The Horticultural Society

With origins before 1900, the Society has a proud history of encouraging horticulture in our three villages, originally with annual Flower Shows and more recently with events across the year:

• Talks, delivered by outside speakers are held in the darker months at the beginning of each year and recent subjects have included birds of prey, keeping chickens, the secret life of the mole, plus regular gardening tips and advice;  

• A plant sale is held in May;

• Members only open garden events;

• The Flower Show in September is the highlight of the gardening calendar. An opportunity for members to exhibit the beautiful plants and vegetables they have nurtured over the year. There are also classes for crafts, cookery, photography and children; and  

• The November AGM provides an opportunity for members to hear an official report from the Committee and a chance to air their views.

Event posters are published on this website’s events calendar and topical /seasonal updates are published on this page – please scroll down!

The Horticultural Society is affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society and the Surrey Horticultural Federation. The Society is keen to promote the many advantages of gardening as widely as possible and is for everyone, regardless of age, experience or the size of garden.

If you would like to join our Horticultural Society please send us an email  to ask for more details. Members receive 10% discount on plants at Buckland Nurseries and Grow Smiles.

June Update

June is a beautiful month when your gardens will look their finest.  Roses are at their best, whilst Clematis and Philadelphus show off their flowering prowess and Alstomeria and Iris stand proud.  The weather is improving in leaps and bounds now and getting warmer.  The frosts are declining and almost gone so tender plants can be placed outside.

Now is the time to get on with those jobs that have been waiting.  As the plants start to flourish so do the weeds.  Lawns will need mowing only once a week as growing slows down.  You may wish to leave a part of your lawn dormant to let the insects and wild flowers establish themselves. The warmer weather wakes up the insect and bee activity in your garden.  Get the essential work out of the way, relax in the sunshine, enjoy your hard work and observe all the activity that is happening around you.

The Society’s thoughts have begun to focus on the Autumn Show and preparations are underway.   It has yet to be finally decided if we will hold a ‘virtual’ show as before or be able to have the actual show, restrictions permitting. Discussions are ongoing at present and the Members will be informed of more details over the coming months.

Links between Our Society and North Downs Primary

Mary Rode (our Chairwoman) has organised the school allotment for a number of years and has created an enormous interest in gardening with quite a few of the children. Children visit the allotment during school time. They enjoy planting seeds, growing vegetables and harvesting them. Often they cook their vegetables for lunch. They work hard carrying out all gardening tasks.

We also have an allotment club where the children meet after school on a Friday.  They enter their prize vegetables in the Autumn Show and have won many individual and group prizes over the years.