Chiltern

The Committee and current members would like to welcome all new/potential members to our Group. Although we are based in the Chilterns you do not need to live in our area to become a member.

We are a welcoming and sociable group with members who range from experienced alpine growers and exhibitors, through keen amateurs and beginners with little alpine knowledge and indeed to people who just have a love of plants and gardens in general.

Speakers are drawn from alpine and horticultural specialists, nursery owners, experienced alpine travellers and experts in other related fields. At most meetings in the hall members bring in a selection of plants for display and once a year we seek to have our own group show of members’ plants.

We usually meet monthly between autumn and spring in Great Kingshill village hall. We have also run a well received programme of virtual meetings on Zoom since 2020.  We are continuing online talks in January and February so that members who cannot travel are able to participate and also to enable us to invite speakers living far away from our venue.

At the meeting in the hall members and often the speakers bring plants for sale and we hold a raffle. Profits from these support the Group’s funds and allow us to maintain our high standard of invited speakers. Refreshments are included and our tea break is a great chance to talk with other members and the speakers – who are always delighted to have a chat. We keep in touch by newsletters and emails and all members are invited to contribute articles.

We usually try to arrange visits such as to gardens, specialist plant nurseries and to see local native flora and often organise trips for a few nights away during the summer. Recent trips have included visits to Ireland, Scotland, Norfolk and the Lake District.

Membership of our group is open to all – you don’t have to be an AGS member, although we would always recommend and encourage you join the AGS to support its conservation aims and to enjoy the wider benefits of the Society.

Please do come along as a visitor to enjoy one of our meetings in the hall to see if you’d like to join us regularly. You would be most welcome.   There is no need to contact us before attending a meeting in the hall but for any Zoom meetings please get in touch with John Gill, Chair, by email: chiltern@alpinegardensociety.org 

We meet on the second Friday of the month at Great Kinghshill village hall, 7.30pm start.

8 September 2023 – Ray Broughton – Alpine gardening and the cold greenhouse

13 October 2023 – Bob Gibbons – the floweriest places in the World

10 November 2023 – Alan Mason – Gardens of the Italian Lakes

8 December 2023 – member’s talk and Christmas social

12 January 2024 – Razvan Chisu (via Zoom) – Wild daffodils and other Spanish gems

9 February 2024 – Connor Smith (via Zoom) – Utrecht Botanic Garden

8 March 2024 – Diane Clement – The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Travels in Japan

12 April 2024 – Gareth Manning – A tour of West Green House Gardens

10 May 2024 – Anthony Goode – Switzerland: Vaud & Valais through the seasons

Please contact our Chair John Gill to join us and for any enquiries about our group

chiltern@alpinegardensociety.org

Members:

2023-2024 Individual annual subscription:  £18.00

Plus charge per meeting including tea, coffee and biscuits £1.00

Visitors:

For meetings in the hall we would ask for a donation of £4 to include tea, coffee and biscuits. For Zoom meetings, please contact John Gill by email: chiltern@alpinegardensociety.org 

Please see full details of our programme on our website:

https://chilternalpinegroup.org/

Our website:

Alpine Garden Society – Chiltern Group https://chilternalpinegroup.org/

Local groups, nurseries and gardens

Hazlemere Gardening Association http://www.hazlemeregardening.co.uk/

Turn End Garden https://www.turnend.org.uk/

Stotts Nursery, Stokenchurch https://stottsnursery.co.uk/

D’Arcy and Everest, alpine and unusual perennial plants https://darcyeverest.co.uk/

Priestfield Arboretum https://priestfieldarboretum.org.uk/

Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust https://bucksgardenstrust.org.uk/