Societies & Associations
The Cottage Garden Society (CGS) is an informal and friendly society of about 3,000 members in many countries, though most are based in the UK. It brings together amateurs and professionals who share an enthusiasm for this type of gardening.
The Society was founded in 1982 when cottage garden plants were becoming ‘unfashionable’. Those starting the Society wanted to protect this vanishing planting style. They were concerned that, in the move to easily maintained gardens, hard landscaping was becoming more important than the plants.
Interest in the Society soon grew and from small beginnings with the founders based in North Wales and Cheshire, we now have over 35 regional groups spread throughout the United Kingdom. Most of these groups meet monthly for talks, garden visits, seed swaps and plant sales. You do need to be a member of the National Society to attend regional group meetings and be covered by our insurance.
Founded in 1941, Crowborough Horticultural Society is a friendly, educational forum for all gardeners and allotment holders in Crowborough and the surrounding area. We hold monthly meetings with expert speakers, an Annual Open Show and group visits to places of gardening interest.
Extending our knowledge of cyclamen and encouraging their cultivation and conservation. Membership of the Cyclamen Society is open to anyone. By joining the Cyclamen Society, you will contribute to increasing knowledge of the Genus Cyclamen: its distribution in the wild, its conservation and cultivation of the plants.
The Journal of the Cyclamen Society, published in June and December, contains articles about plants in the wild and in cultivation. It contains a mix of serious items and ‘chat’ about members’ experiences, with full colour illustrations, both photographs of Cyclamen in the wild and commissioned botanical paintings.
Ireland is blessed with a mild and temperate climate, making it a plantsman’s joy and allowing gardeners to grow a wide variety of plants and shrubs from all over the world, to exist side by side. It is the envy of their colleagues from many countries. The Dublin Garden Group (DGG) consists of Ireland’s most distinguished private gardens in the greater Dublin area – some of them world famous and others secret gems, whose discovery has been the highlight of many a Garden Tour.
The owners of these private gardens, most of which are not open to the public, would like to welcome groups to share their enthusiasm for and knowledge of their plants and designs, at the time to see them at their best.
East of England Apples and Orchards Project is working to ensure a future for local orchard fruits and orchards. There are around 250 local varieties of apple, pear, plum, and cherry that come from the seven counties of our region – Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. These varieties and their orchard habitat need to be preserved for their local significance, genetic diversity, as local food sources and for their landscape and wildlife value. There are also hundreds of ‘lost’ fruit varieties known only from written records. Maybe you can help us find them? There are many ways to help us. You could become a member; buy our fruit trees; sign up for a workshop; come to an Apple Day; buy local-grown fruit or help us survey orchards.
Eastling Gardeners Club is an horticultural society for the village of Eastling nr Faversham in Kent. The club usually meets four times a year including the New Year’s Party!
It invites a wide variety of experienced speakers, covering a suitable range of topics. The talks are followed by wine and homemade nibbles, at which members can exchange views. There is also a yearly outing. New members are welcome. The cost of annual membership is £6, which covers entrance to all the meetings. Non-members are £3 per meeting. The club meets in Eastling Village Hall on Thursdays, 7.30 p.m. start.
The European Boxwood and Topiary Society (EBTS) is devoted to encouraging the appreciation, cultivation and knowledge of Boxwood and Topiary and to further extend both historic and scientific research in the subject.
Our aims are to encourage, improve and extend the cultivation of boxwood and to disseminate knowledge of boxwood and topiary, in all its forms, by means of publications, promotions, exhibitions, scientific research, European co-operation and exchange, conferences and visits, various meetings and other appropriate activities.
We are a European body with active membership in the UK, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Further relationships in Italy, Portugal and Spain are currently being developed. Each country is responsible for running its own organisation within the overall framework of our Vision and Aims. A longstanding and very strong relationship with The American Boxwood Society (ABS) in Virginia, USA has been in existence for many years and which we value greatly.
Ewell Horticultural Association (EHA) has been supporting and serving the local community of Ewell and the surrounding areas since 1865, offering residents encouragement and companionship in the enjoyment of their gardens. EHA has over 1,300 members and is thought to be amongst the oldest and largest Horticultural Associations in England.
The Association offers an annual programme of talks and trips for members, as well as interested guests. We offer regular openings of the Potting Shed, behind Ewell Court House, on a Sunday morning for the purchase of horticultural goods at lower than retail prices as well as plant sales at the Shows and an annual sale of bedding plants for pre-order. Newsletters on our activities are sent to members 6 times per year.
Faversham Horticultural Society, founded in 1863 by the gardeners of Faversham in Kent.
Before the Second World War, various societies founded by the gardeners of Faversham and the surrounding areas were in existence. However, in 1948 all the separate societies amalgamated and the present Faversham Horticultural Society was formed.
The society aims to encourage the cultivation of flowers, fruit and vegetables by holding exhibitions and other activities. Members include gardeners, allotment holders, smallholders and cottage gardeners.
The society, affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society, has a full programme of shows, together with monthly meetings on a range of gardening topics plus a number of social events. Annual subscription is £5. For full details of membership, contact the secretary.
Fernhurst Horticultural Society is your local gardening club. Anyone who is interested in plants and gardening is welcome to join no matter what type of garden they have – large or small – established or new – a conservatory – or pot plants on the patio.
The origins of the Society date back to 1912 when a Flower Show Committee was formed to organise an annual show. The Flower Show was held every year without a break until in 1935 the Horticultural Society was founded to take over from the Flower Show Committee and expand the range of activities. Shows have been held every year since except for the war years and in 1948 the Society was affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society.
The aim of the Society is to encourage interest in gardening and provide opportunities for members to exchange experience, and increase their knowledge of plants and gardens. Three types of activity are organised each year the shows in spring, and autumn, days out by coach to visit notable gardens or events, and monthly evening talks by visiting lecturers during the winter. In addition the Society participates in the Fernhurst Revels.
We welcome new members and the annual subscription is just £5. Check out our membership page for details of the many benefits of becoming a member. Find out more about the Society by reading a copy of the Schedule, which is available at both the Post Office and the Fernhurst Centre. For further information contact the secretary Bob Pennington by email or telephone 01428 664406