Member's news
We hope you enjoyed our meetings so far this year: James Smith from Loddington Farm, in January, and our AGM in March, when Robert Brett, Curator for RHS Garden Wisley, gave us his vision for the gardens; Paul Kettell, Team Leader for Edibles, outlined his plans. Tivvy Harvey, Keeper of the RHS Herbarium, joined us for an insight into the Society’s collection of dried, cultivated plant specimens, paintings, and photographs.
More meetings and visits coming up this year.
Our guided visits in 2026
Blackmoor Nurseries,
June
West Dean Gardens,
August
West Green House Gardens, September
2026 Meetings at RHS Garden Wisley
with talks by fruit growing experts
Wednesday 13th May
RHS Fruit and Trials Specialist, Jim Arbury; plus RHS entomologist Ben Brough on pollination and other insect topics
Wednesday 18th November
Paula Fleming, Head Orchard Gardener at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons; plus Pavlina Kapsalis horticulturalist from the edibles team at Wisley, on growing figs
Location
We meet in the Tulip Tree Room, RHS Garden Wisley. From the main entrance turn to your right and walk around 200m. It is the room just before the food hall.
Time
Most talks will start at 11am, with coffee and tea available before and during the break between talks
2026 Zoom Talks
Wednesday 4th November
Richard Newton and his team from Norton Priory Museum & Gardens in Cheshire (holders of the Plant Heritage National Plant Collection of quince) will host an introductory talk followed by a Q&A panel session on Zoom about quinces – cultivar selection, growing, caring, harvesting and ways to eat quince.
Information and the link to join will be sent in a members newsletter before the event. IT support will be available the week before the event.
For £7/yr you get
- Exclusive talks and Q&A with experts
- Guided visits to special gardens and orchards
- To meet other fruit growers enthusiasts
- To receive our informative newsletters
- Access to our archive and videos