden of Viscount and Viscountess Ashbrook at their home, The charming Old Parsonage Arley Green.

 

 

The Viscountess met members at her door and took them for a long and interesting walk through her beautiful and mature garden.

She proudly showed us her sundial which was given to her in celebration for 30 years of opening her garden as part of the Cheshire section of the National garden Scheme (the most significant charitable funder of nursing charities in the country.)

Members fell in love with a very unusual iris, Dierama (Angel’s fishing rods) which seemed to grow out of the cracks in her patio …

 

 

                                 where can they buy one?

 

 

Further unexpected plants included a bush anemone (Carpenteria California), and a pinkish red smoke bush.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A large and shady, looking like a bean tree, added lots of  curiosity.

Pterocarya Fraxinifolia (Caucasisian Wing Nut) a member of the walnut family…The “beans” are really Catkins! These turn into nuts…lots for wildlife to eat.

 

The garden had a picturesque wild-life-friendly pond, and was that a Heron they could see?  It was… purchased many years ago from Altrincham Market, made by Africans from old pieces of car…recycling at its best.

So another successful visit… It is amazing where Whitley WI get to and how much they learn as well as enjoying good company and friendship.
Thank You again to Viscountess Ashbrook