CHADDESLEY CORBETT GARDENERS CLUB - On May 10, members visited Meadow Farm Nursery. Hosts Rob and Diane Cole talked about the establishment of their hardy plantnursery. They designed, built and planted the garden themselves.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, June 14, when nurserywoman Elaine Horton will bring a "bucketful of seasonal stuff" from her garden to talk about.

Meetings are held at the village hall, Chaddesley Corbett, at 7.30pm for 8pm. Guests are welcome. For more information, call Jean Smith on 01527 861437.

CHADDESLEY CORBETT HISTORY SOCIETY -The origins and working life of the old tramway that ran between Kidderminster and Stourport from 1898 to 1929 were outlined by Dr Paul Collins in a talk to members.

Dr Collins, an authority on industrial history, said that towards the end of the 19th century the local authorities were trying to re-establish the importance of Stourport by encouraging tourism.

Work on the project started in July 1897 and the tramway was completed by May of the following year.

Trams started from the Stourport terminus as early as 4.30am to carry workers between the two towns at an average speed of 8 miles an hour and a schedule of a tram every 30 minutes was maintained up to 11pm.

In 1906, the tramway carried more than 20,000 day trippers during the Easter holiday, justifying the original investment of £50,000.

But with the growing popularity of motor transport, passenger traffic on the trams declined. In 1925, the company made only £15 profit. Although it continued to run a service for workmen for several years, the Stourport to Kidderminster Tramway ceased operating in 1929.

Completing the month was a walk through Chaddesley Woods. Mervyn Needham, who is one of the wardens, covered both the history and the natural history of one of the remaining parts of the medieval Forest of Feckenham.

For further information about the group, contact Trevor Kingsley-Curry on 01562 777407.