Papworth
Everard
Womens
Institute
September 2026
Finally Afternoon Tea
At our September meeting it was so lovely catching up with those we haven’t been able to see and those we have had good conversations with. There was much laughter, talking, enjoying the tea, coffee and wine and looking forward to our coming meetings of interesting speakers, continuing conversations and forthcoming events.
Our third attempt at an Afternoon Tea at the Blue Diamond garden centre in Huntingdon, it looks as if the weather won’t thwart us again and we look forward to a lovely afternoon enjoying the food and friendship with those joining us. There are lots of Cambridge Federation activities on offer and we will be at the Autumn Lunch in October, considering a coffee morning with Bingo, and wondering about the Italian Banchetto in November – a fantastic menu is the star attraction.
Our prayers have been answered! From the 1st October responsibility for the Courtyard Gardens is being taken over by Bidwells, land and estate agents, and they are providing landscape gardeners to care for the gardens, and much else beside, so that we can be assured that the neglect which the WI has tried to rectify will no longer be an issue. The gardeners will also be responsible for grass areas to the ditch and, hopefully, other areas such as the Sensory garden (where at the moment there is a bush with beautiful sweet-smelling flowers). So thank you to Bidwells for taking over this important centre of our village. We will be so interested in any changes that will be made – it will be fascinating to see what the experts come up with.
We are still supporting the library by enjoying our twice monthly Scrabble sessions and members are also having a bit of fun at the Printworks Bingo sessions and the monthly quiz.
Our next meeting is on Wednesday, 21st October when we will welcome a return of Jacqui Allen. Last time she came, she told us about her fundraising trips for the Lisa Kent Trust in The Gambia. The Lisa Kent Trust is dedicated to providing children of The Gambia with the education they need for a brighter future and details of the Trust can be found on the internet. This will be a most interesting and moving talk and we look forward to hearing about her latest experiences whilst in The Gambia. We meet at The Studio, 7.00 for 7.30pm start and you are most welcome to join us to enjoy our tea/coffee and wine and an interesting evening.
August Report
Courtyard Gardens Update
There is no formal meeting in August but an afternoon tea at Blue Diamond garden centre in Huntingdon was planned. Unfortunately it was cancelled by Blue Diamond because their restaurant was too hot and they have no air conditioning. So a new date was fixed which again was on an extremely hot day so that too was cancelled. We are hoping that our new date will take place as the weather is cooling down at the moment, a case of third time lucky!
We have done very little work in the Courtyard gardens as it has been too hot for our gardeners but, overall, things seem to be surviving quite well. It is an opportunity to see what survives and what doesn’t which will help with any future planting. It does seem that climate change is giving us some dry conditions so perhaps we need to include drought tolerant plants in any gaps although most of the planting is surviving quite well. The sunflowers are getting a regular watering, though, so that they can continue with their colourful flowers for months to come. We very much appreciate the voluntary help of Nigel, the gardener, for his excellent pruning of the two shrubs in the library garden which was beyond our strength and expertise. At last there has been a bit of rain and we can but hope more is to come. We will be trimming and pruning some of the shrubs in the coming days which will tidy up things a bit.
Our local Cambridge Federation, of which we are a part, support the Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre and Women’s Aid and the Federation advises us on the varied donations that are always welcome. We are looking forward to the Federation Quiz Night where we have entered a team so it will be quite a new venture for us.
The heat hasn’t affected our pleasure in playing Scrabble at the library, the various Bingo evenings at the Printworks – the pizzas are lovely – and the monthly Quiz. We are giving important footfall support to the library by our twice monthly Scrabble sessions on their designated afternoons and there is plenty of room for more to join us.
Our next meeting is on Wednesday the 16th September when we will have a ‘catch up from summer holidays’ night along with a glass of wine or a cuppa, a great deal of chat and laughter, and maybe an opportunity to do some craft work we have been meaning to start! We meet at the Studio from 7.00 for a 7.30 pm start. If you would like to join us, you would be very welcome.Jenny has looked after the gardens around the Coop and library for many years under the WI name, she has roped in her friends to help as well! I'm sure you agree they all do an amazing job and VJF are very lucky to have had such an amazing team to volunteer to maintain their areas.
However, Jenny has decided that at 87, maybe now is the time to slow down and to start relinquishing some of the jobs she does around the village. She is therefore appealing to any gardeners and / or gardening clubs / voluntary groups to come forward so she can hand the reins to them. All of the plants were planted with minimal maintenance in mind and Jenny would be happy to mentor any newcomers.
Please drop an email to our email address (hello@papwortheverardwi.org.uk)