Just four of a myriad of beautiful plants in Broomfield Conservatory (photos by Jenny Edwards - see the originals and more photos on Facebook)
Football grounds, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs... They've all reopened since "Freedom Day", but many of us in PG have continued to wait impatiently for the wrought iron gates to be rolled back and let us into the exotic world of Broomfield Conservatory. Today the volunteers who since March 2020 have been carefully tending to the plants behind locked doors have announced that the Conservatory will again be welcoming visitors twice a week - on Wednesdays and Sundays between 2.30 and 4.30. (Actually, they've been opening it for the last couple of weeks on the quiet, to test out Covid procedures, and are now happy to tell the world that it's open.)
To protect both visitors and volunteer stewards, there will be a limit on the number of people allowed in at one time, a one-way system will be in operation around the central flower bed, and visitors will be asked to wear a mask. But apart from that, everything will be like it was at the start of last year, a colourful and delightful refuge from our wonderful summer weather.
To raise money for buying plants and tending for them, the Conservatory volunteers are holding a houseplant sale on Sunday 5th September. Come along to refresh your memories of the Conservatory and see its new plants, buy some to take home and pick up some tips from the gardening experts there.
