Visits need to be booked. Please download a pdf copy of the booking form and email it to us.

Talks (blue text) are held in Bruton Community Hall, doors open at 7pm for 7:30pm start.

Programme for 2025

MONDAY, 17th FEBRUARY Howard Burnett will talk about ‘Orchids - growing and caring for them and the unusual and rare species’. Howard has been growing orchids for 50 years developing an interest and expertise in the more unusual ones. He trained as a judge with the British Orchid Society and was also a member of the Somerset Orchid Society, including being Chairman. Howard is willing to offer a ‘surgery’ for unwell plants.

FRIDAY, 21st FEBRUARY, 2pm
James Allen Heritage Walk, meet at the Market Cross, Shepton Mallet
A free event as part of the Snowdrop Festival. Learn about the remarkable legacy of the Snowdrop King, James Allen, the first person to breed snowdrops from the wild, who was born in Shepton Mallet. Note that the walk is 1.2 miles and a steady incline to Windsor Hill House. Duration is approximately 2 hours and no booking is required. As an alternative less strenuous option enjoy the snowdrop planters and snowdrop adornments around the town centre.
In the town there will be stalls from specialist growers of snowdrops, spring plants, climbers and plants for shade, which will be available for sale.
For further details of the snowdrop festival see sheptonsnowdrops.org.uk

SATURDAY, 15th MARCH, 2pm
Visit to Lower Shalford Farm, Shalford Lane, Charlton Musgrove, Wincanton, BA9 8HE
This is a member’s garden open for the NGS, a combined opening with Forest Lodge. It is a fairly large open garden with extensive lawns and wooded areas with large drifts of daffodils, there is a stream running through it with several stone bridges. Refreshments will be available at both gardens.
Directions: On the B3081 from Bruton, just beyond Otter Garden Centre turn left, 1/2 mile on left with parking opposite the house.
Pay on entry, £10.
Full details at: ngs.org.uk/gardens/lower-shalford-farm-ba9/

MONDAY, 17th MARCH Amelia Williams will talk about ‘The care and maintenance of garden trees’. Amelia is a highly qualified Chartered Arboriculturist and Environmentalist with 20 years’ experience, who runs her own consultancy.

WEDNESDAY 16th APRIL 6pm – Visit
Castle Gardens, Sherborne, talk and discount shopping.
Gold Club shopping visit with short talk and 25% discount on purchases. Please bring your membership card or speak to a committee member on arrival. Booking essential, members only.
Directions: Follow signs to Sherborne Castle, the Garden Centre is by the gates to Sherborne Castle.

MONDAY, 28th APRIL Deborah Harris will talk about ‘Setting up a flower farm, seasonal flowers, succession planting and cutting’. Deborah, who is also an artist, will talk about her business, Church Farm and also bring flowers.

SATURDAY 10th MAY 9:30am
Plant sale /coffee morning in Bruton Community Hall. This is a fund raiser and shop window for the Society. Please support it and bring as many plants, seedlings, produce and cakes as you can. Please label these as it makes it so much easier for both sellers and buyers.

WEDNESDAY, 21st MAY, 8.30am
Coach trip to Kew Gardens
Our coach trip is to the Royal Botanical gardens at Kew, the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. The incredible living plant collections are among the largest and most diverse in the world and the site includes the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse. Entry includes “The Power of Trees” exhibition exploring the enduring beauty of trees across art and culture and “Of the Oak”, a one-of-a-kind immersive art installation that celebrates the oak tree as a vital hub of biodiversity.
Cost: members £41 including coach and entry (Newt members £23); non-members £44 (Newt members £26). If you are a member of the Newt then you must show your membership card (via your smart phone) at the visit for free entry. For non-Newt attendees this is the concession price, if you are under 65 then add £2 to cost of the visit.
Parking: Arrangements have been made for members/guests to park at Hauser & Wurth on the B3081, the road from Bruton to Wincanton. The entrance can be found on the left-hand side after going under the railway bridge and past Lyon House.

WEDNESDAY, 4th JUNE, 2.30pm
Visit to Cadenham Manor, Foxham, Chippenham, SN15 4NH
A glorious four-acre garden laid out in the 1950s with many rooms, divided by yew hedges and moats. The garden is known for its stunning displays of old roses, specimen trees, fountains and statues. There is also the White Garden, the Peony Walk and the Phlox Walk, plus vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, cut flowers and a water garden.
Cost: Members £14, non-members £17, includes refreshments.
Directions: On the B4069 from Chippenham, turn right in Christian Malford and left in Foxham. Cadenham Manor is on the right.

MONDAY, 16th JUNE, 6pm (alternative bad weather date - Thursday, 19th June)
Members’ Garden Social, Cooks Farm, North Brewham, BA10 0JQ
Held by kind permission of Patricia Stainton. This is county wildlife site with unimproved grassland meadow with wildflowers including devil’s bit scabious, knapweed and betony.
This will be a special “Roses and rosé” event: members are invited to bring their favourite rose from their garden for a fabulous floral display and the best will be chosen for a prize. We also hope to have a celebration cake to mark out 100th show and a musical accompaniment for the evening. Sure to be fabulous!
Cost: £7 members, £9 non-members, includes a glass of wine and nibbles
Directions: From Quaperlake Street leave Bruton on right fork by the Toll Cottage on the Brewham Road, passing The Old Red Lion pub on the right, continue approximately 1 mile to the crossroads and turn right into a ‘No through road’. Continue past some cottages to the bottom of the lane where there is an American style mailbox signed “Cook’s Farm”, keep on the lane and park in the farmyard.

FRIDAY, 25th JULY, 2.30pm
Visit to Gasper Cottage, Stourton, BA12 6PY
This is a secluded country garden of about 1.5 acres, with views out to glorious countryside. There is a luxurious planting of dahlias, grasses, asters, cardoons and other late summer specialities. A perennial meadow hosts an orchard and nascent forest garden with a wildlife pond. There is a pergola with herb terrace.
Cost: £13 member, £16 non-members, includes refreshments
Directions: Follow Stourhead signs, go through Stourton, after 1 mile, turn right after phone box signed Gaspar.

SATURDAY, 16th AUGUST, 2:30pm - Annual Show
Fitzjames Hall, King’s School, Bruton, BA10 0ED
By kind permission of the headmaster. Show schedules can be picked up at the Plant Sale and after that from Bruton shops, the Library and Community Office. As this is a special year, when we celebrate our 100th show, we would like there to be a bumper number of entries so do please enter as many of the classes as you can and, of course, come along and support the show on the day.

WEDNESDAY, 10th SEPTEMBER, 2pm
Visit to Burrow Farm Gardens, Dalwood, Axminster, EX13 7ET
A beautiful 13-acre garden with unusual trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants created by John and Mary Benger over 50 years ago. There is a lake and ancient oak woodland and a millennium garden with a rill. There is a cafe and gift shop.
Directions: Take the A303 (west) and just after you join the A30 turn left at Stockland Hill which becomes Worham’s Lane, for 5.9 miles. Burrow Farm is on the left. What3words app: guidebook.fetches.fortress
Cost: £9.50 member, £10.50 non-members, free for RHS members

MONDAY, 15th SEPTEMBER Gill Hazel will talk about ‘Rare and unusual bulbs’. Gill and her husband ran a business - Great Western Gladiolus – which gave her the knowledge and experience of bulbs and their cultivation.

MONDAY, 20th OCTOBER Castle Gardens Gold Club talk about ‘Growing your own’. Topical tips on growing your own vegetables, maximising space and suggestions for different planting combinations.

MONDAY, 17th NOVEMBER Arthur Cole will talk about ‘The Newt - 6 years’ on’. Arthur last spoke to the Society as Head of Programmes 6 years ago when the garden at The Newt was being developed by its new owners. He will now speak about the implementation of the original plans, how the garden is now developing and plans for the future. The gardens were featured on Monty Don’s ‘British Gardens’ TV series this year.