Dear Chris, first of all thankyou for replying to my question.
I have only been a member of the forum for just coming up to year now, but from the very beggining have been made very welcome on the forum, and would just like to thank everybody for that.
I think i know what you mean about new-comers probably finding it hard to join in, especially in the general chatter column, that first posting came hard to me too, it took me several weeks to build up courage to do that first one.
So i agree with you about a column for new gardeners, it would give them a chance to introduce themselves, and probably they could get a bit of encouragement from each other, before breaking out into the other topics.
I think we all try and make all new gardeners welcome though.
It would mean you have another section to check up on though.
I do know that some of the topics do go right of the subject, but i really do think this can make them a lot more interesting, a little like a vicar that has to do sermon after sermon but adds a little humour and stories, and so makes them very enjoyable.
Well i think i may have bored everybody to death, so i better finish for now.

Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.