Societies & Associations
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.
The Royal Forestry Society has a diverse membership of 3,500+ members including woodland owners, professional foresters, arborists, countryside professionals, conservationists, lecturers, students and people with an active interest in learning about the care of woods and trees. Everybody is welcome. We do not represent the interests of any single group and so are a source of unbiased information for anyone caring for woodlands.
The work of the RFS is funded through donations, grants, legacies and corporate sponsorship, together with membership subscriptions.
The National Begonia Society was formed in 1948 the Society has members throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. We have representatives based throughout the country who organise Area Shows & Meetings and are available to offer advice to members.
Promote and encourage the more extended culture of begonias. Though there are thousands of begonias (species and hybrids) known and grown throughout the world there is no doubt that in the UK the most popular one grown is the large flowered tuberous double. The Society wishes to encourage many more members to cultivate a much wider range of begonia species and hybrids.
Historic Roses Group – Founded in 1990 by members of the Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) with a particular interested in roses of historical importance, including those no longer widely grown and rose species and their hybrids.
The Group publishes the Historic Rose Journal twice yearly, mounts exhibits relating to the history of the rose at horticultural shows, arranges garden visits both in the UK and abroad and organises conferences. Currently it is engaged in a project to establish a national collection of British bred roses.
Membership of the Group can be independent of the RNRS.
What are the benefits of joining The Historic Roses Group ?
Meeting other historic rose enthusiasts – sharing their knowledge, ideas and ways of using historic roses in a garden setting.
Receiving twice yearly the Group’s Historic Rose Journal containing a wealth of informative and interesting articles by internationally acknowledged authors on the history of the rose – plus the annual Group Newsletter.
The opportunity to join fellow members on tours of outstanding rose gardens in Europe and the UK.
The opportunity to attend conferences with a wide range of expert speakers on all aspects of the history and cultivation of the rose
Opportunity to assist on the HRG stand at horticultural shows.
UK based society promoting the growing of Australian and New Zealand plants. The Australasian Plant Society started more than 20 years ago with a small group of individuals meeting to discuss growing Australian plants in the Northern Hemisphere. After two years, it was decided to start a formal society, and so the Australian Plant Society was formed.
The International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society promotes knowledge, leadership, and standards of excellence in water gardening and related aquatic plant areas.
The Society is a non-profit organization of multinational membership dedicated to the furtherance of all aspects of water gardens and their associated plants. As an organization we support and promote education, research, and conservation in these areas.
The mission of the International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society has remained constant. However, services now include education, research, and conservation. The tools used to disseminate the latest and best information have also grown over the years. The nucleus is still the Journal, annual Symposia, and a strong network of knowledgeable people. However, there are now ongoing research grants, an extensive reference library, international registries of Nymphaea and Nelumbo, and certified collections of Nymphaea.
Many of the original volunteers continue to help plan the Society’s future. They share their passion along with others from around the world. In spite of (or because of) their diverse backgrounds and knowledge, they strive to grow a Society committed to enhancing and expanding the information available about waterlilies and water gardening. Members now have a place to turn, no matter what their situation may be, whether they’re retailers looking for suppliers, growers improving their techniques, hybridizers testing new lilies, or hobbyists hoping to learn. The original seed has blossomed and the Society continues to educate thousands of water gardeners around the world.
Membership is free! As an individual member, you’ll enjoy full acess to our website, our online quarterly Water Garden Journal, and access to our “Let’s Talk Water Gardening” message board.
The British Cactus & Succulent Society promotes the study, conservation, propagation and cultivation of cacti. Discover the beauty of cacti and other succulents with the BCSS! Whether you are an expert grower or a novice – or are just thinking of starting up the hobby – the Society will guide you all the way. With over 80 branches throughout the UK meeting monthly you will have the opportunity to meet other enthusiasts and to learn more about growing these amazing plants.
The British Clematis Society (BCS) exists to promote the cultivation and preservation of clematis. In particular, we aim to encourage all gardeners to grow and enjoy clematis – with the emphasis being on enjoy! Find out where you can see clematis or perhaps use the society to help you get the most from your garden plants.
The British National Carnation Society promoting the cultivation of all groups of Dianthus including Pinks, Border Carnations and Perpetually Flowering Carnations. The society aims are to encourage endeavours to expand and improve the cultivation of these beautiful flowers and to promote their uses in Gardens.
Beginners and Experts receive encouragement and help in growing for the garden, exhibiting, raising new cultivars and submitting them for trial and awards.
The Society stages displays at a number of the major Flower Shows in Great Britain and it stages four shows of its own, where amateur growers compete for National honours on the show bench.
The British Pteridological Society was founded in the Lake District in 1891 and soon became the focal point for fern enthusiasts throughout the British Isles. Today it continues to provide a wide range of information about ferns, through its website and forum and by publishing regular journals, leaflets and books, and organising formal talks, informal discussions and outdoor meetings. The international membership includes those interested in gardening, natural history and botany, both amateur and professional. It is a friendly society run on a voluntary basis.
The Objects of the Society are to promote all aspects of pteridology by encouraging the appreciation, conservation, cultivation and scientific study of ferns, horsetails, clubmosses and quillworts through publications, meetings, the provision of grants and other appropriate means.