The next meeting of the West Midlands District Association (DA) of the National Vegetable Society (NVS) will be held at Fairfield Village Hall on August 25 at 8pm.

The hall will be open at 6.30pm for the setting up of tables, free refreshments will be available before and after the talk, an opportunity to catch up with NVS news and chat with members.

This will be a two event meeting comprising a mini show for NVS Members and a talk by the DA Chairman Mick Poultney FNVS on soil fertility and how this will provide optimum plant growth and improve vegetable crops, without the use of expensive and sometimes detrimental pesticides this will be of interest to any keen gardener who wishes to increase their yield for the kitchen.

Soil fertility can be a complex subject, but Mick has the experience and ability to explain this in a way that the ordinary gardener and allotment plot holder can appreciate the importance. He will of course be pleased to answer any questions.

Following the ongoing successes of the mini shows, again there will be classes chosen and preferred by the members. There will be 5 classes for experienced exhibitors and 5 similar classes for novice exhibitors.

The classes are: carrots stump rooted (3); potatoes coloured or white (3);

onions from sets or seeds (3); runner beans (6); beetroot round (3).

A novice being defined as a person who has not won a first prize at any NVS Show.

Staging of exhibits will be from 7-8pm. Judging will commence 8 pm.

Members will be on hand before and after the talk, to offer advice and ideas on growing vegetables or to answer any specific questions that anyone may like to ask.

NVS books and growing guides will be on sale and there will be an opportunity to learn about other events and activities of the NVS both nationally and more specifically within the Midland region.

New members or anyone interested in growing vegetables are welcome to attend.

For non members there is a £3 admission fee which includes tea/coffee and biscuits.

Fairfield Village Hall is situated on the B 4091 (Stourbridge to Bromsgrove Road) about 2.25 miles from J4 on the M5. For anyone using sat nav the post code of the Village Hall is B61 9LZ.

If anyone requires a map, directions or other information contact Roy James on Tel: 01527 831508 or email roy_james2 @sky.com (preferred).