Programme

We enjoy illustrated evening talks in autumn and winter, given by interesting and varied speakers. We visit gardens in spring and summer for a modest cost.

Download our Newsletter for full details of the society and our programme or see the details below.

Visits need to be booked, except for East Lambrook Manor Gardens on Thursday 15th February. Please download a pdf copy of the booking form and email it to us.

Talks (blue text) are held in Bruton Community Hall, doors open at 7pm for 7:30pm start.

Programme for 2024

THURSDAY 15th February 2:00pm - Visit
East Lambrook Manor Gardens, Silver Street, East Lambrook, TA13 5HH
This famous garden created by Margery Fish, which has Grade I status, extends to around an acre and a half, yet with its many winding paths and different areas such as the Terraces, Silver Garden, Lido, Ditch and Woodland Garden, seems much bigger. The Festival of Snowdrops in February, featuring around 160 species and named cultivars, is always popular. The Margery Fish Nursery in the garden sells numerous named snowdrops in February and offer a range of seeds collected from plants in the garden.
2m N of South Petherton.
Directions: Follow the brown tourist signs from the A303 South Petherton roundabout or from the B3165 crossroads (with lights) north of Martock. The entrance is in Silver Street but please note, sat navs will take you to Middle Street which is incorrect.
Cost: Opening for NGS £7 pay on entry, tea and cake available. No need to book, pay at the garden on the day.

MONDAY 19th FEBRUARY - Matt Simpson of Simpson’s Seeds will give a talk on ‘Home Grown Hydroponics’. Matt’s family run company based at Warminster, produces a wide range of flower seeds and unusual seeds for the kitchen garden, including tomatoes, chillis and sweet peppers, plus a large range of plug plants. Matt will bring a range of seeds for sale.

MONDAY 18th MARCH - Angie Blackwell will give a demonstration of seasonal flower arrangements. Angie has a flower shop near Ilminster.

WEDNESDAY 20th MARCH 6:30 pm – Visit
Castle Gardens, Sherborne, talk and discount shopping.
Gold Club shopping visit with short talk and 25% discount on purchases. Please bring your membership card or speak to a committee member on arrival. Booking essential, members only.
Directions: Follow signs to Sherborne Castle, the Garden Centre is by the gates to Sherborne Castle.

MONDAY 15th APRIL - Jonathan Lovie will give a talk on English Garden Makers on the Riviera.
Jonathan is a Garden and Landscape Historian and an expert on historic gardens. Jonathan has worked with both the National Trust, English Heritage and other organisations researching projects, he has also written the book ‘Georgian Garden Buildings’.

THURSDAY 25th APRIL 2:30 pm – Visit
Frankham Farm, Ryme Intrinsica, Sherborne, DT9 6JT
A 3.5-acre garden created since 1960 by the late Jo Earle for year-round interest, a wide variety of plants including unusual, labelled shrubs, trees and spring bulbs.
Directions: 3 miles south of Yeovil, just off the A37, turn next to Hamish’s farm shop signed to Ryme Intrinsica, go over small bridge and up the hill and the drive is on the left
Cost: members £9, non-members £11, including tea and cake

SATURDAY 4th MAY 9:30am
PLANT SALE /COFFEE MORNING IN BRUTON COMMUNITY HALL. This is a fund raiser and shop window for the Society. Please support it and bring as many plants, seedlings, produce and cakes as you can. Please label these as it makes it so much easier for both sellers and buyers.

WEDNESDAY 15th MAY 2:30 pm - Visit
The Old Rectory, Pulham, DT2 7EA
4 acres of formal and informal gardens surrounding C18 rectory with splendid views. Yew hedges, circular herbaceous borders. exuberantly planted terrace, box parterres, mature trees, pond, sheets of daffodils, tulips, glorious churchyard. Ha-ha, pleached hornbeam circle, enchanting bog garden with stream and islands, 10 acres of woodland walks. This has been featured in Country Life etc and is mostly wheelchair accessible.
Directions: 13 miles north of Dorchester, 8 miles southeast of Sherborne. On the B3143, turn east at the crossroads in Pulham, signed Cannings Court.
Cost: members £10, non-members £12, including tea and cake

WEDNESDAY 5th JUNE 8:30am - Visit
Coach trip to The Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park
The Savill Garden is a 35-acre haven of gardens, woodland and seasonal displays. Generations of plant-hunters have brought back numerous specimens to be nurtured here. In June the borders are a wonderful display of old-fashioned French musk roses inter-plants with a wide range of shrubs and perennials. Highlights include Golden Jubilee Garden, The Dry Garden - the first of its kind in the UK - and the contemporary Rose Garden with its viewing platform that overlooks the roses as well as the garden beyond.
Details on where to pick up the coach will be provided nearer the time, likely to be in or near Bruton with parking available for those leaving their car for the day.
Cost: members £32 including coach and entry (RHS members £22); non-members £35 (RHS members £25). If you are a member of the RHS then you must show your membership card at the visit for free entry.

MONDAY 17th JUNE 6:30pm – Member’s Garden Social
Hadspen Farm, Higher Hadspen, near Castle Cary, BA7 7LX
Held by kind permission of Professor Charles and the Hon. Catherine Brook (Alternative bad weather date – Thursday 20th June).
Hadspen Farm has a large and varied garden - from beautiful borders to a hosta filled woodland area, a brook running through it and an arboretum high on the hill. To make the most of this spectacular spot, sensible walking boots or shoes will be necessary.
Directions: Directions: From the A359 between Bruton and the A371 take a right hand turn down by Hadspen Quarry, towards Higher Hadspen. Hadspen Farm has a porch and is the middle of the three houses on your left. Parking is a available in the field on the left. For those with mobility issues there is parking right by the house.
Cost: £7 members, £9 non-members, includes a glass of wine and nibbles

THURSDAY 20th JUNE 2:30pm - Visit
The Old Rectory, Manston, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1EX
This is a beautifully restored 5-acre garden including a south facing wall with 120ft herbaceous border edged by an old brick path. There is an enclosed yew hedge flower garden, wildflower meadow marked with mown paths and a young plantation of mixed hardwoods. There is a well maintained walled Victorian kitchen garden with new picking flower section. A large new greenhouse has also been installed and the Knot Garden is now well established. This garden has appeared in Country Life and Dorset Life/
Directions: 6 miles south of Shaftesbury, 2½ miles north of Sturminster Newton. From Shaftesbury take B3091, on reaching Manston, pass the Plough Inn and turn left for Child Okeford on right-hand bend. The Old Rectory is the last house on the left.
Cost: Members £10, non-members £12, including tea and cake.

THURSDAY 11th JULY 2:30pm - Visit
Yeo Valley Garden, Bath Road, Blagdon, North Somerset. BS40 7SQ
This is a renowned organic garden comprising 6 1/2 acres of contemporary planting. Formal structural planting is used to create a number of individual gardens, notably in the glasshouse garden. The more informal parts of the garden are designed to give a relaxed contemporary feel. In the summer the bronze and gravel gardens provide the “wow” factor, the gravel garden is filled with colour, shape and movement is achieved by a tapestry of planting. Grasses are used extensively to reflect the surrounding landscape.
Directions: Head through Shepton Mallet on the A37 and at the Mendip Inn turn left on to the B3135. After 5.8 miles, turn right on to the B3134. After 4.2 miles bear right onto Two Trees and after a mile turn right onto the A368. Holt Farm is on the left after 1 mile (signed).
Cost: Members £5, non-members £7, refreshments in café

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17th 2:30pm - Annual Show
Fitzjames Hall, King’s School, Bruton, BA10 0ED
By kind permission of the headmaster. Show schedules can be picked up at the Plant Sale and after that from Bruton shops, the Library and Community Office. Do consider putting in an entry and of course come and support the show on the day.

WEDNESDAY 4th SEPTEMBER 6.00pm – Visit (TBC)
Simpsons Seeds at Keepers Yard, Chapel Street, Horningsham, Wilts, BA12 7LU
Tomato and chilli tastings
Directions: Take the A359 and once passed Frome at the roundabout with the B3092 take the third exit onto the B3092, signposted Maiden Bradley. After 2.8 miles turn left onto Forest Road, signposted Horningsham. After 1.4 miles at the Bath Arms turn right into Chapel street. After 0.2 miles Simpsons seeds is on the left.
Cost: members £5, non-members £7, includes refreshments

MONDAY 16th SEPTEMBER Roy Cheek will give a talk on ‘Understanding Roses’. Roy has had a long and varied career in horticulture, working in nurseries, parks departments, garden design and has exhibited at Chelsea. He spent 20 years at Cannington and has advised on gardens at Abbotsbury, Hestercombe, Beaulieu and London Zoo.

MONDAY 21st OCTOBER Steve Fry from the Castle Gardens Gold Club will speak about ‘No Weeds’. Steve has worked at Castle Gardens for over 30 years and his current role is ‘Environmental Champion’. He will talk about weeds - good, useful ones and the invasive toxic less useful ones also looking at the highs and lows of weeds and their control strategies.

MONDAY 18th NOVEMBER Christina Angelucci will talk about ‘Dahlias’. Christina is a horticulturist specialising in dahlias which she has been growing for 10 years and breeding for 5 years with particular interest in the single varieties. She will bring plants for sale.