The Lambourn Valley Horticultural Society started in 1988. In the May edition of Village Views a letter from Bridget Barman of East Garston asked if there was anyone who would be interested in starting a Gardeners' Club/Horticultural Society. In the June edition of that year the inaugural meeting was announced, to be held on Thursday 16th June in Lambourn Memorial Hall which was attended by 33 enthusiasts. It was decided to have monthly meetings with guest speakers and a few outings to gardens of interest during the summer months. By the middle of September we had enjoyed an outing to the RHS garden at Wisley and had our first meeting, an illustrated talk given by Wendy Burdett on Garden Design.
Many years later we are still a thriving society with a number of current members who attended that first inaugural meeting.
The present day Society still runs on the same lines. We meet on the second Thursday of each month from September to May in Lambourn Memorial Hall at 7.00pm when we have speakers covering a wide variety of gardening topics. From May to September we enjoy outings to a variety of gardens both private and ones open to the public, both large and small. These visits are always very popular and you have to book early to get a place on the coach. Once a year we have a quiz against Ramsbury Horticultural Society with questions posed by an outside quizmaster, each society taking it in turns to host the evening.
Our annual subscription is £8. As a member you can attend meetings and outings. We also have plant sales at the October, April and May meetings and make and sell Christmas wreaths at Lambourn Church Christmas Fair.
If you would like to join the society just come along to one of our meetings, or if you would like to try us out first you will be welcome as a visitor for a small fee. Look out for posters in Lambourn and details in Village Views. Our current Chairman Anne Saunders. We are a very friendly sociable society providing a good opportunity to make new friends.
