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COMMITTEE MEMBERS |
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Rowena Jecock chair & Membership secretary |
Rowena has been a member of HPS since 2018, and, keen to get more involved, was happy to be 'persuaded' to take over as Membership Secretary, and now she has become our Chairperson. She is an enthusiastic gardener with a keen interest in natural history, and is also a trustee of the Knoll Gardens Foundation. |
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Gilly Baxter group secretary |
Moving to Dorset 6 years ago and having a garden of 1.5 acres has certainly fulfilled my dream of having a large garden! Previous gardens have been quite small or we were renting so unable to be creative with the garden - just caretaking. I’m not a labeller and the few that were dotted around have now been chewed and distributed by our puppy. I think my fellow committee members have now given up asking what this is that is called as often the reply is “I don’t know, but it's pretty isn’t it?” I am always propagating. Seedlings popping up in the gravel driveway are never ignored, hollihocks, potentilla, foxgloves are all tucked into the borders or else potted up for our plant fair. When not in the garden I like to keep fit and do classes at a local gym, run, and walk everywhere I can. Painting and drawing has always been a hobby and 2 years ago I decided to get some proper tuition and I now do a weekly watercolour class in Sopley. This has caused me to look at plants and trees, the sky and sea in a different way, appreciating the colour, form and light in a painterly way. I volunteered for the Group Secretary role in DHPS for a variety of reasons: guilt - to give back something to balance the taking. To work as part of a team which I missed from my working days. To get to know fellow DHPS members/committee better. To give a bit of structure to my weeks. I have to say it’s been so worthwhile and I count the committee members as proper friends. |
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Richard Cooke TREASURER |
Richard had been a member for a few years before volunteering to be Treasurer, keeping his wife, Jan, company at some meetings, the holidays and Day Trips. He is an avid rugby follower so don't expect to see him on a Saturday when there is an important match on! Luckily for us he is also a 'semi' retired accountant and is happy to join us on the committee. |
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Heidi Bateman - Volunteers Co-ordinator |
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Sheila Lister - Speakers Co-ordinator |
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Rick Wall General Committee |
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Sarah Neophytou Events Co-ordinator |
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Viv East Communications, Publications and Website |
Viv has been an HPS member for about 30years, originally a member of the Hampshire Group, but now living closer to our Dorset meetings, joined Dorset Group in 2021, and then the committee in 2022. "I love growing new plants from seeds and cuttings, and find it difficult to throw away any prunings that I can propagate from, and like many of us, can't resist trying to 'save' a bargain that's half dead! My garden is not big, and it's challenging because I have 50ft tall oak, ash and pine trees on the north boundary which not only dry out the soil, but also the leaf canopy overhangs the garden - anything fast growing will grow at a 45 degree angle towards the sun! But I guess, every garden has its challenges." |
Past Committee Members who are still involved
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Andrew Haynes PRESIDENT |
We do have a President, and whilst he is not a member of the Committee, Andrew has an important role to play within the Group. He is a professional gardener, working as Head Gardener at Edmondsham House for a number of years. You will often find him behind our Plant Table, and he too is another of our members who has a huge amount of horticultural knowledge which they are happy to share with you, so please feel free to test him some time. |
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