The majority of Zoom talks are open to anyone to attend no charge, guests are very welcome (zoom link is below). However if you would like to make a donation towards supporting the costs of the talks, that would be very much appreciated and will enable us to continue running these events.  To get full access to talks, other benefits, recordings and discounts such as the Suttons 50% discount, and FREE trips to gardens, please see the Membership Page. Also, each affiliated club has its own Breakout Room where members can meet up to chat before and after the talk.

Zoom login details:
(This same code applies to most meetings)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4043014750?pwd=SVRibE0vRW5mTUFqdG1NblVxSlJPZz09
Meeting ID: 404 301 4750
Passcode: bonsai

(We also have a monthly networking zoom meeting for committee members of garden clubs to share advice & tips, on the first Wednesday of each month. You don’t have to be affiliated, it’s open to every club.)

Breakout rooms open at 7.15pm for 7.30pm start for all meetings unless stated otherwise. Click on the talk title when highlighted to download a plant list (if available) or further information. Where the date is highlighted as a link, the talk is available to watch on our You Tube channel and the link will take you direct to that particular talk. However, most recordings are restricted to just our individual members & affiliated clubs via our private password restricted ‘Private Members Login’ page and the ‘Private Affiliated Clubs Login’ page.

2023 talks

Download a PDF document of the 2023 talks Version 6

Jan 12th Thur – Doug Stewart – 10 NEW must have plants (Plant list on private members page)

Feb 23rd Thur – Indy – Modernising Garden Clubs: Chapter 1 (Project to modernise clubs, by making committee roles easier, recruiting new younger members, reducing costs, plus much more. Firstly focusing on treasury activities and introuducing a card payment service for FREE with zero charges to go cashless. This will also be useful to non gardening clubs, such as church groups, community groups etc.) PLACES will be limited so email to register your place or register on the mail list on the homepage.

Mar 20th Mon – Peter Moore (National Collection Holder) – Plant Breeding

POSTPONED Mar 27th Mon – George Hargreaves – Notable Botanic Gardens of the UK

Apr 24th Mon – Jackie Currie (National Collection Holder) – How to grow Alliums and the best varities to choose

TBC 2023 – Indy – Modernising Garden Clubs: Chapter 1 (Repeated)

TBC 2023 – Chris Blackburn from Concept Research – Sonic Pest Repellers

TBC 2023 – Indy – Modernising Garden Clubs: Chapter 2+ (Workshops will continue, please join email list to be notified of dates)

Sep 25th Mon – Lucy Hartley – Climate Change and its effect on our Gardens

Oct 26th Thurs – Timothy Walker (former curator of Oxford Botanic Garden) – “Bordering on Insanity – creating an all-year-round border.”

Nov 8th Wed – Andrew Mikolajski – Do Your Roots Need Doing – (Good root growth is essential for healthy and productive plants. How can you be sure yours are performing well under ground when you can’t even see them)

Dec TBC – Christmas Quiz – gardening themed fun with prizes – SEE QUIZ PAGE FOR DETAILS

More dates TBC.  Please join our mail list (event reminder service) to be kept informed of talks.

2022 talks

Jan 12th Wed – Richard Barnes – My 50 Favourites

Jan 25th Tue Andrew and Amy Skea from Potato House – all about potatoes and varieties

Feb 9th Wed – Jeff Bates – Water Gardens and Water Features

Mar 23rd Wed – Margaret Easter – Using herbs over the centuries. Download the plant list

April 13th Wed – Richard Harvey – Cornish Seascape Gardens

. summer break

Oct 17th Mon – Francesca Page-Smith – Eythrope Walled Garden

Nov 9th Wed – Nancy Stevens – “Shrubs Are Boring” Really?……Are You Quite Sure?

Click here to download the plant list for Nancys talk

Dec 8th Thur – Christmas Quiz – gardening themed fun with prizes – SEE QUIZ PAGE FOR DETAILS

2021 talks

Jan 14th Thu – Darren Rudge – Gardening on a Budget “Tea Bags, Bras & Tights“

Jan 20th Wed – Simon Gulliver from the National Trust – The Secret Life of Trees

Feb 3rd Wed – Jim Almond – Snowdrops & Winter Spring Bulbs

Feb 10th Wed – Ingrid Millington, Hillview Hardy Plant – Auriculas & Primulas

Feb 15th Mon – 2.30pm – Nigel Hopes, Head Gardener Ashwood Nurseries – A year in Johns Garden

Feb 17th Wed – Jo Bird –  The Story Behind David Austin Roses

Feb 22nd Mon – John Chambers Wildflowers – Establishing & maintaining a wildflower area

Mar 1st Mon – Katherine Crouch – New tricks for old gardeners

Mar 3rd  Wed – Kevin Reynolds – Love & War, How we created our garden birds

Mar 10th Wed – Marcus Chilton-Jones – The Making of RHS Bridgewater

Mar 11th Thu – Dr. Andrew Ward, Norwell Nurseries – Brilliant Borages

April 6th Tue – Howard Drury – Succulent Gardens

April 8th Thur – Sue Bosson – Millenium seed bank project

April 12th Mon – Nick Hamilton – Drought tolerant plants

Apr 13th Tue – Kathryn Robey – The Dorothy Clive Garden Seasonal Changes

Apr 27th Tue – Philip Aubury – Successful Fruit Growing

May 7th Fri – Jeff Bates – The Plant Hunters

May 11th Tue – Victoria Logue – Extending the season in your garden

May 13th Thur – Margaret George – The History of Herbs

May 19th Wed – Keith Forster – National Arboretum Alrewas

May 26th Wed – Adrian James – “Gardens of Paradise“

Aug 11th Wed – Philip Aubury – Growing for Showing

Aug 17th Tue – Dr Ian Bedford – Garden Bugs: Cohabit, Control or Conserve?

Sep 1st Wed  – Peter Moore – Buddleja

Sep 8th Wed – John Baker – Heavenly Hostas

Sep 16th Thur – John & Gail West Shores Nursery – Grasses

Sep 22nd Wed – Glenn Duggan – The Fantastic Flora of Australia

Oct 13th Wed – Vic Aspland – A brighter side of winter

Oct 20th Wed – Hilary Hutson – Sheffield Botanic Gardens

Nov 11th Thur – Doug Stewart – Winter Thrillers

Dec 8th Wed – Christmas quiz – Gardening themed fun

Dec 21st Tue – Alan Edmondson – The Shade Garden