THE next meeting of the Wyche and Colwall Horticultural Society will take place on Monday, September 5 and will begin at 7.30pm.

The speaker will be Malcolm Edwards of Kenchester Water Gardens and his subject is water gardens. Friends and visitors are always welcome (£2.50). At this meeting tickets (£6) will also be available for the Percy Picton Memorial Lecture, which will be held on Monday, October 3.

The lecture will be given by Charles Chesshire, entitled The Japanese Tea Garden and is the subject of his forthcoming book. Admission to the lecture is by ticket only (available at the September meeting) and also from Newman's Butchers, John Goodwin Estate Agent, Colwall, Old Court Nursery or telephone (01531) 640622. Prior to the lecture, there will be a reception starting at 7pm.

On Thursday, September 8, the Colwall Bird Survey Group will meet in the village hall at 7.30pm. The guest speaker is John Clews, who will talk about the history and activities of the RSPB, backed up with slides and video. Visitors are welcome (£2). For further information, contact Derek on 540318 or Harry on 540839.

It's that time of the year for the great bike (or walk) ride. This will take place on Saturday, September 10 starting at 10am until 6pm. This is in aid of the Herefordshire Historic Churches Trust. The idea is to cycle between churches in Herefordshire and to get sponsorship for the number of churches visited.

Sponsorship forms are available from Syd Widdows on 540326. The coffee morning held in aid of the Herefordshire Historic Churches Trust raised £313.

Date for your diary - the annual 1st Colwall Scout Group jumble sale on Saturday, September 17 at 2pm at Colwall Village Hall and Scout hut.

There will be a table top sale tomorrow (Saturday) from noon-3pm at Colwall British Legion, Crescent Road. Tables are £5 each. Please book in advance by ringing 540944.

Digby Fairweather (jazz trumpet supremo) will be appearing in concert with the Nick Blunn Trio on Sunday, September 11 at the Downs School, Colwall. Doors open 7.30pm and further information is available on (01684) 540277.

Colwall Parish Council currently has a vacancy. If you are interested, please contact the clerk on (01684) 541995 or speak to any member of the parish council.

Colwall Community Choir will continue to meet at the Downs School every Thursday night from 8-9pm starting from Thursday, September 15. New members are extremely welcome.