We are pleased to present the programme for 2025 which we hope members, and visitors, will find interesting and enjoyable. Full details are posted on the website in the week before the talk. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a copy of the post when it’s published.
Monday January 6th – Hugh Thomas: Flowering Shrubs All Year Round
Hugh, Head Gardener at Little Malvern Court, will take us on a guided tour through the wonderful world of flowering shrubs and why they are the backbone of any mature garden.
Monday February 3rd – Nigel Hopes: A Year in John’s Garden
Nigel Hopes will provide a Head Gardener’s behind the scenes tour of John Massey’s private garden at Ashwood Nurseries, with highlights through the year and plenty of practical advice.
Monday March 3rd – Nick Macer: Unusual Evergreens
Nick Macer, plant hunter, self-taught botanist, rare species expert and owner of Pan Global Plants in the Severn Valley grows “a selection of the finest, most desirable and often rarest plants capable of growing on these isles”.
Monday April 7th – Vanessa Berridge Kiftsgate: Three generations of Women
Garden historian and author, Vanessa will delve into the story of three generations of women who have cared for and transformed the renowned Kiftsgate Court Gardens.
The Michael Jefferson-Brown Spring Flowering Bulb competition; see notes below
Monday May 5th – Timothy Walker: The Art and Science of Pruning
Former director of the Oxford Botanic Garden and popular speaker, Timothy will take us through the principles of pruning to ensure that we never fear pruning again.
Monday June 2nd – Nicola Hope: Organic Gardening – Happy Plants, Happy Minds
Nicola will take us through a gardening year in the big garden where she works. Plenty of tips, beautiful flowers and juicy vegetables.
Monday July 7th – Dr Roger Lloyd: Hydrangeas
Dr Lloyd has an extensive collection of Hydrangeas in his renowned garden at Highfield Farm; he will be talking about the best way to grow, prune, propagate and colour-manage them.
Monday August 4th – Rosy Hardy: Seasonal Flowering Perennials
Rosy Hardy, an RHS Master Grower, founded Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants in 1988. Since then it has become one of the UK’s best recognised plantsman nurseries for herbaceous perennials.
Saturday 9th August – 81st Annual Flower and Produce Show
Monday September 1st – Paul Green: Sensory Sensations
Paul’s nursery, Green’s Leaves in Newent specialises in rare and unusual plants from around the world. Paul will bring a selection of plants and give a practical demonstration so that we can experience how plants can please all the senses.
Monday October 6th – Chris Beardshaw: The Percy Picton Memorial Lecture “Painting with Plants“
‘Painting with Plants’ will explain and describe the habits and aesthetic rewards of working with some of Chris’ favourite planting palettes. Weaving in concepts of sustainability, he explores how to create rich tapestries of planting for a succession of flowers and interest over the seasons.
The Ernest Ballard Aster Competition; see notes below
Monday November 3rd – Diane Clement: Alpines in the wild and in cultivation
Alpine expert Diane Clement will take us to different altitudes to discover all about the varieties of alpine plants, where and how they grow and how we can adapt our gardens to grow them too.
Monday December 1st – Archie Miles: Ancient and Veteran Trees
Archie Miles is a professional photographer who has a passion for landscape and in particular, the remarkable world of trees.
Our AGM precedes the December meeting, starting at 7pm; refreshments from 6:30.
2026
The first meeting of 2026 will be on Monday the 5th of January.
Notes
The Michael Jefferson Brown Competition is for members only; there are two classes
1. Pot or container of growing flowering bulbs, corms or tubers.
2. Vase/container of cut flowers grown from bulbs, corms or tubers.
One entry per person in each class.
Exhibits are judged on quality and presentation. The Trophy will be awarded for the best overall exhibit.
Annual Flower and Produce Show
Held in Colwall Village Hall from 2pm to 5pm; it has open classes.
The schedule is available at the April meeting.
The Percy Picton Memorial Lecture
Admission by ticket only. Reception from 7pm.
The Ernest Ballard Aster Competition
A vase of Michaelmas Daisies (perennial asters) of preferably mixed varieties. The Trophy will be awarded to the best exhibit.