SOG’S SPRING/SUMMER PROGRAMME 2026

Out of courtesy to our hosts for each visit, Rachel (strivens58@btinternet.com or 01743 891607) will email the full membership a month before each visit to see whether you will be attending so numbers can be confirmed and refreshments organised. As with all visits we like to car-share as much as possible and full address details are sent out beforehand.


April 26th (Sun) - 2.00 pm - Wade Muggleton, Station Road Permaculture Garden, Stottesdon, Kidderminster DY14 8TT 

A former lecturer and countryside officer, Wade Muggleton is an author and Permaculturalist (of some 30 yrs), living in a semi with an 80’ x 40’ rectangle garden behind it. 21 years ago when he and his family moved in, it was lawn from top to bottom on heavy Shropshire clay.  Now they grow c20 types of veg and have 15-20 fruit trees, all grown on permaculture principles in this amazing normal-size garden.  You won’t see bare soil anywhere but you will see potatoes growing in straw. 

This visit will be limited to 35 members, and we’ll be splitting into two groups between the orchard site and the garden itself. Walking distance between the two. If more than 35 fully commit to the visit we will need to do the morning as well. DIY refreshments.


May 17th (Sun) - 1.30pm onwards - Members Garden visit - Dawn and Simon Eardley, The Glyn,  Cwn Nant Y Meichiaid, Llanfyllin, Powys, United Kingdom, SY22 5NA

The Glyn is a 3-acre smallholding situated in a gently sloping valley 2 miles west of Meifod, Montgomeryshire. Simon and Dawn moved here only 2 years ago and have set about creating a homestead with rewilding, nature and self-sufficiency in mind. Their plot includes an 8 metre polytunnel, raised beds, flat no-dig beds, an orchard and an abundance of fruit shrubs. The land also includes a commercial wildlife photography hide and shepherd’s hut accommodation, which the members may find of interest on their visit to this wonderful Welsh idyll. DIY refreshments.



 June 13th (Sat) - 2.00pm - Glyn’s Garden, Cemetery Lane, Church Stretton, SY6 1DZ

Glyn’s Garden has been developed from a derelict site on the edge of Church Stretton into an area of productive gardening with veg patches, polytunnels and wildlife habitats. It has been developed specifically to enable people with disabilities and mental health issues to be able to participate in gardening activities and enjoy being outside and surrounded by nature. DIY refreshments.

 

July 26th (Sun) - 2.00pm - Members Garden visit - Ed Penman, Tipton’s Croft, Baschurch Road, Bomere Heath, Shrewsbury, SY4 3PN

Located on the edge of Bomere Heath, this is a traditional English croft (field) that is part of a private agricultural smallholding and consists of a wildflower meadow, large and small ponds, trees, rough grass, paths and scrubland surrounded by native hedgerows-a total of about five acres. The croft is linked to a separate smaller property, which includes an orchard, veg gardens (and chickens) and a cottage and gardens. It is a working croft that provides food and other natural produce, but more importantly provides an environment that maximises biodiversity and supports native Shropshire flora and fauna. It is work in progress (nine years as of April 2025) and will take a few more years to reach maturity, but it’s already proving a huge success. DIY refreshments.



NB - No visit in August

 

September 6th (Sun) - 2.00pm - Clare and Rupert Hill, Planton Farm, Coreley, Ludlow SY8 3AR

Following Clare’s hugely inspiring talk to members back in February, we are now going to visit their farm down near Ludlow. Set among 80 acres of ancient trees and rolling pastureland, Planton is a working regenerative farm, providing a blueprint for a different future for agriculture. The farm thrives on a foundation of soil health, animal welfare and ecosystem regeneration, offering a range of products and services designed to foster a sustainable future. They sell their produce directly to customers and work with local shops and cafes to ensure their community has access to nutrient-dense, ethically raised food. DIY refreshments.



October 11th (Sun) - 12 noon start - Members Garden visit - Maggie and Peter Anderson, Baschurch

Autumnal Fruit Crushing/Pressing session with Bring and Share Lunch. This is SOGs members’ chance to make use of the SOGs-owned fruit press, enjoy having a wander around their one acre garden, complete with composting, greenhouses, fruit (top and soft), veg, herbs, roses, lawns, trees, hedges, goats (very entertaining), hens, cattle, sheep, (pigs sometimes), horses and dogs, a gardener (wife), socialise with other members and enjoy a lunch morphing into afternoon tea. Please bring your own apples/pears/other fruit and containers to take your juice home in. DIY refreshments – savouries and sweet.. 



SOGS IS A MEMBER OF GARDEN ORGANIC

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