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Joining the RHS
Tootles
Posts: 1,469
hello
thinking of joining the RHS for the first time. In anyone's opinion or experience, do you think it's worth it's? I don't live close to ant of the big gardens.
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Posts
Absolutely. The annual subscription gets you a monthly magazine with RHS news, gardening news, garden and plant articles plus reports of RHS trials.
You also get free access to visit any RHS garden as well as about 200 partner gardens elsewhere in the UK and Europe; free access to RHS experts for advice on plants and their cultivation; preferred access to the big shows such as Chelsea, Hampton Court, Tatton; access to the monthly shows in London and the Lindley library.
Your subscription helps fund the gardens and research and teaching projects and trials.
Fellow members include trainee gardeners, head gardeners, amateur gardeners, nurserymen and women and landowners from many different backgrounds and all united by their interest in horticulture.
What is not to like?
100% agree with Obelixx.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Sold! I'm going to sign up tomorrow.
thanks for your thoughts.
Big fan here too (although I'm within striking distance of Wisley, so get my money's worth very easily). Have used their advice service (by email) a couple of times too .....although mostly before I discovered the experts on here
We've just joined as well, this month, Tesco are allowing club card points to be spent on a yearly membership
I've been a member for two years and I agree, it's worth it - even if you can't get to Wisley easily, the magazine is excellent, you get free gardening advice, and you support a worthy charity. And you get up to I think 12 (small) packets of seeds collected in the RHS gardens every year for £8.50, if you wish. And the flower shows are great, my favourites are the plant fairs at Wisley.
The only thing that bugs me right now is that they seem to have teamed up with T&M to produce a seed range.
I've been a member for years. Used to visit Wisley and now visit Rosemoor ( and membership lets you take a guest free too ) . Rainy days see me catching up on the magazine.
I don't go to the shows any more but used to love Hampton Court.
Chelsea isn't for me . Too many there are only there because they feel they need to go to be seen going, ditto Wimbledon, Henley, Glyndebourne etc etc. Far too crowded for my liking, even on members days.
I love Chelsea on a members' day but hated it when I had to go on a public day with my scientists and in a wheelchair cos of new feet. Very different atmosphere and I'm so glad my wheelchair was a temporary state. I'm not going this year but have been 9 out of the last 10.
Went to Hampton Court in its second year but enjoyed Tatton far more, maybe because I went with friends from the old boards and met more there. We also popped over to Harlow Carr for a visit and that was really good. I liked Malvern when I went one spring and will go again probably once we've got this garden settled in some sort of routine.
Last year I dragged OH off to Chelsea and then Hyde Hall and Beth Chatto's which we both loved but HH was a bit underwhelming tho clearly a lot going on to make new areas of interest. Haven't ever visited Rosemoor and can't see me getting there but if I do get oop north again I shall certainly arrange a visit to the new Bridgewater garden.
Don't forget the new show at Chatsworth, great for me, as only 5 miles from home.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
OH gives me membership every year as an ongoing birthday present. Have been to the 4 main RHS gardens and many others and this year I have a discount on tickets for the Malvern Spring Show. It usually pays back the subscription.