Talks

 Dahlias by Richard Ramsey March 2022

Spring Ideas by Simon Horrill October 2022 and Big Ideas October 2023

Clematis through the seasons by Everett Leeds Feb 2023

50 shades of Grey ( shady plants ) by Colin Moat March 2023

Gardens of Surrey by Cherrill Sands  a local consultant garden historian August 2023

Brussel Sprouts to Tangerines by Jacqueline Aviolet December 2023 

2 March 2024 Dan Cooper Containers in the Garden

Annual General Meeting 14 August at 7.00pm  followed by a talk Beekeeping Challenges 2024   Pauline Lane and Peter Jones

Approx 22 people plus the committee attended the AGM - Minutes below . This was followed by a fascinating  talk by Pauline and Peter  about the challenges facing beekeepers in 2024 particularly the Asian Hornet which was truly frightening having seen the damage they have already caused in France. Pauline started beekeeping 8 years ago and has 2 hives in Cranleigh and 3 more in a field on a nearby estate.She is an active member of the Guildford Association and is involved in the Theory and Practical Training course for new Beekeepers. There were a few jars of honey for sale the remainder of last years crop all of which went very quickly, and I must say taste wonderful.

Saturday 28 September 2024 at 10.30  Main Hall Steve Edney - The Long Border

60 people attended the talk by Steve , covering his and Louise's gardening history and his joy in all things concerning gardening and plants- 

Steve Edney and Louise Dowle created the no name nursery out of a desire to share great garden plants with fellow garden lovers, both Lou and Steve are professional gardeners with Steve having been the head gardener at the award winning Salutation gardens in Sandwich for 17 years. The new venture is set on a 3 acre site which is designed as a plant playground for growing and testing plants with the aim of sharing these plants for sale in a sustainable manner by growing on site ourselves.

They don’t want to be Pidgeon-holed into one group of plants but  they have a real love of perennials and exotics so you’ll always see those on their display table plus all sorts of special plants to suit a range of situations.

They hold 4 national collections of plants. Persicaria virginiana cv’s, dark leaved dahlia’s, pseudopanax cv’s and plectranthus.

100m long and 6m deep the long border is one of the major highs of the no name nursery, 2,000 perennials, tree’s, shrubs and roses make up the hundreds of plant species planted for late summer, autumn and winter interest makes this border different from most. This lecture looked at the borders creation, maintenance and highs through the season, with of course lots of plant recommendations.

Saturday 2 November  Caroline Halfpenny 

Scentsational Gardening  A fun month by month look at different plants that can be grown to give us wonderful scents in our garden with lots of information and stories about the plants. Interactive with sample plants to sniff. Caroline is returning in October 2025 so there is more information about her under new Events.

I have a copy of the slides available , If you would like a copy please let me know

22 February 2025 10.30 Meeting Room

Jacqueline Aviolet - I am a Tulip This is where Jacqueline tells everyone via their first name if there are any fruits, vegetables, trees, shrubs, bulbs or flowers named after them and some growing hints.

This  was positive, informative talk, with humour for a cold winters day .

22 March 2025 Main Hall Lynne Moore of Moore and Moore plant nursery - A Blessing in Disguise  - A shady spot is the perfect place to grow some unusual and beautiful perennials

A Chelsea Gold Medal winning, small, independent, family run nursery based in Billericay, Essex, specialising in shade tolerant and woodland plants  and other plants which are a magnet for pollinating insects, their other love.

Started 2004 and now growing over 1500 different varieties of plants which are sold fairs and shows and through their online shop. Originally a hobby, land is now rented from a local farm where all the plants are grown outside. Plants are grown in peat free compost (Melcourt Sylvagrow with John Innes) and cared for using organic methods.

They became Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) exhibitors in 2017 and appear in the RHS Plant Finder every year. They love plants and find it a  pleasure to work with them. 

Their range includes traditional cottage garden favourites and reliable, easily grown plants they also have an exciting collection of unusual, rare and seldom seen varieties.

Owning a nursery allows them to indulge their own interests somewhat and they have specialities within our ranges.

They are - Astilbe, Astrantia, Athyrium, Dryopteris, Epimedium, Hardy Geranium, Hosta,  Polygonatum and Polystichum.            

 Lynne is the only full time person at the nursery.

Lynne has gardened for as long as she can remember. Her first memories are picking snowdrops from her grandparents garden (snowdrops are still a favourite). Always encouraged by her grandad Jack, her knowledge and enthusiasm grew until such times that she had her own little garden at her first flat. Grandad duly propagated a number of plants to fill this little plot, many of which Lynne still has today in her current garden. "Without my Grandad I wouldn't be doing what I am. I owe him so much." She’s a complete plantaholic who’s always on the look out for something new, different or unusual to grow. Lynne gave up working as a Senior Fingerprint Expert in the Metropolitan Police Forensic Directorate in February 2016 after 25 years service to work with the plants full time. "I love what I do. I'm so lucky."

A note from Lynne after the talk

Just wanted to say a big thank you to you for the invitation to come and speak to the group and for the warm welcome extended to Steve and I by everyone. What a lovely, friendly group. 

Workshops

Flower arranging workshop April 2022 

Christmas workshops Dec 2022 and November 2023

Saturday 10th February 2024 – A discussion led by Sylvia Pocock (one of our show judges) 

Sylvia, a RHS Judge generously ran an informal chat and workshop for 20 members which was warmly received , and we all picked up a few tips to help with this years shows.

Visits

Visit to Wisley by coach 14 July 2022 

Self Drive to Munstead Wood, May 2023

Trip to RHS HYDE HALL July 2023

Self-drive visit to Heathside in Cobham 25 July 2023

Self-Drive to Orchard Cottage 28 May 2024

30 of us visited this NGS garden owned by a Sussex Hardy Plant Society member in Crowborough , the weather was dry but cold and lacking in sunshine but the plants were lovely and such a variety in this 1½ acre informal garden from colour themed herbaceous borders, to woodland and meadow areas, pond/bog area and  a kitchen garden. There is an array of amazing and unusual plants, something for everyone plus great cake. 

Self-Drive Visit to Tollsworth Manor, Chaldon 11 July @ 2 .00 pm

 20 of us visited Tollsworth Manor, Rook Lane, Chaldon, Surrey  CR3 5BQ

This is a listed Building dating back to 1326 and was derelict when the current owner, Gordon Gillett (and his late wife) bought  it in 1983. The garden is open one day during June each year

Gordon  gave us an illustrated talk in the manor hall on the history and then twe divided into two groups, half were taken round the house and are asked questions based on what they had heard, whilst half tour the garden. Then we swapped over.  Good fun and so interesting to see such an old and well preserved house.

Teas and very good cakes followed. 

Coach Trip to West Dean 25 July 2024

24 of us visited West Dean , on what can only be described as a very wet and grey day but the gardens still delighted us all and the cafe sold very nice cakes !

This is one of the best restored gardens open today. Originally started in 1622, with many changes over the years, admire the walled kitchen garden, Victorian glass houses all 13 of them, Edwardian pergola, arboretum, sunken garden, river garden and much more. The new Dry garden was wonderful so much colour even on a very damp day.

28 January 2025

A visit to RHS Lindley Library 80 Vincent Square London SW1P 2PE @ 2.00 pm

The RHS Lindley Library is situated at 80 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PE and is the largest Horticultural Library in the world. 15 members visited to see a selection of  The “Treasures of the RHS Lindley Library” in a 60-minute visit during which a member of the Library team shared  a selection of rare books, wonderful botanical artwork and objects from their world class archives and photographic collections with interesting stories attached.

Feedback from members was very positive " Yes, yesterday was brilliant! Hadn't realised what we'd be in for but thought the information received was very good. "

Hopefully we will arrange a future visit as they change the " book " on show regularly . If you would like to be included just let us know