About us

‘Explores, encourages and conserves all that is best in gardens’

To find out more about the Hardy Plant Society go to www.hardy-plant.org.uk

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The Kent Group is one of several regional groups of The Hardy Plant Society.

Since its formation in 1988 it has gained enthusiastic support by providing a varied programme of events throughout the year for its members. Plant Sales, Garden Visits, Lectures, Practical Demonstrations, Workshops and an annual Garden Show are held at various locations throughout the county of Kent.

Members come together at these events to indulge their passion for plants with other like-minded people.

If you have similar interests, read on to find out what we do and then click on the logo to see how to join us.

Meetings

Meetings are held from October to April, usually on the last Sunday of each month, except for December, for members and their guests. The main feature of each meeting is an illustrated lecture by well-known and local experts. These cover a wide range of subjects related to plants and gardens and are held at different locations across the county. Speakers in the past have included Christopher Lloyd, Roy Lancaster, Stephen Lacey, John Bond and Christopher Grey-Wilson.

Guests are invited to attend up to two meetings before becoming members. Just introduce yourself to the Membership Secretary at the door and you will be made welcome. The charge will be £2 per person. If you would like more details please hit the contact button and talk to us.

Additonal features of meetings are;

• Plant Sales Table to which members bring plants for sale, keeping 75% of the price with 25% going to Group funds. Members collect their money and any unsold plants at the end of the afternoon. Sometimes speakers also bring plants for sale.
• Book Sales Table This operates in a similar manner. A slip of paper with the name of the vendor and the price required is put into each book, 25% going to Group funds. Members collect their money and unsold books at the end of the afternoon.
• Plant Display Tables which host a non-competitive display to which members bring plants relevant to the season or the subject of the lecture or of general interest for the enjoyment of other members
• Raffle Normally there is a raffle which is drawn after the lecture, the prizes usually being a selection of plants.
• Teas The ever-popular refreshments offering tea or coffee and a selection of home-made cakes follow the lecture while members mingle and make their purchases from the plant sales tables.

Garden Visits

Visits to members’ gardens, private gardens and specialist nurseries feature regularly in the Kent Group programme. Some are open visits when everyone can attend and others are restricted to just a small number so that members can talk about the plants in more detail. At least once a year we organise a coach trip to gardens and nurseries further afield.

Study Days & Workshops

These provide opportunities to learn about the many different aspects of gardening with perennials. Propagation Days are held to give practical experience of the most suitable methods of propagating a wide variety of plants. Study Days may concentrate on a particular genus, type of plant or subject. Other topics have included plant identification, photography and botanical illustration.

Garden Show

This is the main event in the Kent Group’s year. It combines a garden visit, a competitive flower show and a plant sale with some twenty to thirty specialist nurseries taking part. Members also stage beautiful displays providing an opportunity to see and discuss the huge variety of plants they grow.

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Newsletter

All members receive the quarterly Newsletter - Winter - Spring - Summer - Autumn - to keep them informed of Group activities. Contents include details of coming events such as lecture meetings, workshops, shows, garden visits and coach tours as well as reports on past events, articles on propagation, on particular plants or groups of plants, members’ plant-hunting expeditions and other matters of general interest. Members are welcome to contribute articles, information, news and views. A list of Members’ Gardens open to the public for charity is included with the Spring Newsletter.

Garden Plant Sales

During the season, plant sales are held in gardens open to the public. These are attended by specialist nurseries, usually about six or seven, offering visitors the chance to buy unusual plants often difficult to get from other sources. Members are also able to rent a site to sell their own plants to other visitors. Sometimes a sales table is arranged where members can bring plants for sale keeping 75% of the price as at lecture meetings.

Christmas Meeting

This fairly recent introduction to the Kent Group programme is usually held a week or two before Christmas. The Christmas Meeting is for members only. The current format is morning coffee followed by an informal talk, lunch (provided by members on a bring and share basis) and a light-hearted quiz, finishing up with tea and mince pies. This is an informal, festive event which provides a good opportunity for members to get to know each other.

Area Groups

Smaller Area Groups have been formed within the Kent Group. At present there are seven of these groups covering regions around Sevenoaks, South East London, Cranbrook, Canterbury, The Mallings, Faversham and Dover. The groups are organised by local volunteers and their range of activities varies, depending on the interests and involvement of local members.

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Membership of the Kent Group at present stands at about 400. We are a very friendly crowd and you can be sure of a warm welcome.

Click on the logo to see how to join us.