In this newsletter:

• News
• Dates for your diary
• Groups open day update
• Open day quiz

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We are invited to join Havant u3a's visit to RHS Wisley.

Wisley is a large and diverse garden covering 240 acres (97 ha). In addition to numerous formal and informal decorative gardens, several glasshouses and an extensive arboretum, it includes a trials field where new cultivars are assessed. The original laboratory, for both scientific research and training, was opened in 1907, but proved inadequate. It was expanded and its exterior was rebuilt during World War I. It was designated a Grade II listed building in 1985.

The grounds contain the following features:

• RHS Hilltop - The home of Gardening Science
• Wildlife Garden, Wellbeing Garden & World Food Garden
• Glasshouse with desert, tropical and temperate climates, and with special topical displays
• Clore Learning Centre
• Alpine houses
• Laboratory
• Library
• Plant information centre
• Trials field (where plants are submitted for trial, allowing some to be awarded the prestigious Award of Garden Merit
• Fruit field, featuring large numbers of apples, pears and other fruit grown in various forms.
• Rock garden and alpine meadow on a sloping site
• Wild garden
• Walled garden
• Jellicoe Canal with water lilies in season
• Battleston Hill, which includes many rhododendrons and azaleas
• Rose borders and mixed borders
• Jubilee arboretum
• Pinetum
• National heather collection
• Greener Skills Garden

The event is being organised by Havant u3a so please use this page to book and pay for your visit. Let Val - the event organiser - know you are a member of Hayling u3a.

We were very fortunate that the sun was shining and the weather warm. Many of our exhibitors started arriving at 8.30 am and the doors were opened at both the Community Centre and Radford Hall at 10 am.

An area on the field was cordoned off for Petanque, Croquet and Walking Netball, allowing members and visitors to take part in demonstrations and taster sessions.

Visitors started to arrive immediately and there was a continuous flow of people throughout the day. The attendance level was fantastic, and there was definite buzz throughout the various venues.

All exhibits were popular with many requests to join our current groups and suggestions on possible new subject areas. The outside activities of Petanque, Croquet and Walking Netball were particularly busy with many people joining in.

The music groups put on an excellent programme of music between 10 am and 2 pm demonstrating their musical talents. Visitors listened on, whilst taking refreshments and sampling some of the lovely cakes that many donated.

The membership desk was frantic at times with long queues of people wanting to join our organisation, so our Membership Secretary Peter Haskell will be very busy over the next few days/weeks going through all the forms!

The Hayling Island Bowls Club were available to talk with members and visitors about the starting up of a Lawn Bowls group on their new ‘All weather’ facilities. Unfortunately, the contractors had not quite finished laying the surface for our Open Day, but a taster session will be available on the 8^th October between 10am and 12 noon. All are welcome.

The Lady Mayoress Rosie Raines, joined us at 1.30 pm and wandered around the exhibits, talking to the exhibitors and visitors and finding out about our activities. The day was ended with our afternoon speaker, Malcom Wells with a talk “So far so Good” followed by tea and cake.

There will be much to do in the coming weeks and months to start up new groups to meet the needs of our members both old and new. Keep an eye out for notices on new start up groups as we begin to integrate them into our portfolio.

The success of the Open Day can only be attributed to the hard work of the Executive Committee, group leaders, and their members both before and during the event. A big thank you to all those who helped and participated before and on the day. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Julie and Anne

We meet on the 3^rd Monday of each month.

We meet at 10.15 to start playing at 10.30.

The group meets only if the weather is favourable.

Location is determined month by month.

This is a re-run of the walk we took on 25th September 2023.

We'll be following the QECP's official 'Long woodland trail' which is just under 5 miles long.

The trail starts and ends at the visitor centre - public toilets available all day. The route can be muddy so probably one for walking boots.

Cars will leave the West Town car park off Station Road at 9.15.

We have two options for lunch:

1. The visitor centre's Beechwood Kitchen. The menu is limited, but prices are reasonable. More here.
2. The Hampshire Hog which offers a more traditional 'u3a walk' menu.

I'll assume most people would prefer the Hampshire Hog but please let me know your preference. If there's an overwhelming vote for the visitor centre I'll switch.

To help with planning, please let me know if you plan to come and whether you want, or can offer, a lift. Note that the QECP car park is not cheap so I'll try to minimise cars by arranging them in advance of the walk - drivers would probably appreciate a contribution to costs.

This is the planned route:

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Details tba

Playing from 2pm if someone else is willing to lead

Playing from 2pm. Set tba

Playing from 2pm using bottom end of 2026 Final set