Farrington Park raise £600 for FLORA

Green therapy or eco-therapy is the new buzz word and prescription for everyone. During the Lockdown periods of 2020 and 2021, people discovered or re-discovered the joys of being outside and observing nature in all its glories, even being in the garden helps to boost growth and our mental health.

During 2020, Andy Grabham, head green-keeper at Farrington Park and his team sowed an amazing display of wildflowers behind the 12th hole’s tee box. It drew admiring comments from members and visitors alike and inspired two lady members, Pat Roscow and Elaine Davidson to ask “can we re-wild our golf course and make it more wildlife friendly?” Quickly recruiting two more lady members, Sue Forshaw and Jane Ball to the cause and with support from the Ladies’ Committee, they have formed a committee called FLORA ( Farrington Ladies Organising Re-Wilding Activities). Working in tandem with Andy Grabham, they have formulated a plan to bring more native plants and trees to the golf course which in turn should encourage more fauna.

These ambitious plans needed cash to get started so after initial funding from the four FLORA committee members, an appeal for donations was generously answered by lady members and links to the Woodland Trust via Cam Valley Rotary Club will result in woodland trees and bulbs being delivered in the autumn, ready for planting.

Last Thursday was the inaugural FLORA Fun Day to raise funds, twenty two pairs of ladies played Greensomes in floral attire and generously bought donated garden plants and raffle tickets. The star prize of the raffle was a large planter donated by George’s of Gurney Slade. New friendships were made and old ones re-established whilst playing golf on a perfect summer’s day. Homemade cakes were provided at the Halfway Hut by Lesley Stone with a glass of Pimm’s to refresh the competitors before they played the remaining nine holes of the Duchy course. A meal, light hearted wildlife quiz and prize-giving rounded off an enjoyable day with £600 being raised for FLORA funds. The golf competition was almost immaterial but just for the record, here are the results:

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