

As members and guests arrived at the Cruck Barn, they were offered a glass of prosecco and entertained by members of Pendle Youth and Children’s Choir, led by their conductor, Julie Townson, with accompanist Peter Elmer. In the rustic surroundings the choir sang beautifully, as sunshine streamed in through the open barn doors.
Our guest speaker, Greg Anderton from Lytham Hall Garden Centre had set up a wonderful display of plants during the choir’s performance and greeted 35 members of the audience. Greg began his talk with a brief biography. He has had a life-long passion for growing plants that started when his grandparents let him have a corner of their garden to grow whatever he liked. After his family moved to Lytham Greg, aged 9, was a member of the school Gardening Club and grew so many plants both there and at home, that he sold them to the staff and at school fairs.

Throughout his school days Greg continued to grow and sell plants. After completing a Degree in Business, he was approached to design a garden for one of his customers. This got him started and he has designed and constructed over 40 gardens since. In 2017, after giving a talk at Lytham Hall, the director asked him if he would like to establish a Garden Centre at the Hall. Greg readily accepted and he now oversees a wonderful Garden Centre, all of whose employees are keen gardeners. He has also started a Garden School. He attends numerous Flower Shows each year and has won at Southport Flower Show. He is also the resident garden expert for Radio Lancashire. Throughout his talk, Greg was keen to stress that he has no formal garden training. At the age of 29, he relies on years of experience – plus trial and error!

Greg then moved on to pass on his ‘top tips’ about compost, especially peat-free compost, watering and garden design, answering the audience’s questions on each topic.
Moving on to the plants that he had brought along, he spoke about each, its requirements and best location, before demonstrating how to pot up a hanging basket, a patio container and a window box or planter. He made it all look so easy and reassured audience members with his answers to their questions.
Greg then told members about his favourite gardens, both locally and across the country. He was very enthusiastic about aspects of each garden, but when pressed about his favourite gardens, he revealed that his choice depended as much on the quality of the cakes in the café, as the quality of the flower displays!
After further questions, members were able to buy plants from the display as well as the items that Greg had ‘potted up’ previously. All present agreed that they had been thoroughly entertained by such a youthful, but enthusiastic and charismatic speaker.
