Q: I like the idea of joining a gardening club, but I don’t know where to start. How do I find a good local group, and what can I expect if I join one?
A: As someone who regularly visits and speaks to garden clubs across Dorset, I can say with confidence that they’re one of the best ways to deepen your gardening knowledge and feel part of a wider, like-minded community. With more than 200 clubs in the county, the only real challenge is deciding where to begin. Your local group should be easy enough to find online, but if not, the information point at your Town Hall or council office will steer you in the right direction. Personally, I always recommend chatting to neighbours too – gardeners are rarely shy about sharing their enthusiasm or pointing you towards a good club.
The clubs themselves vary in size, style and personality, but you can expect talks from knowledgeable speakers, practical demonstrations, lively plant sales, seed swaps, produce shows and group visits to gardens you might otherwise never discover. These outings often become highlights of the calendar, providing fresh ideas and plenty of inspiration. There’s also a strong social side: coffee mornings, informal gatherings and lots of friendly chatter before and after meetings. I’ve never left a club talk without someone pressing a cutting, a handful of seeds or even a spare plant into my hand – generosity is practically woven into the fabric of gardening culture.
Many clubs have substantial memberships – I recently visited one with more than 130 active members – yet most are delighted to welcome newcomers who are willing to help with organising events, stewarding at shows or simply lending an extra pair of hands. Getting involved behind the scenes is one of the quickest ways to feel at home and to build lasting connections.
I’d also add that garden clubs are increasingly recognised for the support they offer around wellbeing. You don’t need to be struggling to feel the lift that comes from getting outdoors, learning something new and doing something useful with others. Offer a hand to your local group, give a little of your time and enthusiasm and you may find – as I’ve seen many times in clubs across Dorset – that the experience becomes a rewarding and uplifting part of your life, one you never look back from.
Garden tasks for February
Prune late-flowering clematis hard, cutting plants back to around 30cm to encourage strong new flowering shoots. This type of clematis blooms on fresh growth, so a confident prune now ensures a better display later. Feed generously with garden compost at the same time.
Prune wisteria by cutting all lateral shoots back to two or three buds, keeping the plant tidy and focused on flower production. Remove any damaged, tangled or weak wood, then check and secure all wires and supports.
Mulch as much as possible now to trap rising warmth in the soil and protect beds from heavy rain. A good mulch layer slows evaporation, suppresses weeds and helps rainfall carry nutrients deep into the ground. It also improves soil structure, giving plants a healthier, more resilient environment.
PLANT OF THE MONTH:
Galanthus elwesii
Galanthus elwesii is my favourite snowdrop, a taller, more striking species than the familiar Galanthus nivalis. Named after Victorian explorer and plantsman Henry Elwes (1846-1922), it stands almost twice as high as the common snowdrop and appears earlier too. Its broad, grey-blue, waxy leaves and large, elegant flowers make it unmistakable. Although slow to spread, it earns its place in any garden, shining brightly through late winter and proving itself a true harbinger of spring.
Got a gardening quandry? Drop Ian an email at iantribe@gmail.com
Ian Tribe is the author of The Plant Kingdom (Hamlyn). He has taught widely, founded the Wisley Series at RHS Garden Wisley, and currently runs monthly gardening workshops in Ryme Intrinseca, as well as writing and broadcasting, with an occasional gardening slot on Radio Solent
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