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7th January 2026,
Monthly meeting at 2pm in The Memorial Hall, Great Addington
Speaker Geoff Hodge
Beating the Winter Blues
Geoff has 29 years experience as a freelance gardening author, writer, radio and TV presenter and web and magazine editor. He provides a wide range of professional gardening services to both the consumer and trade and commercial gardening markets.
He gives talks to a wide range of gardening clubs and horticultural societies, including national organisations such as the Hardy Plant Society, Plant Heritage, Alpine Garden Society, WI and U3A.
4th February 2026,
Monthly meeting at 2pm in The Memorial Hall, Great Addington
Speaker Susie Lickman
How to Enjoy your Houseplants.
Susie is the inspiration behind 'Windowsill' a flower shop situated in the old firestation in Abbey Street, Market Harborough.
Susie is on the list of approved speakers for Women’s Institutes in Leicestershire & Rutland, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire. Her talks are a combination of advice on caring for houseplants, anecdotes from her personal experiences and a few laughs, followed by a Question & Answer session for your tricky houseplant problems.
Her speaking style is very informal but you will be sure to be infected by her passion for houseplants and gain a long list of hints and tips.
4th March 2026
Monthly meeting at 2pm in The Memorial Hall, Great Addington
Speaker Michael Brown, an ex- professional horticulturist/Head Gardener and college lecturer in horticulture and garden history, with an MA in Garden History.
Michael's other interest is medieval history, especially daily life, music and pilgrimage.
He designed and set out the medieval gardens at the Prebendal Manor, Nassington, which was once the biggest fully authentic reproductiono of a medieval garden in Europe. He has written three books, all published by White Owl Books/Pen and Sword. Death in the Garden, about poisonous plants. An Introduction to Medieval Gardens, Gardens in the Age ofChilvalry. Medieval Plants and their Uses.
1st April 2026,
Monthly meeting at 2pm in The Memorial Hall, Great Addington
Speaker Jake Croft
Irises
Members who visited Lamport Hall in May 2024 will remember Jake who gave us a guided tour of the gardens. Today he will speak to us about the breeding of new Iris cultivars and research into improving growing methods
May 6th 2026,
Monthly meeting at 2pm in The Memorial Hall, Great Addington
Speaker Christine Rowe
From the Ark to the Ashmolean - The Story of John Tradescants
John Tradescant (c.1570 – 1638) is one of the most captivating characters in the story of gardens. He travelled to Holland to buy plants for the 1st Earl of Salisbury’s garden at Hatfield House. Later he became gardener to Henrietta Maria “the rose and lily queen” of Charles I.
His son John (1608 – 1662) travelled to America to collect plant specimens and succeeded his father as Royal Gardener.
May 20th 2026,
Outing to Barnsdale Gardens, Rutland
Created by Geoff Hamilton for BBC Gardeners' World, Barnsdale Gardens is Britain's largest collection of individually designed gardens and is teeming with great ideas. With thirty eight individual gardens in an eight-acre site, there's plenty to see and do.
It has been dubbed ‘a theme park for gardeners’ because of its uniquely designed collection of 38 individual, yet realistic, small gardens that guide you round this 8 acre site. There are a great variety of garden areas, ranging from traditional English cottage gardens, to wildlife, Japanese and French, as well as spaces for growing vegetables and fruit. There is also a fabulous plant nursery.
June 24th 2026,
Outing to Burghley House, Stamford
Experience the peaceful tranquillity and wonder of the 18 acre Sculpture Garden which mixes contemporary sculpture within beautifully diverse planting areas. Hidden pathways lead you through the Gardens to enjoy a beautiful view of the stunning lake created by ‘Capability’ Brown in the 1770s. Enjoy the playful nature of the Garden of Surprises, based on an original design by William Cecil in the 16th century. With transforming obelisks, clever water features and the mirrored maze, these gardens have been designed to be accessible to all regardless of age or interest.
22nd July 2026,
Outing to Stoke Albany House, Market Harborough
This is a traditional garden brought up to date in a perfect English setting, situated in a picturesque landscape. The garden is furnished with fine trees, a long herbaceous border of depth
and variety, the owner's and gardener's pride and joy. Lawns and a traditional walled garden containing a potager with topiary, a grey garden, an avenue of Nepeta Sixhills Giant arched with Mme Alfred Carrier roses, a peaceful garden with a fountain and beautifully maintained greenhouse. There is also a Mediterranean garden, a rose parterre and an Autumn garden-ten acres in all.
12th August 2026,
Outing to 16, Ace Lane, Bugbrooke
Over the last 14 yrs the enclosed garden has evolved from what was previously extensively laid to lawn with traditional borders, to a varied characterful garden structured by hedges, paths and herbaceous borders. Topiary, creative planting and water features give emphasis and contrast with the lavender rill, pyramid and globe gardens. The lawn has gradually disappeared!
September 2nd 2026,
Monthly meeting at 2pm in The Memorial Hall, Great Addington
Speaker David Hinckley
Top Fruit
Broughton gardener and founder of www.growmad.co.uk returns to speak to us this afternoon. David's website has been created with the aim of bringing together all of the components to find, organise and run an enjoyable and productive plot, whether an allotment, smallholding or window box.
7th October 2026,
Monthly meeting at 2pm in The Memorial Hall, Great Addington
Speaker Andrew Mikolajski
The Garden of York Gate, Leeds
Andrew has a busy career as a gardening author, lecturer and speaker. He has published 40 gardening books in addition to contributing to garden amgazines and the RHS website.
A magical one acre garden near Leeds, York Gate Garden is one of Perennial’s three gardens. Perennial is the UK’s only charity supporting those working with plants, trees, flowers or grass, as well as those who have retired.
York Gate Garden is open from Wednesday to Sunday each week from April to October.
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