Daphne Ledward

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Welcome to the website of Daphne Ledward, gardener, author and broadcaster, the lady who has helped, through her books and advice, many green-fingered novices. (continued...)

UPCOMING EVENTS AND NEWS

5 February 2013: Muffin saves a life in Switzerland
Find out more about Muffin donating blood

Saturday 1st June 2013 (Change of date):
Teddy Bears' Picnic in conjunction with Celebrate Surfleet, The Patch, Surfleet Cheal PE11 4JF - This year's collection is for the British Legion.

8 September 2013(New date):
Celebrate Surfleet Village Fete and Boxer Rescue Fun Dog Show

24 November 2013:
Celebrate Surfleet Christmas Fayre at Surfleet Village Hall

May 2014 (date to be confirmed):
Bluebell Day in aid of Defibrilator for Elwood Briggs and Turner Veterinary Surgery, Kirton, Boston.

PAST EVENTS AND NEWS

12 May 2013:
Daphne appeared at Stamford Garden Show in Stamford Meadows

8 Dec 2012:
Fen Bank Greyhound Sanctuary Christmas Party, New Leake Village Hall, Boston

4 Nov 2012:
Celebrate Surfleet Christmas Fayre, Village Hall, Surfleet

4 Oct 2012:
Visit to Quadring School, Spalding to advise on children's garden and raised beds.
Daphne is helping to produce a Quiet Garden at Quadring Primary School, near Spalding.

There is a garden on the site already, but it needs to be more attractive and interesting to the pupils (and the staff!).
Follow the progress of the garden here

9 Sep 2012:
Soham Pumpkin Festival Question Time .
( to be broadcast of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire at a later date.)

18 Sep 11:
MORE ABOUT THE 'CELEBRATE SURFLEET' Fun Dog Show.

For more information: click on the greyhound....

DEEPING ST. JAMES IN BLOOM
This year Deeping St James really pushed the boat out for the East Midlands in Bloom competition! Last year they received a Silver award and came fourth in the small towns category. This year's campaign started off with a season of fund raising - Daphne Ledward was drafted in to show the way in planting an unusual container at the Spring Plant Sale. Derek Osborne led the Halloween Walks, and 'Chaos' won the Clash of the Clubs Quiz with an award presented by "Mr Brain" of Deeping himself, Ian Jones.... Click here to read more.

18 Sep 11:
CELEBRATE SURFLEET: Fun Dog Show.
Sunday 18th September at Glen Park, Station Rd, Surfleet, PE11 4DA (to be held within Celebrate Surfleet Day).

£1 entry per dog, per class. Payment on entry to ring. Starting at 12 noon. Rosettes to 5th place. Funds raised in aid of Fen Bank Greyhound Sanctuary The Farmhouse, Fen Bank, Friskney, Boston PE22 8PS, 01754 820593; www.fenbankgreyhounds.co.uk. All welcome.

For more information: click on the greyhound....

17 Jul 11:
Open Gardens: Daphne Ledward's Gardens, Little Thatch, 31 Seasend Rd, Surfleet PE11 4DQ, and The Patch, Cheal Rd., Surfleet, Cheal, PE11 4JF, are both open on 17th July from 2-5pm. , in aid of St. John Ambulance. All welcome.

14 May 11
'Planting an unusual container', Saturday 14th May, 10am-midday: Priory Church Hall, Deeping St. James, Peterborough. Contact judy.stevens1@btopenworld.com for further details.

Feb 2011
Daphne is now writing for the new magazine "Garden Answers", published by Bauermedia and edited by Geoff Stebbings. The February edition contains a long article about Daphne's life in gardening. From March onwards she will be sharing her expertise with readers.

Click here for events prior to 2011

NEW PROJECTS
To turn a farmland fen dyke into a wildlife haven; establishing a new native hedge around her field.

Currently editing a gardening book for Readers' Digest.

CONTINUED........Daphne began her gardening life in 1972 as a freelance designer and contractor. Her broadcasting career started in 1980 on BBC Radio Lincolnshire making her the first woman gardener on radio. She later joined Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time, followed by appearances on BBC1 North's Gardeners Direct Line. ‘Garden Hopping' for UK Style took Daphne and husband John all around Britain in search of gardens.

For many years she was the gardening expert on the Jimmy Young Show - Radio 2. Daphne still has a regular gardening slot on BBC Radio Lincolnshire. Over the years she has written 16 gardening books, she also writes for gardening and general interest magazines and gives gardening talks and lectures around the country.

Daphne has a small garden around her thatched cottage. Nearby she has a five-acre plot where she grows vegetables. This is where she also has a small arboretum and wildflower meadow, orchard and a young 4 acre wood of native British hardwoods.