Cultivating a Love for Gardening
Welcome to the Chiddingfold Horti , we are a dedicated gardening club.
We are committed to fostering a love for horticulture within our community and provide a platform for gardening enthusiasts of all skill levels .
We share our knowledge, exchange ideas, and cultivate friendships. Our diverse range of events including plant shows and practical talks designed to inspire everyone we meet.
Join us to enhance your gardening skills, discover new techniques, and contribute to a thriving, green environment. Together, we nurture not just plants but a community of
passionate gardeners in Chiddingfold.
Our Commitment to Horticulture
Join Our Vibrant Gardening Community
Together, We Grow
We are dedicated to fostering a love for horticulture within our community.
Our events inspire and educate gardening enthusiasts.
Join a network of fellow gardeners passionate about nurturing plants and friendships.
40 plus
Active Members
5
Annual Events
3
Plant Shows Hosted
Featured Highlights of Our Society
Explore the key offerings and highlights of the Chiddingfold Horticultural Society:
Community Engagement
Chiddingfold Horticultural Society needs YOU!
Last year we celebrated 175 years of Chiddingfold Horti. A true milestone, but sadly, one that may not last much longer, because of dwindling membership and support. Despite this situation we really want to continue to engage with the gardeners of Chiddingfold.
We now have about 40 members but an average of only 15 attending our talks. This is disproportionate to the amount of time and effort taken by the Committee to arrange speakers and organize talks, a plant sale and 3 shows a year. So we wonder if it is really all worth the effort?
This article is a direct appeal to all gardeners and allotment holders in Chiddingfold to join us in 2026 and actively engage with us to learn about the pleasures of gardening.
There is a positive social side to gardening; sharing experiences of what does or does not work in our gardens and finding new plants and ways to make our gardens special .
We are building on our close partnership with St Mary’s School and there will be two themed sections at each 2026 show showing the contributions made by the pupils
with awards for the best entries. Having experienced the enthusiasm of St Mary’s School with our joint sunflower project last year we see that there is a great benefit in what we do to promote gardening.
But we understand the pressures aspiring gardeners have in raising a young family and the commitments that come with that. Time is precious .
In view of this we have joined Tendershoots, a UK gardening network which has regular on line talks on a wide range of gardening subjects. This is available to all our members who will have a timetable of regular talks and log in details. This greatly expands the talks we provide and is delivered in a convenient way to fit your timetable. It also provides 50% discounts on Suttons and Kings seeds.
We have revamped what we can offer to make membership more attractive by looking at new ways we can engage with you:
· We are improving our website with links to the RHS, National Garden Scheme, the Allotment Association and others and giving monthly topical tips from Robert “Greenfingers” Walker
· Our full Show Schedule for 2026 is now available on the website with hard copies for those who have
no access to the internet. This a great insight into what is involved in our shows.
· We are now on Facebook. Chiddingfold Horti Soc
· Discounts at local garden centres to buy those plants you hear about through Horti
· A specific e mail address for gardening questions or suggestions on topics that you may have
Please consider becoming a member and try us out for 2026. It may be the last chance to keep Chidd Horti going.
You can become members by e mailing us on our website or coming to the Village Hall on Saturday 14th February between 11am and 12noon where you can join and where our members can renew membership. Membership £10. www.chiddingfoldhorti.co.uk
Thank you.articipate in our numerous community-focused gardening events and initiatives
SUMMER SCHEDULE
Summer Show 2026
Saturday 20th June in the Chiddingfold Village Hall. Show opens at 11:30am.
Tea, Coffee and Cake available
Judging begins at 10am
W.C.G – Worshipful Company of Gardeners
Division 1. Thomas Butler Cup
Sweet Peas: Challenge Bowl -All Classes
Species foliage allowed
Class:
- Sweet Pea 1 spike
- Sweet peas, mixed colours CHARLES WATTS TROPHY 3 spikes
- Sweet peas, one colour 3 spikes
- Sweet peas, 2 vases 2 colours, each vase 3 spikes same colour
- Sweet peas mixed colours up to 24 spikes
Roses: George Hawkes and Jack Whale 1
- Rose, Large Flowered
- Roses, cluster flowered
- Roses, miniature, small blooms, any type
- Rose, scented, exhibited for its perfume only
- Roses, large flowered, in a vase
- Container of mixed roses ( own container used)
- Roses, large flowered, staged on a board from the bottom up in the order:
One full blown, one perfect stage ( ½ to ¾ open, one in bud stage (one or two petals beginning to unfurl “ Cycle of Bloom”.
In the “Cycle of Bloom “ stage classes, take care of the order in which the blooms are to be staged. The full-blown bloom at the bottom should not have faded and may just show the stamens. The perfect bloom in the centre should be ½ to ¾ open. The bud at the top should show colour but with only one or two petals beginning to unfurl; sepals reflexed. All 3 items must be of one variety and staged with the blooms not touching on the board provided.
OTHER FLOWERS/FOLIAGE
- Pinks or Dianthus (except Sweet Williams) 6 stems
- Pansies/Violas – on board provided 6 blooms
Herbert Booker Trophy
- Fuschia - one or more kinds on a board provided 6 florets
- Clematis – 3 flowers on board provided Lovell Haslem Cup
- Delphinium florets , one or more kinds on board provided 6 florets
- My Best Cut Flower, one stem (except sweet pea, roses and delphiniums)
- A vase of mixed cut flowering ornamental trees and/or shrubs
- Garden flowers, one stem of each of 6 kinds grown in the open
- Garden flowers, one or more kinds grown in the open
May Hainsworth Plate
- Pot plant flowering/fruiting ( excl orchids)
- Flowering orchid
- A pot plant -foliage
- A container of one or more cacti/succulents
22/23/24/25 Rockwood Plate :the best pot plant. All pots max 300mm internal diameter.
- Geranium or Pelargonium 3 stems
- Delphinium 1 spike
- Delphinium 2 spikes, 1 of each kind
- Coloured foliage ( natural) 4 kinds, 1 stem of each Stonehurst Cup
- Perennial sweet peas
VEGETABLES : W.G.C. DIPLOMA
Wash all roots and clean brassicas. Lettuces, cabbages and cauliflower must have 76mm of stalk showing. Beet and carrots must have 76mm of leaf stalk showing
Class
40. Peas ( not more than 9 pods)
41. Broad Beans ( not more than 8 pods)
42. Rhubarb 3 sticks
43. A vase of fresh named culinary herbs , one or more kinds 4 stems
44. Any other vegetable, ( numbers not specified)
Any class for unspecified vegetables or fruits will be judged on quality and presentation only, not points.
FRUIT: W.C.G. Diploma
Class
50. Gooseberries 10 berries
51. A plate of currants 6 sprigs
52. A plate of any other soft fruit, 1 kind (number not specified)
Any class for unspecified vegetables or fruits will be judged on quality and presentation only, not points.
DIVISION II
Flower Arranging - Sadler Cup
Floral Art Certificate
Accessories allowed- height unlimited
Class
60. Small class: “Tiny Jewels” Space 300mm
61. Medium class: “ A Nursery Rhyme with a Title” Space 600mm
DIVISION III
CHILDREN ONLY
Must be the child’s own work.
Please state age at date of show and fix to the exhibit
Class
68. 5-7 years “ A Lego Model” - Pauline Thompson Cup
69. 8-11 years “ A Coloured Cardboard Butterfly – Summer Shield
DIVISION IV
COOKERY – Baker Cup
74. 4 Iced Fairy Cakes
75. 4 squares Chocolate Brownies
76. A Jam Swiss Roll
77. 6 spiced Sultana and Lemon cookies See recipe below
PHOTOGRAPHY ( Not previously exhibited)
All photos to be suitably mounted on card with preferably a 25mm border, maximum print size 220mm x 150mm
Class
85. “A Single Summer Flower”
86. “Clouds”
87. “Cheers”
88. “Roses”
SUMMER SHOW RECIPE
SPICED SULTANA AND LEMON COOKIES
225 g (8 oz) unsalted butter, softened, plus extra to grease
175 g (6 oz) golden caster sugar
2 medium eggs, lightly beaten
350 g (12 oz) self-raising flour, sifted
½ tsp baking powder
pinch of bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp ground mixed spice
150 g (5 oz) sultanas
finely grated zest of 2 lemons Makes approx 20
Pre-heat the oven to190°C (170°C fan oven) Gas 5. Grease two baking sheets.
Put the butter and sugar in a bowl and use a hand whisk to cream together until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well to make sure the mixture is thoroughly combined.
Add the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, ground mixed spice, sultanas and lemon zest to the bowl and fold everything together.
Take dessertspoons of the mixture and roll each into a ball. Put on baking sheets, spacing them slightly apart. Dip a palette knife in water, then use to flatten the rounds slightly. Bake for 15 minutes.
Cool the cookies on a wire rack. Store the cookies in an airtight tin and eat within two days.
Annual Plant Shows and Plant Sale 2026 Schedule
Chiddingfold Village Hall
PLANT SALE
10am to 11:15am
9th May
VILLAGE FETE
TBA
SUMMER SHOW
11:30am 20th June
AUTUMN SHOW
11:30am 5th September
TALKS FOR YOUR DIARY
ALL TALKS ARE IN THE VILLAGE HALL AND COMMENCE AT 8PM. DOORS OPEN 7.30PM
15th April - Mark Dobell "The Modern Kitchen Garden".
20th May - Hannah Neale "Drought Tolerant Plants".
16th Sept - Barry Newman "A Year on the Allotment".
21st Oct - TBC
Friendly Network
Connect with fellow gardening enthusiasts and build lasting friendships.
President
Sandra Gilbert, BEM
Vice Presidents
Myrtle Ballard Sheila Rapley Ciss Denyer
Robert Walker
Committee
Chairman: Sheila Rapley
Secretary : Annie Fernie
Treasurer: Martin Lacey
Membership Secretary: Elizabeth Baker
Programme Secretary: Georgia Lacey
Archivist /Website: Ben Baker
Committee Member: John Marshall
Tendershoots Network
As part of your Membership , you will have free password protected access to the Tendershoots on line network.
Tendershoots is an online garden club for individuals and garden groups, open to anyone, novices are especially welcome. What we offer:
- Gardening zoom talks during the autumn & winter,
- 50% seed catalogue discounts & other offers
- Maps to find gardens, independent nurseries, dog friendly gardens, plus more
- Summer garden visits & meetups
- Plus Tendershoots provide support for garden groups/clubs/societies
- Monthly zoom networking sessions to share advice & help
Get in touch
information@chiddingfoldhorti.co.uk
The Garden in June: Robert "Greenfingers" Walker
Some things that fly in the garden
Abddilrsy
Beefilrsttu
Aoprrssw
Abbcdiklrs
Abbcdiklrs
Adfglnory
Flaming June, Summer is really here and the plants are growing quickly.
We can expect hot weather so it becomes necessary to water plants. It is not a good idea to do a little and often as the watered evaporate quickly. Ideally watering should be in the evening so it can sink into the soil. Pour the water into the ground near the stems but not on the leaves as water can cause scorching on them in the sun. Seedlings should be watered from below -just stand the perforated container in a bowl of water and capillary action will raise it upwards, then remove and allow it to drain.
There is still time to sow tender vegetables such as tomatoes, courgettes, runner and French beans and sweet corn. Also continue sowing salad crops for a regular supply. Dahlia tubers can now be safely be planted and other seeds such as cosmos, asters, and perennials foxgloves, sweet Williams and wallflowers. It is wise to take precautions against slug damage.
Bluebells are now over, more than half of the world's supply grow in the UK. Foklore tells us that bluebell woods were filled with fairy enchantment and that picking them might mean fairies led you astray. Wild garlic is abundant in some woodland areas. The Latin name is allium ursinum which links back to bears which were thought to eat the bulbs.
There are the usual tasks including cutting the lawn, removing weeds, dead heading old flowers etc..
Do enjoy the pleasures of gardening
Robert 'Greenfingers' Walker
Ladybirds
Butterflies
Sparrows
Blackbirds
Bumblebees
Dragonflies.