Annual Report 2019 The Society is in good shape after its Centenary Year. The special celebratory events were well supported, as well as the usual programme of talks, trips and open gardens. The Show moved to a new site at the New Life Christian Church in Hermitage, where there is plenty of space as well as other advantages not enjoyed at the old site. The Distribution Hut continued to supply members with gardening items and acted as a social hub. Special Events. In March the EHS hosted BBC Radio Solent’s ‘Gardener’s Questions’, produced by Rebecca Parker, attracted 300 people to ask advice from local experts Andy McIndoe and Pippa Bensley. Members enjoyed a garden party in June in the grounds of Hollybank House, kindly lent to us by the owners Vic and Anna Williams. An exhibition charting the history of the Society was held at Emsworth Museum in July drawing on both old records and newly collected photos from the last 30 years or so. In September there was a trip to the Bombay Gin Distillery and Rosy Hardy’s Nursery in Whitchurch. A horticultural quiz in November ended the year. Talks, trips and open gardens. The programme of talks arranged by Naomi Pattison reflected horticulture of the last 100 years, covering Heritage Apples, the Land Settlement Act and the British Flower Industry, and the EHS President Sarah Sanderson’s small garden entry to the Chelsea Flower Show in 2001. As usual trips went far and wide, to gardens in Eltham Palace, Alton, the New Forest and Chawton. Members opened their own gardens for other members to visit, meet and chat with other members. Distribution Hut Report. A new team took over the running of the Hut in September: Colin Beale, assisted by Richard Suter, is managing the stock and Jan Butler is organising the volunteers. A working party re-arranged and cleaned the area where the stock is stored and it is now much lighter and more welcoming. Unfortunately Warwicks of Wickham, our main supplier, has given notice that it is going out of business in September. This leaves a few months for the Distribution Hut sub-committee to make alternative arrangements. Membership Report for 2019 by Colin Beale, Membership Secretary. The total Society membership for 2019 was 373 comprising 19 life members and 354 paid memberships, an increase of 17 from 2018, so overall a very healthy position. Whilst there were 43 memberships that did not renew for 2019, we were pleased to welcome 60 new memberships. We would encourage you to pay by Standing Order in the future as it is easier for the Society to collect your subscription in this way and should also be easier for you. Standing Order forms are available at the hut, at the monthly talks, on the website or directly from Colin Beale. We don’t currently have email addresses for 58 members. Whilst we appreciate that not everybody has email, we will be able to keep you updated, (on a more frequent basis than the quarterly newsletters), of events and news regarding your Society if you supply us with an email address. If any of your details change, please let Colin Beale know so that he can update his records so that we can keep in touch. Thank you all for your continued support to the Society. Volunteers. The EHS is reliant on volunteers, and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this year’s programme of events, to the running of the Society, the Distribution Hut and the Show. I’d particularly like to thank some volunteers who are standing down after many years of organising and support: Jan Butler, Show Secretary; Suzanne Holroyd, stock manager at the Hut; Shirley Batterley, organising seed orders; and Hut volunteers Josette Fox, Jan Beynon and Dave Beynon. Lyn Davies, EHS Chair