Kingsbury Barn, St Albans Sat 5th & Sun 6th June 2010
The club mounted its own show this year, something we have not done since the summer of 2003 when we were given space in a garden centre. This time thanks to the good offices of Roger Miles we were given the use of a recently restored 14th century barn, he says MHBC should feel at home as it is the Backhouse Room writ large! It is a monastic barn (not a tithe barn), one of several built to store crops from the Abbey's lands around St.Albans. It is the second oldest building in St.Albans (after the Abbey) constructed around 1374. In 2008/9 it underwent a major restoration - further pictures can be found at the Kingsbury barn website where our show was also advertised. Roger has been involved with the restoration, and the owners Jill and Adam Singer, are wanting it to be used by the community for whatever suitable events are proposed. Ours is judged suitable! From past displays we have mounted at Capel Manor, we have found that a member quietly working on a tree attracts attention, and people will stop and chat - better than a formal demonstration. The sort of work that can be done in June is mainly “the June prune”, so it would be good to let a few trees get really shaggy, then give them a good hair cut at the show. Of course we will need manicured versions as well to put on the tables. We include sales, (from Peter), and “surgery” sessions for problem trees. The statement we frequently hear at shows is “I had one but it died” so we will try to bring a few rays of hope to potential bonsai owners!
