Our groups

In 1963 discussion began about how members could contact one another about plants in which they shared an interest.  Consequently in 1965 the Ornamental Grasses group was formed (no longer in existence), followed by the Hardy Geranium group.  Since then other Special Interest groups have been set up by enthusiastic members and we now have the following – Galanthus, Hardy Geranium, Peony, Pulmonaria, Ranunculaceae, Variegated and lastly, Shade & Woodland which was set up in 2014.

The first local group was Nottingham in 1968 - and now there are many local groups throughout the UK. A Groups Co-ordinator was appointed in the mid-nineties with an annual Group Secretaries’ meeting to facilitate the exchange of information between the groups and the trustees.

Summer garden visits, study days, lecture days and autumn and late spring weekends have been hosted by the groups - and Groups have also represented the Society with exhibits at Chelsea as well as shows throughout the country.

The Plant Finder

Following an observation in the newsletter that there were many unusual plants that were difficult to obtain, a number of members of the Nottingham group decided to sponsor a reliable list.  In 1975, with assistance from members throughout the country who recommended reliable sources, the Directory of Hardy Plants was published giving a list of plants and where they might be purchased from some 80 mail order nursery catalogues.

Several further editions followed but it was becoming too cumbersome for it to be continued.  Chris Philip and Denys Gueroult joined the Society in 1986 when Chris was creating his own database of where to source plants.  Chris required assistance in ensuring that plant names were correct and Jack Elliot, then chairman of the HPS, introduced him to Tony Lord.  In return for the HPS endorsement of Chris’s publication, which he called The Plant Finder, Chris offered the Society half of the book’s profits.  The first publication of The Plant Finder was in 1987.  The RHS acquired the copyright in 1994 and it then became the RHS Plant Finder in 1995.

Publications

The Society has published many booklets on different genera over the years.  The website has become a very important way of sharing information with members as well as promoting the Society to the public.  It is very extensive and publishes the newsletter online, the Journal six months following publication and Cornucopia, which is a collection of articles written by members from the local and specialist group newsletters.  There are also blogs by members.  The Slide Library, which allowed members to borrow slides for use in lectures, has now become the Plant Library and hosts over 12,000 digital images which are freely available.  To boost the Society’s collection of digital images, in 2012 a Photographic Competition was launched.  The Society also has a presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (now X), and  some videos on propagation are also available to view, via YouTube.

Seed distribution

The Seed Distribution Scheme was begun in 1970 by Miss Horne, but it really took off when Jane Smallwood took over in 1980.  Many groups have been involved in its running since then with the Lincolnshire group currently hosting this scheme.  It is now thriving and has been the principal motivation for some members to join the Society.  Seeds are collected and donated by members and made available via a seed list of over 1500 varieties each year.

Horticultural advice

An Advisory Panel was formed in 1963 to answer members’ horticultural questions.  Currently the Society has a panel of horticultural advisors who answers such questions from members.

Encouraging young horticulturists

Following a substantial donation to the Society from the estate of Mr Kenneth Black, the Bursary Scheme was set up in his name in 2009 to provide small bursaries for students and people working in horticulture. In 2017, the Society introduced a discounted membership rate for students.

Conservation

In 1980 a conservation sub-committee was formed, the first chairman being Tony Lord.  This has now become the Conservation Scheme, which aims to propagate and pass on older, rarer or lesser-known garden plants in danger of being lost.    Groups and individual members are encouraged to join the scheme.

Administrative support

Many of the Society’s members volunteer to take on particular roles, but to help organise all the above, in 1992 Pam Adams was appointed as Administrator.  The office was moved to Evesham in 2013 and Clare Powell is our current  Administrator.

Change of President

Alan Bloom died in 2005 aged 98, and the following year (2006) Roy Lancaster became the Society’s President.  Roy was awarded both the Veitch Memorial Medal (1972) and the Victoria Medal of Honour (1988) by the RHS, an OBE in 1999 and promoted to CBE in the 2014 Birthday Honours.  In 2017, the RHS awarded him a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award.

Flora Bloom cutting the 60th Anniversary cake at the 2017 AGM in Norfolk

Last updated March 2021