Hello and welcome to the Surrey Horticultural Federation Winter Newsletter!
Happy new year! I hope that all your gardening dreams come true in 2026.
Please share this newsletter with your members and help them stay up to date with all the exciting and interesting events happening in Surrey and the surrounding areas.
Hurst Green Gardening Club’s Christmas Tree
Hurst Green Gardening Club’s Christmas tree had a busy time over the festive period. First, it joined in with the Oxted United Reformed Church’s Christmas Tree festival. After that, it was hastily re-erected at the Hurst Green Community Centre in time for the annual Christmas Day lunch for single people.
The decorations – some of which were made by members over ten years ago – are mainly plant themed; garlands are made of orange slices and chillies, for example, and there are dried oranges, cinnamon stick bundles and gold-sprayed walnuts as well. The clothes peg angels have leaves for wings, upside down mini plant pots are turned into bells and fir cones into mini Christmas trees. It’s then liberally sprayed with a winter scent of cloves, cinnamon and orange for an added Christmas experience.
Hurst Green Gardening Club try to vary their Christmas tree slightly each year; as most of the decorations are natural, they decay slightly with each year and so some are honourably retired for other decorations to take their place. This year they added the watering cans as time was short and they didn’t have the opportunity to make anything new.
The Surrey Gardens Trust New Winter Lecture Series for 2026
The Surrey Gardens Trust has Announced their new Winter Lecture Series for 2026! These talks are all hybrid events – held both in-person and via Zoom, with all participants receiving a recording link after the event, which will be available for two weeks.
Surrey Gardens Trust‘s first talk of 2026 is on Saturday 26th January 2026, from 2pm until 4pm at Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, Woodfield Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 2BE.
SGT Members: £12. Non SGT Members: £15. Online tickets: £6. Ticket prices includes tea, coffee & cake afterwards. For more information and to book your place, please click here.
Surrey Wildlife Trust Upcoming Events
Practical Skills for Small Woodland Management
Saturday 14th February, 10am – 3pm, Nower Wood
Develop practical skills required to effectively manage a small woodland. On this one-day course, there will be a brief discussion regarding basic woodland ecology, seasonal limitations, personal protective equipment, useful power tools and their appropriate use. We will then venture into the woods to learn how to use hand tools to ‘coppice’ appropriate species and deliver beneficial ‘thinning’ through the felling of small trees. Finally, attendees will gain experience in building deer ‘exclosures’, dead hedges and wind rows.
Boosting Biodiversity in your Garden
Friday 27th February, 10am-3pm, Nower Wood
Discover clever, cost effective ways to make your garden as biodiverse as possible. In this course we will investigate features of natural ecosystems that support a diversity of wildlife. We will explore the importance of ponds, log piles and glades as well as investigate how different soils support different habitats, learning firsthand how to analyse soil.
Small Woodland Management
Saturday 14th March, 10am – 3pm, Nower Wood
If you are thinking about buying a small woodland or have just invested in one, this course is for you. You will cover everything from basic woodland ecology to applying for management grants, and you will also have the opportunity to head out into the ancient woodland of Nower Wood to observe habitat management in action.
Surrey Biodiversity & Planning Conference
Tuesday 17th March, 9am – 5pm, WWF Living Planet Centre
Join the Surrey Nature Partnership for a day of learning, ideas exchange and network development. Key Note Talks, Case Studies, Workshops from leading planning professionals and ecology experts.
Ancient Woodland Indicators
Friday 10th April, 10am – 3pm, Nower Wood
Learn to identify the multiple indicators of ancient woodland in this beautiful and diverse natural setting. On this one-day introductory course, we will focus on the identification of the woodland indicators, plant species and variety of other features that are all found in ancient woodland.
Nature Friendly Farming Network Events
The Nature-Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) run a variety of events and webinars aimed at farmers and nature-lovers. You can find a list of upcoming events on their website. See list of events>>
You can also visit their homepage to find out more about NFFN and register as a member for free. Find out more>>
Surrey Hills Events
The Surrey Hills advertise a range of local events, including some conservation days and workshops. See list of events>>
The Biological Recording Company
If you’re interested in learning more about species ID and recording, the Biological Recording Company run lots of webinars, training courses and virtual symposiums. See list of upcoming events>>
The Hardy Plant Society Southern Counties Group have invited John Fielding to give a talk about Euphorbias at their meeting on Saturday 21st February 2026
The Hardy Plant Society Southern Counties Group invite you to join them on Saturday 21st February 2026 when they’ll be meeting at The Old Barn Hall, 55 Church Road, Great Bookham, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT23 3PQ. Doors open at 10am, the talk begins at 10.45am. Visitors are welcome at all Hardy Plant Society Southern Counties Group meetings and pay £5 to attend. This charge also applies to national HPS members, who are not members of the group, and friends of members.
John Fielding will be giving a talk about euphorbias, with the main emphasis on hardy plants we can grow in our gardens. John was a member of the RHS Photographic Advisory Committee for many years and is on the RHS Herbaceous Plant Expert Group. He is also involved with a number of specialist horticultural societies, including Mediterranean Plants and Gardens, where he is a member of the Management Committee. John’s work has been published in books, magazines and newspapers worldwide. There will be a plant sale at this meeting.
RHS Horticulture Expert, Ray Broughton will be giving a talk about Organically grown vegetables in small gardens to the National Vegetable Society at 8pm on Wednesday 11th March 2026
RHS Horticulture Expert and Lecturer, Ray Broughton will be giving a talk to the National Vegetable Society Surrey District Association about Organically grown vegetables in small gardens at 8pm on Wednesday 11th March 2026 in the Millennium Room at East Horsley Village Hall, Kingston Avenue, East Horsley, Leatherhead, Surrey KT24 6QT.
The National Vegetable Society Surrey District Association welcome non-members and guests – everyone is very welcome to attend this event – entry is free for National Vegetable Society members, £1 for members of affiliated societies, £2 for RHS Students, and £3 for visitors.
Tom Brown (Head Gardener at West Dean Gardens) will be the Surrey Horticultural Federation’s Speaker at our Spring Talk on Saturday 21st March 2026 at Normandy Village Hall!
The Surrey Horticultural Federation are delighted to announce that the celebrated Head Gardener of West Dean Gardens, Tom Brown will be our speaker at our Spring Talk on Saturday 21st March 2026, when Tom Brown will give us an interesting and informative talk on Getting the Most from your Greenhouse. Doors open at 2pm at Normandy Village Hall, Glaziers Lane, Normandy, Guildford, Surrey, GU3 2DD. Tom’s talk will start at 2.30pm. NB: There’s free parking right outside the hall. This is an accessible venue.
Tickets prices are £10 in advance for members of SHF affiliated clubs. Non-members are very welcome indeed to attend, tickets for non-members are £15, and if we don’t sell out before hand, any remaining tickets will be sold on the door at £15.
Pay by BACS transfer: Surrey Horticultural Federation, Metro Bank
Sort Code: 23-05-80
Account Number: 55314837
Reference: Talk + number of tickets
To receive ticket confirmation, you’ll must include an email address or phone number – please email Kathy.deaville@gmail.com.
Pay by cheques made payable to Surrey Horticultural Federation sent with a stamped, addressed envelope to our Treasurer, Katharine Deaville, ‘Garec’, Ham Lane, Elstead, Surrey, GU8 6HG. Any queries, please email Kathy.deaville@gmail.com.
Do you need certificates for your Flower Show?
The Surrey Horticultural Federation Certificates of Merit are available from our Chairman, Janet Arm. If you would like to receive Certificates of Merit, please post an A4 or Foolscap sized, stamped addressed envelope with a large second class stamp (£1.55) to Janet Arm at Redleaf Nursery, Green Lane, Tilford, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 2AP.
Spreadsheets for Show Cards
John Manches has devised a special computer spreadsheet to cope with printing show entry cards and adding up the points won for cup presentations. If any Surrey Horticultural Federation Clubs and Societies are interested in receiving John’s template, please contact John by email at: johnmanches74@gmail.com or phone 01252-702752.
Sunday Gardening Programme on BBC Radio Surrey
Don’t miss the Sunday Gardening programme on BBC Radio Surrey from 10:30am until 12 noon. Each week, the show have a segment where they promote gardening events in the local community; from talks to workshops, from fairs to meet-ups. No matter if it’s big or small, ticketed or free, the team want to hear from you and your society about what events you’ve got planned.
If you have any events to promote, then get in touch via email: Sunday.gardening@bbc.co.uk. It’s possible you could also have the opportunity to come on the programme and tell the listeners about your group and what it is you do.
Additionally, please do let your members know that if they ever have any gardening questions, they can reach out to the Sunday Gardening programme via email Sunday.gardening@bbc.co.uk or call the team from 10am on Sundays on 0800 587 1046. The Sunday Gardening programme are joined every week by a gardening expert who is ready to answer any question you may have.
Report Asian Hornet Sightings
I am sharing this early, to allow you to have time to share this information with your members, so they’re informed and prepared, ready for summer. Asian Hornets have been sighted in the UK in recent years. Why does this matter? The Asian Hornet is highly aggressive predator of our native insects; entomologists feel that the Asian Hornet poses a significant threat to honey bees and other pollinators.
Two Asian hornet nests were found in Surrey in September 2023. The nests were subsequently destroyed by experts from DEFRA. Keep up to date with Asian hornet sightings by clicking here.
If you think you’ve seen an Asian Hornet, take a photo if you can. Please take care and do not disturb an active nest. Members of the public who suspect they have found an Asian Hornet should report it to the NNSS through their online form or by emailing alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.
A free ID sheet is available from the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS). Click here to view detailed pictures to help you correctly identify an Asian Hornet.
Speaker Feedback
Has a speaker given a talk to your society over the past few months? Please share your confidential feedback by emailing me your thoughts, both positive and negative on the speakers you booked last year, and I will share your feedback privately (via email) with the other clubs that are members of the SHF – thank you. My email is contact@shf.email.
NB: Speaker feedback is private and confidential and is not to be shared with anyone other than your group’s programme secretary.
Publicising Your Club or Society’s Events
If your club or society is a fully paid up member of the Surrey Horticultural Federation, I will be delighted to add your society or club’s events to our website. Please email me, contact@shf.email. To successfully publicise your event, I need to know:
- What date your event takes place.
- What time your event starts.
- Where your event is held.
- What type of event you’re holding? If it’s a talk, please let me know the name of the speaker and their talk title.
- Finally, I need to know the entrance fee for non-members and visitors.
Do You Have Anything You Would Like Me to Add to the Next Surrey Horticultural Federation Newsletter?
If you are a member of the Surrey Horticultural Federation and you have something you would like me to add to the next newsletter or an event you would like me to add to the website, please contact me, Beth Otway, the Surrey Horticultural Federation’s Website & Events Secretary – my email is contact@shf.email.
On behalf of our Chairperson Janet Arm, Our Membership Secretary and Treasurer, Katharine Deaville, and all the Surrey Horticultural Federation Council, I’d like to send you our very best wishes for a happy new year.
Kind regards
Beth
Beth Otway
Website & Events Secretary
Surrey Horticultural Federation
Upcoming Events:
| January 2026 | ||||
| Wed 7-Jan-2026 | The World of Alpines: a talk by Jon Evans (PM) | Brooklands Horticultural Society | Barbara Royston | |
| Sat 10-Jan-2026 | The Winter Garden: a talk by Mark Porter (AM) | Hardy Plant Society Southern Counties Group | Anne Grabaskey | |
| Thu 15-Jan-2026 | The Nutrition Garden: a talk by Trevor George (St Christophers Room) (Evening) | New Society Gardening Club (Camberley) | Sarah Wesley | 07400 850876 |
| Fri 16-Jan-2026 | Local History: a talk by Dr Janet Pennington (Evening) | Storrington Horticultural Society | Janet Webber | |
| Wed 21-Jan-2026 | Survival of Our Planet through Plant Conservation: a talk by Graham Pattison (Evening) | Onslow Village Garden Club | Mrs Anne Bradbeer | 01483 563421 |
| Sat 24-Jan-2026 | The History of the Cottage Garden: a talk by David Marsh (PM) | Surrey Gardens Trust | Sheri Sticpewich | |
| Sat 31-Jan-2026 | Roses Revisited: the old, the new, and what to do: a talk by Gillian Taylor (PM) | Kingswood, Walton, & Tadworth Horticultural Society | David Dunning | 0208 660 9242 |
| February 2026 | ||||
| Tue 3-Feb-2026 | Ground Cover: a talk by Geoff Hawkins (Evening) | Shamley Green Gardening Club | Paulina Bayliss | |
| Wed 4-Feb-2026 | Flower Demonstration ‘Kokedamas’ with Emma Stevenson (PM) | Brooklands Horticultural Society | Barbara Royston | |
| Fri 6-Feb-2026 | Plants for Free: a talk by Keith Hine (Evening) | Woodham & New Haw Horticultural Club | Louise Clubley | 07843 962421 |
| Fri 6-Feb-2026 | A Gardener’s View of Ireland: a talk by Geoff Peach (Evening) | Lightwater Gardening Club | Shirley Marrison | 01276 502025 |
| Thu 12-Feb-2026 | Surrey Plant Heritage In-Person & Zoom AGM & Meeting | Plant Heritage, Surrey Group (NCCPG) | Wendy Bentall | 01276-858256 |
| Thu 12-Feb-2026 | Lavender Industries of Mitcham: a talk by Alison Cousins (Wandle Industrial Museum) (Evening) | Sanderstead Horticultural Society | Julie Caplin (Chair) | 07816 374 636 |
| Wed 18-Feb-2026 | Let’s talk gardening: a talk by Jean Griffin (Evening) | Thursley Horticultural Society | Mrs. Pat Clake | 01252-706869 |
| Wed 18-Feb-2026 | Wallington, Carshalton and Beddington Horticultural Society Quiz (Evening) | Wallington, Carshalton and Beddington Horticultural Society | Christine Hockham | 01243 824726 |
| Thu 19-Feb-2026 | Kew Gardens: a talk by Pamela Holt (St Christophers Room) (Evening) | New Society Gardening Club (Camberley) | Sarah Wesley | 07400 850876 |
| Sat 21-Feb-2026 | What makes a good garden?: a talk by Edward Flint (PM) | Surrey Gardens Trust | Sheri Sticpewich | |
| Sat 21-Feb-2026 | Euphorbias: a talk by John Fielding (AM) | Hardy Plant Society Southern Counties Group | Anne Grabaskey | |
| March 2026 | ||||
| Tue 3-Mar-2026 | An Evening with Bob Flowerdew | Shamley Green Gardening Club | Paulina Bayliss | |
| Wed 4-Mar-2026 | Brooklands Horticultural Society Garden Quiz with Geoff Hawkins (PM) | Brooklands Horticultural Society | Barbara Royston | |
| Fri 6-Mar-2026 | Woodham & New Haw Horticultural Club Talk: The Victorian Gardener – a new breed – ordinary householders by Dr Judy Hill (Evening) | Woodham & New Haw Horticultural Club | Louise Clubley | 07843 962421 |
| Fri 6-Mar-2026 | New Plants for Free: a talk by Keith Hine (Evening) | Lightwater Gardening Club | Shirley Marrison | 01276 502025 |
| Wed 11-Mar-2026 | Organically Grown Vegetables in Small Gardens: a talk by Ray Broughton (Evening) | National Vegetable Society (NVS) Surrey District Association | Beth Otway | |
| Thu 12-Mar-2026 | Flowers of the Mediterranean: a talk by Colin Jones (Evening) | Sanderstead Horticultural Society | Julie Caplin (Chair) | 07816 374 636 |
| Thu 12-Mar-2026 | Plant Heritage in-person & Zoom talk: An Evening with David Hurrion | Plant Heritage, Surrey Group (NCCPG) | Wendy Bentall | 01276-858256 |
| Fri 13-Mar-2026 | Warlingham & District Horticultural Society Quiz (Evening) | Warlingham & District Horticultural Society | Mr. Richard Bransby | 07981 135585 |
| Wed 18-Mar-2026 | 500 Years of Gardening History at Hampton Court: a talk by Graham Dilmore, Head Gardener (Evening) | Thursley Horticultural Society | Mrs. Pat Clake | 01252-706869 |
| Wed 18-Mar-2026 | William Robinson (the builder of Gravetye Manor) a talk by Julie Verity (Evening) | Wallington, Carshalton and Beddington Horticultural Society | Christine Hockham | 01243 824726 |
| Thu 19-Mar-2026 | The Development of Millais Nursery: a talk by Daniel Turner (Evening) | New Society Gardening Club (Camberley) | Sarah Wesley | 07400 850876 |
| Sat 21-Mar-2026 | Warlingham & District Horticultural Society Hobbies Event | Warlingham & District Horticultural Society | Mr. Richard Bransby | 07981 135585 |
| Sat 21-Mar-2026 | AGM followed by ‘A Blessing in Disguise’: a talk by Lynne Moore (AM) | Hardy Plant Society Southern Counties Group | Anne Grabaskey | |
| Sat 21-Mar-2026 | Getting the Most from your Greenhouse: a talk by West Dean’s Head Gardener, Tom Brown at Normandy Village Hall (PM) | Surrey Horticultural Federation | Ms. Beth Otway | |
| Sat 21-Mar-2026 | Sanderstead Horticultural Society Spring Show (PM) | Sanderstead Horticultural Society | Julie Caplin (Chair) | 07816 374 636 |
| Sat 21-Mar-2026 | A Cultural History of the Rose: a talk by Jennifer Potter (PM) | Surrey Gardens Trust | Sheri Sticpewich | |
| Fri 27-Mar-2026 | Plant Heritage Surrey Group: Open Day to see the National Plant Collection of Chaenomeles cvs | Plant Heritage, Surrey Group (NCCPG) | Wendy Bentall | 01276-858256 |
| Sat 28-Mar-2026 | Frensham & Dockenfield Horticultural Society Spring Show (PM) | Frensham & Dockenfield Horticultural Society | Sharon Miller | 07766 573856 |
| Sat 28-Mar-2026 | Warlingham & District Horticultural Society AGM (PM) | Warlingham & District Horticultural Society | Mr. Richard Bransby | 07981 135585 |