Programme 2024
Meetings with invited speakers
During the winter months (October to April, with the exception of December) we meet and enjoy illustrated talks from local and national gardening speakers at:
The Old Barn Hall,
55 Church Road,
Great Bookham
Leatherhead
Surrey
KT23 3PQ
The meetings are on Saturdays, and directions to the venue can be found here. The venue is accessible for those in wheelchairs and there is a loop system for the hard of hearing.
We usually* open the doors at 10.00am and free tea and coffee are served. At 10.15am there is a plant sale where you can buy good-quality home-grown plants at very competitive prices. In addition, there is a range of garden sundries, HPS booklets and second-hand gardening books to buy, and a raffle.
At about 10.45am, the Chairman will officially start the meeting and a guest speaker will talk for about 1 hour followed by a questions-and-answer session. The topic will relate to plants and gardens.
During the summer months we run a number of garden visits and outline details will be added as they become available. The garden visits are members-only, so why not come along to a talk and consider joining?.
For printable version please download here: SCG 2023-24 Public Programme
Disclaimer: All links checked at time of inclusion but SCG cannot be held responsible for subsequent changes by individual websites.
| 2024 | |
| Saturday 13 January (10.00 for 10.45 am) |
Talk - Simon Horrill will speak on 'Springing into Another Year'. Ideas and musing on where gardens may be moving in the coming year. Simon is a former member of the Royal Ballet and has appeared in several productions in the West End. He recently took a change of path and trained in garden design. Plant sale. |
| Saturday 17 February (10.00 for 10.45 am) |
Talk - Jackie Currie will speak on ‘Ornamental Alliums and How to Grow Them Successfully’. Jackie holds the National Collection of Alliums, and is a true allium expert. Plant sale. |
| Saturday 16 March (10.00 for 10.45 am) |
AGM followed by Talk - Mark Saunders will speak on ‘Super Seasonal Displays’. Mark is Head Gardener at Fittleworth House near Pulborough. This talk covers displays through the seasons from large flower beds to small pots and looks at creating colour and interest throughout the year. Plant sale. |
| Saturday 20 April (10.00 for 10.45 am) |
Talk - Peter Smith will speak on ‘Protecting our Pollinators’. Peter is a beekeeper, amateur entomologist and writer. His talk looks at the causes of the huge decline in insect numbers over the past few years, what is being done to help and what we as individuals can also do. Plant and seedling sale. |
| Throughout the summer months we run a series of Members Only garden visits across Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire. | |
| Saturday 19 October (10.00 for 10.45 am) |
Talk - David Marsh will speak on 'The History of the London Square'. This talk looks at the rise of the square, and at the threats and challenges they have faced over the past 400 years and at ideas for their future. David Marsh is a garden historian, lecturer and writer. Plant sale. |
| Saturday 23 November (10.00 for 10.45 am) |
Talk - Timothy Walker will speak about 'In the not-so-bleak midwinter'. This talk looks at the opportunities for bringing winter interest to your garden. A botanist, lecturer and previously Director of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, Timothy was previously with us 3 years ago. This event is free to members and is followed by the Members’ Festive Lunch. Attendance at the talk and the lunch must be booked in advance. More details to follow in the Autumn. |