Alan Bromley with some prickly customers

Hothouse hosts some prickly customers

PRICKLY customers will be on show at an historic greenhouse in Hastings when growers stage a Cactus and Succulent Show. Lynda Foy explains.

The event will be hosted by the Rother Valley branch of the British Cactus and Succulent Society (BCSS) on Saturday 1 July at the greenhouse in Alexandra Park. Plants will be on sale to the public.

The show, which will feature cultivation tips and free seed-raising kits for children and will run from 10am to 4pm. Entry is free, but all proceeds from sales will benefit the Alexandra Park Greenhouse Group which is restoring the 1930’s structure.

Rother Valley branch secretary Alan Bromley said: “I’m hoping to bring some BCSS books and journals for people to look at. There will also be some information about the conservation work that the BCSS does.”

Greenhouse group chairman Linda Pearson said: “Cactus Day will be hot, which is great for the cactus, but not so good for our volunteers, so we are now looking for funding to shade the greenhouse.

Alan Bromley with a flowering cactus

“Cacti are great house plants and love hot, dry conditions, so come and find out how to care for them from the experts. If visitors get too HOT, they can pop into the nearly Pump House Cafe for a cool drink.”

The greenhouse, off St Helen’s Road, is now open on Saturdays from 10.30am to 1.30pm and on Thursdays from 2.30pm to 5.30pm for sales and for plant donations.

The greenhouse will stage a Heritage Open Day on Sunday, September 17, so look out for details on its website www.our-greenhouse.org

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