The Bedford Gardening Club is a sociable community group of gardeners of all types in Bedford. Meeting monthly, organising social events, trips and with a regular newsletter, we welcome new members all year.
We meet on the third Thursday of each month from 6pm – 8pm in Bedford.
To find out more, come along to a meeting where you can find out about membership and how to get involved.
Upcoming Events
December 18th 2025: Winter Social & Festive Kokedama Workshop (with Pizza)
January 15th 2026: Unusual Garden Trees with Greg Packman
Next Event
The Atlas of Deadly Plants
with Jane Perrone
Thursday 20th November, (6pm-8pm)
The Gordon Arms, Castle Road
Jane Perrone returns to give a talk about her new book The Atlas of Deadly Plants
In Jane’s own words: This book was so much fun to research and write! I tell the stories of 50 incredible plants from around the world – all with the potential to harm, but many with other uses in traditional or western medicine, witchcraft, and culture.
You can find out more about the book on Jane’s website.
Members attend events for no additional charge. New members are always welcome and you will have the chance to join for £25 a year (or £40 for two people at the same address).
If you are interested in attending this event you can also make a one off payment of £5 on the door.
Past Events
Spring Bulbs
with Rose Cottage Plants
Thursday 16th October, (6pm-8pm)
The Gordon Arms, Castle Road
Anne started growing plants from seed when her then garden in Theydon Bois was open under the National Garden Scheme back in the 1990’s. From such small beginnings, Rose Cottage Plants emerged. The nursery soon progressed to exhibiting at flower shows, with next year being the 30th anniversary of it’s first show at Capel Manor in North East London – going on to win ‘Best in Show’ there for a display of spring bulbs a couple of years later. Medal wins at RHS shows followed. A move to the present farm location gave room for expansion of the nursery and the thriving mail order business, selling bulbs and dahlias. Now activity is all year round, with two busy mail order seasons in late winter and autumn, around the late spring and summer growing seasons, when the nursery produces thousands of perennials and dahlias.
Today, Rose Cottage Plants is a leading specialist in bulbs and dahlias, introducing many new varieties into the UK market and supplying garden lovers all over the UK, whether they have a window box to fill or acres of grand garden.
This evening’s Spring Bulbs talk covers the seasons from autumn through to early summer.
Members attend events for no additional charge. New members are always welcome and you will have the chance to join for £25 a year (or £40 for two people at the same address).
If you are interested in attending this event you can also make a one off payment of £5 on the door.
How To Get The Best From Your Roses
with Kerry French
Thursday 18th September, (6pm-8pm)
The Gordon Arms, Castle Road
Kerry studied Horticulture at Brooksby Melton College, Leicestershire. Kerry joined the Ornamental team at RHS Wisley, my remit was the Bowes Lyon Rose Garden. After 4 years she moved to be head gardener at The Royal National Rose Society, gardens of the rose in St Albans. Kerry is now head gardener and rosarian at Rochfords international rose Trial, at Letty Green near Hertford.
Kerry’s talk will cover a wide range of rose care and how to get the best from your roses. There will be a handout as part of the talk.
AGM & Piet Oudolf Film Screening
Thursday 19th June, (6pm-8pm)
The Gordon Arms, Castle Road
In June we will be marking one year since the founding of the Bedford Gardening Club and holding our Annual General Meeting. This will form up to 30 minutes of our regular event and will include a short presentation on the past 12 months of activity, finances and committee matters. Rob, David and Tonia will also be seeking re-election to the committee and inviting others to join.
Following the AGM we will be screening a film about the gardens of celebrated designer Piet Oudolf, taking a look at his work across the seasons and getting inspiration for how to design with perennials that gracefully die through the winter, left in place to provide wonderful interest (and great wildlife habitat).
We will also be launching a competition that will run through the next 12 months and announcing details of our upcoming events.
Flowers through my viewfinder
with Hemant Jariwala, ARPS
Thursday 15th May, (6pm-8pm)
The Gordon Arms, Castle Road
“Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”
[Luther Burbank (1849 – 1926) was an American botanist, horticulturist and pioneer in agricultural science]
This talk is a photoessay, presenting an intimate study of flowers – close-up and portraits, that were once considered exotic are now common and mundane to Britain. Indeed, botanical photography is often considered as ‘record photography’, but the speaker will show the ‘artistic persona’ and beauty of flowers that have been taken for granted.
Hemant Jariwala is an award-winning photographer, who specialises in
botanical, garden, landscape and iPhoneography. He’s images have been regularly published in popular photography & garden life-style magazines, greeting cards, calendars and books, around the world. In 1993, Hemant Jariwala won two major awards: Practical Photography magazine’s ‘Photographer of the Year’ and Royal Photography Society (RPS) International Slide Exhibition (General Category) Gold Medal & The Agfa Trophy.
Hemant is an Associate of the Royal Photography Society, and member of Bedford Camera Club.
The talk will be followed by a Q&A as well as time for socialising, a drink and conversation with fellow members. We will also be sharing details on upcoming members events, socials and garden visits.
Members attend events for no additional charge. New members are always welcome and you will have the chance to join for £15 a year (or £25 for two people at the same address).
If you are interested in attending this event you can also make a one off payment of £5 on the door.
Herbs: Cultivation, Culinary and Medicinal Uses
with Growmad!
Thursday 17th April, (6pm-8pm)
The Gordon Arms, Castle Road
Joining us in April from Growmad! David and Claire will be delivering a presentation and interactive session on all things Herbs. We’re looking forward to a really comprehensive evening on how to cultivate, cook with and the medicinal uses of herbs.
The evening will include:
– Complimentary herb seeds generously provided by our sponsors
– Techniques for propagating and growing at home
– Herbs in the kitchen
– Full information on medicinal uses for herbs
– Exclusive discount codes for gardening supplies
– A curated selection of live plants available for purchase
– Interactive tea-tasting sessions featuring infused herbs from our own smallholding
– A variety of herbal tea accessories for sale
Thomas Etty Esq Supplier of Heritage Seeds & Bulbs
for the Period Garden (including seed sale)
Thursday 20th March 2025 (6pm-8pm)
The Gordon Arms, Castle Road
Thomas Etty Esq are a heritage seed and bulb merchant and experts in growing for the period garden. With so much rich history here in Bedford we thought it would be a great opportunity to learn more about growing heritage varieties and then buy seeds as part of the event.
You can find out more about Thomas Etty esq. on the links below including their socials. Do come along with questions and you might leave with an unusual variety to grow in your garden this year!
To find out more: thomasetty.co.uk
Socials: @thomas_etty_seeds
The Sue Ryder Grief Kind Garden with designer Katherine Holland
Thursday 20th February January, 6pm-8pm
Russell Park Club, Goldington Road, Bedford
We will be joined by garden designer Katherine Holland who will be discussing her work with Sue Ryder on the Grief Kind garden at Chelsea Flower Show in 2024. Recently relocated to Sue Ryder’s site in Moggerhanger just outside of Bedford we will hear about the design process, Chelsea itself and all that has happened since relocating the garden.
The talk will be followed by a Q&A as well as time for socialising, a drink and conversation with fellow members.
Members attend events for no additional charge. New members are always welcome and you will have the chance to join for £15 a year (or £25 for two people at the same address).
If you are interested in attending this event you can also make a one off payment of £5 on the door.
Gardening for Wellbeing: Science, Stories & Action with Emma Dagless
Thursday 16th January, 6pm-8pm
The Gordon Arms, Castle Road, Bedford
This talk will consider some of the evidence demonstrating the positive impact of gardening on both health and wellbeing, and take a gentle look at some of the science. Based on my own experience and research, I will illustrate the talk with stories from around the world, and also provide time to consider how we can use this knowledge when navigating the ups and downs of life.
Gardening Indoors with Tony Le-Britton from Not Another Jungle
Thursday 21st November, 6pm – 8pm
Russell Park Club, 69 Goldington Road, Bedford
We will be joined by Tony whose shop Not Another Jungle has triumphantly launched in Bedford this year. You may have already bought a houseplant, sought Tony’s expert advice or had a coffee in store, now come to listen as Tony shares his expert advice on growing indoors.
As we retreat indoors through the winter, there are so many options to still engage in gardening and Tony will be taking us through how to succeed with the selection and care for houseplants.
You can follow Not Another Jungle on Instagram, or take a look at Tony’s brilliant book here.
Planning, Growing & Arranging Cut Flowers with Rachel Bull
Thursday 19th September, 6pm – 8pm
Russell Park Club, 69 Goldington Road, Bedford
Please join us for our first members event after a summer break. We will be welcoming Rachel Bull (@houseofdandelions) to speak about her work planning, growing and arranging cut flowers. Rachel designs the most wonderful floral displays and arrangements and will be speaking about how to get ahead of the planning needed to successfully grow flowers for picking, arranging and bringing into the house or for special occasions.
The talk will be followed by a Q&A as well as time for socialising, a drink and conversation with fellow members.
Please note that our autumn meetings are taking place at the Russell Park Club, please email bedfordgardeningclub@gmail.com for directions or to ask any questions.
Members attend events for no additional charge. New members are always welcome and you will have the chance to join for £15 a year (or £25 for two people at the same address).
If you are interested in attending this event you can also make a one off payment of £5 on the door.
Starting an Organic Allotment from Scratch with Chris Collins
Thursday 17th October, 6pm – 8pm
Russell Park Club, 69 Goldington Road, Bedford
Chris Collins has a CV most gardeners can only dream of – taking in two Royal Botanic Gardens, Westminster Abbey and the Blue Peter Garden. He says: “Gardening is constantly teaching us lessons about observation, patience and working with nature. To properly notice and be in contact with the changing seasons is an absolute privilege.”
You can read more about Chris’s work in this Gardens Illustrated profile and find out more about Garden Organic on their website.
Bedford Gardening Club 