2026 Programme
Unless otherwise stated below, talk meetings take place at Catisfield Memorial Hall. Please aim to arrive from 7:15pm for a 7:30 start. Admission is free for members, £3 for non-members and includes tea or coffee and biscuits. Meetings finish by 10pm.
- 12th February - “Wildflowers of Britain and Europe” - Brian Pettit
- 12th March – “All About Potatoes” - John Trim
- 9th April – “Orchids - Wild and Beautiful" – Peter Ashburn
- 14th May - Garden Plant Sale
- 27th May - Guided Tour of Mottisfont Abbey Roses with Michael Harvey
- 11th June – “Ferns and Grasses” – Chris Bird
- 9th July - Club Away Day – Bramdean House
- 13th August – Part 1 - "How to Grow Roses Successfully" and Part 2 - "Rose Rustlers Saving Old Roses" - Glenn Duggan
- 10th September - “Pests and Diseases” – Alan Horgan
- 8th October - “Strange, Bizarre and True: Tales from the Natural World” – Bryan Pinchen
- 12th November - Annual General Meeting
12th February - “Wildflowers of Britain and Europe” – Brian Pettit
Brian is a wildlife photographer who has travelled extensively worldwide.
As the title implies this talk concentrates on many of the fantastic range of wildflowers to be found in Britain and Europe. Whilst the central theme is botanical there are, nevertheless, many associated dependent and inter-dependent birds, mammals and insects depicted.
Members' competition: “The Winter Garden”
– a display of a maximum of 7 stems
of anything you can find flowering in your garden that will fit into the club’s vases, which are approx 8” high and have narrow necks.
12th March – “All About Potatoes” - John Trim
John Trim is an expert on growing vegetables, particularly for shows. He is a Fellow of the National Vegetable Society, show judge and horticultural lecturer.
Members' competition: “Easter Parade”
– decorate a hat for Easter using fresh flowers, foliage and some Easter ornaments. Here’s an opportunity for all you non-gardeners to have a try because you can raid your friends’ gardens or even Sainsburys!
9th April – "Orchids
- Wild and Beautiful" - Peter Ashburn
Peter,from the Hardy Orchid Society, will talk about the amazing variety of native wild orchids found locally in Hampshire and further afield in the UK.
14th May Garden Plant Sale.
Our Spring Sale on Thursday 14th May will be supported by our Sponsors St Margaret’s Nursery, but to make the event a success what we really need are DONATIONS. We need all members to support the event so please try to find something to donate for this sale e.g. plants, cuttings, pots, tools, garden furniture, books… in short anything which could be related to the garden in any way.
Plants should be:
- Healthy
- Labelled: as a minimum state the type of plant and if possible the colour and size they will become.
Please bring your donations to the Memorial Hall between 3.30 & 5.15pm on May 8th. If this is not convenient please contact Susan at newsletter@catisfieldgardeningclub.co.uk and she will let you know where you can drop off your items, or make arrangements for their collection.
For the sale itself, please try to bring some loose change and boxes or bags to carry your purchases; we hope to have card payment facilities at the final payment table but won't have this for the raffle. There will be an express entrance for members who remember to bring their membership cards..
27th May – Guided Tour of Mottisfont Abbey Roses with Michael Harvey
An exclusive opportunity to enjoy a private guided tour of Mottisfont's world famous rose garden with Senior Gardener Michael Harvey, at a time when the property is closed to the public. Tours start at 6pm and cost £15 per person. Limit of 50 people in two groups of 25.
11th June - "Ferns and Grasses" - Chris Bird
A Horticultural Lecturer at Sparsholt College, Chris has visited the Club on a number of occasions and is always an interesting an entertaining speaker.
Members' competition:
“Fern-tastic!”
– an imaginative display, placed in a container of your choice, of ferns and/or grasses from your garden.
9th July - Club Away Day – Bramdean House near Alresford
Bramdean has a beautiful 5 acre garden best known for its mirror image herbaceous borders, a 1 acre walled garden, carpets of spring bulbs, and a large, unusual collection of plants and shrubs giving year-round interest.
Our away day will commence at 2pm with a brief before we look around the garden. Cost £10 which includes tea, coffee and biscuits.
13th August - "How to Grow Roses Successfully" and "Rose Rustlers Saving Old Roses" - Glenn Duggan
Club Chair Glenn will talk to us about roses.
Members' competition: “Dahlia Regalia” – a display, in your own vase, of your
three
most beautiful Dahlias.
10th September - “Pests and Diseases" - Alan Horgan
Alan has spent almost all his working life in horticulture and now mainly deals with organic and biological controls.
Members' competition: “Picture Perfect” – a favourite from last year - submit a photograph, in A4 size, of something in your garden associated with late summer.
Members' competition: “Picture Perfect” – a favourite from last year - submit a photograph, in A4 size, of something in your garden associated with late summer.
8th October - “Strange, Bizarre and True: Tales from the Natural World" - Bryan Pinchen
Bryan is an entomologist, the author of several books, and has appeared on the BBC's "Countryfile".
Members' competition: “Can You Conker the World?” – back by popular demand - the
heaviest
conker
will win! In the event of a tie, the Adjudicator will decide which is the most beautiful!
12th November - Annual General Meeting
We have our usual format for the AGM with a Quiz & Buffet. We will commence the evening at 7.30 with the formal part of the AGM where your Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary etc. will make their reports to you the membership. We will then have the election of the Chair and Committee for 2026. This should not take more than 20/30 minutes. Last year it took longer than this, but we will ensure that we keep to these timings this time around.
Having a good committee is essential for our Club and we have a very successful committee but we always welcome new members. If you are interested in joining then please contact either Glenn our Chairman or Jo our Secretary.
Having a good committee is essential for our Club and we have a very successful committee but we always welcome new members. If you are interested in joining then please contact either Glenn our Chairman or Jo our Secretary.
After the formal business has taken place, we will then adjourn to enjoy a delicious buffet. A reminder to please bring your own drinks and you can bring alcohol if you wish.
Following the buffet we will enjoy an inter-table quiz.
