Updating page...The first thing you need to know is that you don’t have to be a gardening expert to join the club, just have an interest in plants and gardens.
The gardening club meets on the first Wednesday of most months in the village hall. For a small fee of £18 per year you will receive a programme of speakers and organised visits. Our speakers are of good quality and cover a range of gardening topics, usually based upon their own extensive experience.
Most years we hold a show which is open to everyone. There are 7 sections -vegetables, flowers, flower arranging, fruit (including jams), cookery, crafts and a section for children. Exhibits are judged by experienced outside judges and points awarded. The entrant with the most points for each section is awarded a cup which they keep for a year. After judging, the show is open for viewing. There is always a great atmosphere and refreshments to enjoy.
We also challenge entrants to grow a seed potato in the great Potato Challenge. The winner is the entrant with the highest weight of potatoes on the day of the show.
The club has a mix of experienced, enthusiastic members or those who just enjoy being in their garden.
Officers
Chairman: Stephen Pearce
Secretary: Chris Martin
Treasurer: Wendy Berry
Committee Members: Officers named above plus Fiona Pearce, Mandy Boyd, Trudy Dale.
As can be seen from the 2024 diary of events, Sampford Brett Gardening Club is a flourishing club within the village that offers a wide and varied programme from February through to November. Unless specified otherwise, meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm in the village hall. Members and non-members are most welcome as well as those from within the village and surrounding area.
For more information, please contact Steve (01984 633391) or Chris (01984 248618).
2024 Programme
February 7th Fuchsias My Way by Derek Dexter. Derek has 22 years of growing award winning fuchsias, winning silver gilt at Hampton Court and gaining 12 first in class at the British Fuchsia Society.
March 6th Little Latch by Pauline and David Wright. Pauline and David moved from their home, ‘Lift the Latch’ and have created a new, much smaller garden in Yeovil. Lots of ideas for a smaller garden.
April 3rd Forde Abbey and Gardens by Dr Paul Bygrave. Paul, the Nursery Manager at Forde Abbey, will talk about the history and flora of the Abbey through the changing seasons.
May 1st Flowers of the Massif Central by Richard Horswood. Richard’s talk will feature plants, in particular, from Cevannes and Auvergne.
June (date tbc) GardenVisit/Open Gardens
July 3rd The Natural History & Cultivation of Carnivorous Plants by Dennis Balston. Dennis has been growing carnivorous plants for over 30 years and is a past chair of the Carnivorous Plants Society.
July 13th Flower Show
August (date tbc) Garden Visit/Open Gardens
September 4th Square Meter Gardening - growing veg in small spaces by Claire Hart. Claire combines her love of growing with a passion for poultry keeping, growing your own - in particular how to grow giant veg!
October 2nd Plants for a Changing Climate by Tom Neilson. Tom runs his small family nursery near Lydeard St Lawrence and focuses, in particular, on drought tolerant plants.
November 6th AGM plus talk (7pm start)