All the talks are held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in TADWORTH ( unless advised otherwise ) They are either held in the Main Hall or in the smaller meeting room ( where numbers are limited )

Flower Arranging Workshop

Lynnis Williams will be holding a flower arranging workshop on Wednesday 18th March 2.00 – 4.00 pm

Cost £5 including refreshments.

Please contact Jasmine to reserve a place.  [email protected]

Spaces are limited.

Details of items that you need to bring will be sent out nearer the date.

We have arranged a visit to a nursery on 31 March 2026 @ 10.30 How Green Nursery

How Green Lane
Hever
Kent
TN8 7PS
United Kingdom

According to Google maps about 40 minutes away from Tadworth .

Established in 1982, This is a family run wholesale nursery ( TRADE ONLY ) and  occupies a five acre site, just 15 minutes from Junction 6 of the M25. They supply garden designers, landscapers, professional gardeners, local authorities and historic gardens.

They  offer a nursery tour (what we grow, how we grow in our peat-free compost) and then there’s some plant retail therapy at the end! so this is a once off opportunity to visit

The tour normally lasts an hour, and costs £6.00 per head. Their plants are  priced at very fair prices compared to the garden centres so you may be tempted.

If you would like to attend please let us know as car numbers are limited to 10  ( as limited parking ) to reserve  your place and we will confirm payment details

Simon one of the owners will also visit us in Tadworth on 8 September @ 7.00 ( doors open at 6.30 ) to give a talk on New Hebaceous Perannials and Grasses . The talk will be in the main church hall of the good shepherd and he will also bring Plants to buy

 

Jean Griffin - Lets talk Gardening 9 May @ 10 .30 Meeting Room

This is an interactive talk - no slides ! based on Jean's experiences . Do come with your questions and any problem plants. Jean will also bring some items from here garden.

Jean Griffin was educated at Neath Girls Grammar School before starting work experience with the local Parks Department followed by professional horticultural courses firstly at Studley College, Warwickshire and secondly at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. She has spent all her life working in both the Amenity and Commercial sections of the horticultural industry. 
As Head of Horticulture at Brinsbury ( Chichester College) Jean was passionate about giving qualifications to less able students and worked with NPTC and City and Guilds to achieve this. She was accepted as a Fellow of the Institute of Horticulture and has been involved with Horticultural Education for most of her career, teaching and supporting staff of all age groups and varying abilities.  Jean also holds a Further Education teaching qualification from Portsmouth University.

Jean is a Garden expert presenter for the Gardening Programme on BBC Radio Kent, Surrey and Sussex. She has worked for the BBC since the 1970s when the station was Radio Brighton.
The main charities she supports are Perennial, St Catherine’s Hospice , St Michaels Hospice and is active on their behalf doing talks and Gardeners Question time slots at Garden Fairs and Open Gardens.
Jean is a Judge and Trustee for South and South East in Bloom part of the national ‘Britain in Bloom’ campaign and is a judge for London in Bloom.

Jean has been President of the Kew Guild, the alumni of RBG Kew.
As an enthusiastic facilitator, Jean likes nothing more than talking about plants and sharing gardening knowledge giving talks and advice to Horticulture Clubs and Societies
In her own words
‘I am a plant-a-holic’ with a garden full to the edge with interesting plants.

Feedback from other societies states Entertaining , amusing talk which was loved by everyone. Very Knowledgeable .

This year's Coach Trip is a return visit to RHS Hyde Hall Essex on 16 July 2026.

Set in the heart of rural Essex, and enjoying stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, RHS Garden Hyde Hall is one of the finest gardens in the East of England. This 365-acre site is a haven of peace and tranquility, encompassing a diverse mix of garden styles from traditional to modern. Highlights include the Dry Garden with its fantastic range of drought-resistant plants and the Hilltop Garden with its roses and herbaceous borders. There’s also a Global Growth Vegetable Garden, which showcases vegetables from around the world, and a Winter Garden that celebrates the delights of wintertime.

Since our last visit in 2023, improvements have been made to the Rose Rope Walk, redeveloping the original structure due to the original wooden frames taking a toll after 50 years. The redevelopment was finished last year, so will be looking very new, but the Roses will be looking fantastic in July!

Costs will be £25 per person, with the usual 3 pick up points, Walton Ponds (9.00am), Tadworth Bridge (9.05am) and Lower Kingswood (9.10 am) returning from Hyde Hall at 3.30pm .

Let us know if you would like to join us and we will reserve a seat on the coach for you  and confirm payment details nearer the time. If you would like us to reserve a mobility scooter please advise as we need to reserve these in advance as there are a limited number available.

Any queries just ask!

AGM 12 August 2026 - Speaker from National Trust Munstead Woods

10 October 2026 Julie Verity Topic TBA 10.30 Meeting Room

Julie Verity studied Horticulture and Plant Physiology at university, out of a love of plants. Two degrees and post-doctoral work in New Zealand later, Julie joined industry and reserved her love of plants for as a hobby – gardening. Since then, she has mostly worked in Adult and Executive Business Education. Now with the privilege of retirement, Julie has returned to plants through painting and talking about gardens, gardening heroes and their lives. She speaks at The Guildford Institute amongst other places

14 November 2026 Elizabeth Mooney - Edibles Self  Sufficiency in a small space  10.30 Meeting Room

A little bit of information provided by Elizabeth

I have worked at Wisley for 6 and a half years so 7 by the talk. I am part of the edibles team, working mainly in the world food garden. I am a specialist in annual vegetables but also have a strong interest in perennial veg, and am writing a dissertation on them for the RHS Master of Horticulture programme, which I will have qualified from by the talk. I am a co-author on the recent RHS book on veg growing and a regular on the RHS podcast.

Elizabeth has provided a brief summary of the talk

A few years ago I took the decision to try and be self-sufficient in fresh fruit and veg from my 13x18m allotment and have been managing it ever since. Growing your own brings benefits including fresh and nutritious food, environmental sustainability, and much enjoyment, and while you do not have to be self-sufficient in order to receive this, for me it maximises them. I will talk a bit about why I am self-sufficient, the crops I would not be without, and how I achieve it, particularly through winter and the hungry gap.

 

See March issue of the Garden Mag for an article by Elizabeth about her allotment a fascinating read.