Up and running in 1924 (and apparently earlier!) - RHS affiliated
Wisborough Green Horticultural Society and Garden Club
open to anyone interested in gardening so why not take advantage of:
~ An annual plant sale in May - great plants at bargain prices.
~ Two flower shows each year, in June and August.
~ Garden related talks in the Autumn.
~Annual General Meeting, get together and horticultural quiz in March.
~ Seed swap and afternoon tea in a village garden - May/June
~Affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society, the National Vegetable Society and the Dahlia Society.
~Discounts and special terms at Village Nurseries, West Chiltington and Prenplants.
No joining or membership fees - Voluntary donations at our events always welcome.
Contact Chairman Tom Christopherson ( 01403 701913) or press the Join Us now button on the website if you would like to join.
Diary dates: 2026
March 2nd - AGM and Quiz - Village Hall
May 16th - Plant Sale - Little Green - 11.15 a.m.
May 31st - Seed Swap and Tea - The Grange, Kirdford Road, Wisborough Green - from 2.30 p.m.
June 14th - June Show, Village Hall - opens 2 p.m.
August 31st - August Show ( to be held alongside the Wisborough Green fete) - Village Hall - opens 2 p.m.
October the 5th - Autumn Talk
December the 5th Christmas Wreath Making - Village Hall.
WGHS - Welcome to Gardeners, Help for all Seasons!
Seed swap and tea - 2025
NEWS:
This year's AGM and quiz (2026) took place at the Village Hall on Monday March the 2nd.
The Society held an enjoyable and well attended AGM and Quiz. Tom Christopherson was re- elected as Chairman, Chris Stride as Treasurer, Heather Richards as Secretary and Mary Benson as Show Secretary and Kate Osborne as Membership Secretary. Becky Penfold, Nigel Hutchinson, Sarah Sawyer and Shirley Stride remain on the committee, joined by Helen Vause.
Chairman's report:
At the AGM, the Chairman commended Wisborough Green gardeners for their skill and resolution in overcoming a challenging 2025 for weather, with an exceptionally dry Spring (and very cold nights) followed by a dry and occasionally very hot Summer and then an unrelentingly wet Autumn. In spite of this, we had held two Flower Shows that were both applauded by the external judges for being at a very high standard with lots of entries.
The May Plant Sale had been a great success and continued to be a key financial support for the Society – please bring any unwanted cuttings, seedlings and shrubs to the 2026 Sale on May 16th!
In May the Society had also held its first “Seed Swap and Tea”, which will be repeated this year on May 31st at the Grange – all welcome for a relaxed afternoon tea and horticultural natter in a beautiful garden.
Garden - The Grange.
The Chairman reported that the second half of the year had seen two sold-out Society events, with the Autumn Talk “Garden Inspiration” brilliantly provided by Mark Saunders, Head Gardner at Fittleworth House, and the Christmas Wreath-Making afternoon in December provided by Kate Osborne, which once again produced more than thirty beautiful and individual Christmas Wreaths adorning doors around the village.
The Chairman thanked all the sponsors and volunteers who supported the Society through the year, and in particular the Committee who did so much to arrange the 7 events that bring us all together in each of the four seasons of the year. As a result of all the work for the Plant Sale and the support from sponsors and generous donations, we would once again be able to offer free membership and free access to our 2 flower shows – why not join in!
You can read the minutes of the meeting here: WISBOROUGH GREEN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AGM 2nd March 2026.doc
Shows
The June Show returns to the Village Hall on June the 14th 2026 at 2 p.m. Schedules are available from the village shop, the telephone box and from Chairman Tom Christopherson. All entry forms with exact amount of cash to be left in the special letterbox at Old Pond Cottage, Billingshurst Road, Wisborough Green RH140DX ( next door to the Three Crowns) or by post to the same address to arrive by Friday 12th of June. Exhibits to be staged ready for judging between 8.30 a.m. and 10.15 a.m. when exhibitors must leave the hall until the show reopens at 2 p.m. Cups and prize money will be presented at 4.00 p.m.
You can download the schedule for the show here: Hort Soc 2026 Schedule Final.docx
The schedule contains lots of advice about presenting your entries and we warmly welcome new entrants to the show, if you have any questions please do contact us for advice and help.
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Plant sales
This year's plant sale will take place on Saturday May the 16th at 11.30 a.m. on Little Green. Any donations of plants or offers of help very gratefully received! Please bring cash.
The seed swap and afternoon tea will take place at The Grange, Wisborough Green, RH140DE on the afternoon of May the 31st at 2.30 p.m. There is no charge, if you would like to bring a surplus packet of seeds ( full or part opened, but preferably in date) to exchange please do ( but you are welcome, with or without your seeds!). This is a lovely opportunity to talk gardening and exchange plant knowledge and ideas with fellow gardeners.
WGHS Plant Sale, 2024
WGHS plant sale 2025 - Little Green.
Volunteers
We always welcome volunteers, please do get in touch if you would like to donate plants for the May sale, or to help with the horticultural show or other events.
(Some of) The Committee, 2024
Talks and activities
In the past we have held talks on a wide range of subjects as well as hosting well known gardeners such as Chris Beardshaw, Pippa Greenwood, Bob Flowerdew, Matthew Biggs and Helen Yemm. Last year Mark Saunders, head gardener at Fittleworth House gave a fascinating and very well attended talk on Garden Inspiration - using slides and anectodes to provide inspiration from both private and famous gardens and practical advice as to how to best transfer those ideas to our more modest plots!
Christmas Wreath Making
The doors of Wisborough Green were adorned with some very beautiful wreaths over Christmas - and we very much hope to make this an annual tradition. This year's wreath making class ( 2026) will take place at the village hall on Saturday December the 5th at 2 p.m. The cost is £30 for members and £40 for guests to include all materials, a glass of prosecco and a mince pie. Booking will open in the Autumn and this event is always a sell out. Please e-mail katemosborne@aol.com to pre- book a place.
Trips
In recent years we have organised trips to Kew Gardens and The Savill Garden together with informal visits to more local gardens.
History
The Wisborough Green Horticultural Society has contributed to community life in the village for at least 100 years. The sundial on the Little Green was donated to the parish by the society to commemorate the millennium.
Millennium Sundial on Little Green
Sponsors
Many thanks to our sponsors:-
Rosemary Ansell
James Bolam
Sue Jameson
Philip Juniper
Bellmans Auctioneers (01403 700858)
Zest Unisex Hair Salon (01403 700202)
Dandelion Farewells (01403 701001)
Tulip Accounting (01403 585410)
The Cricketers (01403 700369)
The Three Crowns (01403 432966)
The Bat & Ball (01403 700199)
Fowlers Estate Agents (01403 786787)
Fishers Farm (01403 700063)
Twelvetrees Treecare (01403 700848)
Objective Wealth Financial Planning (01403 701026)
Aurora Fireworks (01403 701991)
Spackman Accountancy Services (01403 700791)
Penfolds, Estate Agents (01403 289414)
Old Mill Cafe (01403 700094)
Wisborough Green Stores (01403 700278)
Newbridge Nurseries (01403 272686)
Village Nurseries (Sinnocks - 01798 813040) - WGHS members eligible for a 10% discount on plants and sundries on production of membership card
Prenplants (www.prenplants.co.uk) 01403 822437 - special terms for members - Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
If you would like to support the society and have your details listed here please contact us at wghsoc@gmail.com
Privacy Notice:
To view the Wisborough Green Horticultural Society privacy and data protection notice please click below:
Wisborough Green Horticultural Society Privacy Notice.pdf