12 March 2021To all my friends at Clophill & District Flower Club - March Newsletter It is now a year since our last meeting and still the lockdown goes on - or as my cousin calls it lockup! Not quite, when the sun shines, we are able to go out into the garden and become excited by all the new buds, Spring flowers and birds singing. There is hope and we are beginning to be able to make some plans. We now have a date for the end of restrictions on 21st June so hopefully we will be able to have our special Afternoon Tea in the Summer, as I told you about last month, and begin our programme of demonstrations in September. In the meantime there is still a lot happening within NAFAS. I have just been looking at the new NAFAS website that is vastly improved with news and results of the Chairman’s Challenge and events that are happening online. Please have a look as I am sure you will find it interesting with details of:- The National Virtual Competition that starts on 1st April with 3 weeks of demonstrations, talks and workshops, followed by the pictures and results of the 12 competition classes. I am pleased to say that our club is represented in the competition. Resilience and Spring Back Floral Art Demonstration by Gill McGregor that will be on Zoom so that it is just like sitting in a theatre watching Gill’s expertise with even the invitation to chat to friends and share a glass of wine and nibbles! The Chairman’s Challenge continues with A Spring Bonnet in March. I hope you will be inspired to make one and send me a photograph. National Flower Arranging Day 7th May. This is to inform others of our love of flowers and to encourage them to come to a Flower Club – especially ours! Members are asked to make a design to hang on a door, gate , wall or post or to go in a window to be seen by neighbours and those passing your house. Next month I will send you a notice to go with it explaining all about our Club. You may be aware that the organisation of NAFAS has experienced financial problems due to losses with National Shows but compounded by the effects of the pandemic and loss of income from affiliation fees as well as The Flower Arranger subscriptions. The Board of Directors have made the decision to sell Osborne House, the Headquarters in central London. It is a listed building in Devonshire Square with offices, meeting rooms and accommodation. This will release capital and provide funds to secure the future of the organisation. A decision on where to base our headquarters has yet to be made but changes are needed to be made to adapt to the times. Many people are sad to let Osborne House go but many club members would rather have a lively club and Area to cater for their interest and a national organisation that is suitable for present times. If you want further information on this please give me a ring or email me. I hope to see you before too long. Keep well, safe and enjoying all the exciting things in your gardens and on your walks,  With my very best wishes Carolyn Chairman of Clophill & District Flower Club
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