Denton Gardening Club
Introduction
Denton Gardening Club normally meets on the 3rd Tuesday most months (though there are occasional exceptions, like the month of the Annual Show). Between October and April meetings with guest speakers are held in the village hall and in the summer meetings include evening outings locally, perhaps a visit to a garden or nursery, as well as meetings in our own members' gardens.
We also hold an Annual Show, summer outings, plant sales and other events. New members are most welcome so do come along and join us. Details of the current programme appear below.
Contact: Adele Godsmark: 01986 788352, Email
Information about the history of the Club appear on the Club History Page.
Meetings
Between October and April meetings with guest speakers are held in the Village Hall, starting at 7.30 pm. Previous meetings have been on subjects such as Garden Design, Perennials, Orchids and Container Gardening. Whatever you are interested in, there will be something for you!
The summer schedule includes evening outings locally, perhaps a visit to a garden or nursery, as well as meetings in our own members' gardens.
Autumn-Winter Programme 2026/7
NB - No meeting in September.
October 20th - Glug by Tom Cohn.
Glug was founded by Tom and his partner, Katia, in March 2025 with a mission to encourage people to move away from supermarket extra virgin olive oils.As Tom describes it, the industry can often be "fairly dodgy", with many products being of questionable quality and sourced from uncertain origins.
Glug champions a different approach, focusing on single-origin, single-harvest and, where it matters most, single-variety olive oils. Their aim is to produce a high-quality product at a sensible price.
During the session, Tom will explain the origins of olive oil, why quality matters, and what distinguishes exceptional olive oil from the ordinary. The presentation will also include a tasting opportunity.
November 17th - Celebration of 30 Years of the Denton Gardening Club.
The Club was founded in 1996 by a group of friends who shared a passion for gardening, with its first meeting taking place on 19 November 1996.Since then, the Club has continued to grow and evolve, hosting 28 Annual Shows, including this year's event, excluding the Covid years.
Membership stands strong, and as we look ahead to the next 30 years, this milestone provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the club's achievements and recognise the shared enthusiasm for gardening that has brought members together over the years.
The evening will follow a similar format to our previous Christmas Meals, with a few special additions to mark this significant anniversary and make the occasion one to remember.
December 15th - Christmas Social Evening and Wreath/Table Decoration Making.
This will be an informal and enjoyable evening, with the opportunity to create your own Christmas Wreath or festive Table Decoration in preparation for the forthcoming celebrations.Guided by Jean Whipps, participants will be able to craft a unique and personal arrangement, and we are sure everyone will leave with something truly special to enjoy throughout the festive season.
Refreshments will be available, including mulled wine and cyder as well as teas and coffees.
January 19th - Closer to Nature: A Wilder Garden by Jim Paine.
After a decade in international conservation, Jim and his partner Clare founded Walnut Tree Garden Nursery in South Norfolk in 1998, specialising in rare and unusual hardy plants,with a background in environmental science and a passion for horticulture, conservation and plant science.
Jim’s fascinating talk takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the natural world, exploring the state of nature from a global perspective down to our own East Anglian neighbourhood.
He will explain how we can manage our gardens in ways that create space for wildlife and help restore biodiversity.
The talk offers a thought-provoking exploration of humanity’s evolving relationship with nature and our role in shaping the future of our uniquely precious planet.
February 16th - Fuchsia: History, Hybrids and Cultivation by Kristopher Harper-Allison.
Kristopher owns Harper and Debbage. He is a Chartered Horticulturist, an RHS exhibitor, and curator of a National Plant Collection of Fuchsias, with an additional collection currently in development.His talk explores Fuchsias in their native habitats around the world and provides practical, UK-focused cultivation advice to help gardeners get the best from their plants, including guidance on pests and diseases.
March 16th - New, Rare and Unusual Perennials by Tim Fuller of Plantsman Preference.
Tim, co-founder of Plantsman’s Preference, a specialist nursery based in South Lopham, has been growing and selling plants since 1996.The nursery offers an extensive range of hardy geraniums, ornamental grasses, and unusual perennials, with a particular emphasis on plants suited to shade and woodland gardens.
Since 2008, Tim has served on Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Award of Garden Merit trial assessment panels for a variety of plants, including Stipa, hardy geraniums, and Spiraea.
His expertise in hardy geraniums was further recognised when he wrote an article on the subject which was published in the RHS magazine ‘The Garden’ in 2026.
Tim will showcase some of the most exciting new plant introductions and discuss their place in the modern garden. He will also explore new varieties of traditional cottage garden favourites, alongside rare and little-known species that deserve wider recognition.
Drawing on his extensive experience, Tim will offer practical advice on plant selection and inspiring planting combinations to help you choose the right plants for your own garden.
April 20th - The Poison Garden by Matthew Tanton Brown.
Matt trained at RHS Wisley and then went on to run the horticultural unit and lecture part-time at Otley College before becoming the Manager at The Place for Plants in East Bergholt for 20 years.He has been an expert on BBC Radio Suffolk and is an active member of Suffolk Plant Heritage. He is now self-employed, enjoying the variety of working and pruning in other people’s gardens.
Following a visit to the Poison garden at Alnwick Castle, Matt realised there was a need for people to learn more about poisonous plants. This amusing talk will teach you both common and unusual plants to be aware of when you are gardening.
Our summer programme begins in May where we visit local gardens.
Summer Programme 2026
All summer meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month. See timings below for each meeting. Please try to car share where possible and park considerately to neighbours. As always wear footwear suitable for uneven ground!
- Tuesday May 19th.
A visit to The Elms, Toft Monks - 7pm.
Cost £4 per person to include refreshments (This cost is subsidised by £1 per member by the club).
The Elms, Elms Road, Toft Monks, Beccles, NR34 0EJ.
We begin our summer programme with a visit to The Elms at Toft Monks. Gardens are set around a beautiful, moated Queen Anne house and barn which serves as a wedding venue. There is an extensive spring bulb display as well as the herbaceous borders, and formal rose garden with ponds. Refreshments will be available including teas, coffees and soft drinks, all included in the cost.
Ample parking is at the rear of the property behind the large barn. - Tuesday June 16th.
Private visit to two gardens in Stoke Holy Cross - 7pm.
Cost £4 per person to include refreshments. (This cost is subsidised £1 per member by the club, funds to a charity of the homeowners’ choice)
Garden 1 – 47 Norwich Road, Stoke Holy Cross, NR14 8AB.
Anna and Alistair Lipp invite us to their west facing garden with views of the Tas Valley and water meadows, developed over 25 years. Features include a rose and vine covered pergola, gravel beds, raised terraces shaded by magnolias, a greenhouse housing exotic plants, a wildflower meadow, and an informal pond.
Garden 2 – Stackyard House, 23 Norwich Road, Stoke Holy Cross. NR14 8AB.
Margaret and Neil Sparrow moved to Stoke Holy Cross in 1999 and built their home on a three acre field overlooking the Tas Valley. They created a garden designed to make the most of the sloping site and stunning views down to the water meadows. The garden combines large areas of grass and trees with more structured elements such as mixed borders, a vegetable garden with raised beds enclosed by a yew hedge, and a summer house garden still under development. Ongoing changes are shaped by local wildlife, as well as the challenges of our variable weather. Refreshments will be available.
Parking for Garden 1 at the village hall or church hall on Long Lane, and for Garden 2 at the church (400 yards away). For those with limited mobility there is some parking on the road at Garden 1 and at Stackyard House, Garden 2. Please car share where possible. - Tuesday July 21st
Private visit to two gardens on the outskirts of Bungay, opposite and near to the Three Willows Garden Centre - 7pm
No charge.
Garden 1 - Treetops, No 9 Woodland Drive, off Flixton Rd, Bungay, NR35 1PE.
Val and Nigel Whyte’s garden is arranged into four distinct areas. The front garden is dominated by a large hornbeam and planted in a cottage garden style, leading to a small, sheltered courtyard. To the rear is a wonderful view of the Waveney Valley, with mixed sunny borders featuring roses and a sloping area where a wildflower garden is being established.
Garden 2 – No 4 Woodland Drive, off Flixton Rd, Bungay, NR35 1PE.
Alison and John Witchell moved to Bungay five years ago. The garden originally had four separate levels; following major improvements completed in September 2024, all levels are now fully accessible. Many plants were relocated during the works and are now re establishing alongside new planting. Charcoal has been incorporated into the beds, and a large rainwater tank has been installed beneath the patio to assist with watering. Refreshments will be available.
Parking on Woodland Drive, please car share where possible. - Tuesday August 18th
Private visit to two Denton garden club members – from 6.30pm.
No charge.
Garden 1 – Barn House, Darrow Green Rd, Denton IP20 0AY. (at T junction with Manor Farm Road (Misery Corner))
Sandra and Colin Gordon, have an established garden featuring a large lawn with mixed flower bed and borders including roses, rhododendrons and azaleas. Due to wet conditions, some rose borders have been replaced over the years with grasses and hydrangeas, alongside the introduction of a wildflower garden. The garden is surrounded by mature specimen trees and includes a large wildlife attracting pond at the front. To the rear is a productive vegetable garden with greenhouse and fruit cage.
Garden 2 – Fir Tree Farm, Darrow Green Rd, Denton IP20 0AY. (second property on the left approx. 300 yards after Garden 1 - towards Wash Lane)
Christine and Jason Kerr moved to Denton ten years ago to a garden largely consisting of grass and gravel. Following property renovations, work began on the garden in 2020. The front garden was transformed with the introduction of lawn, raised beds and a cottage garden feel. More recently, flower beds have been added to the rear garden along with a metal tunnel walkway (constructed by Jason) incorporating climbing roses and shrubs. The garden now includes an extensive collection of dahlias. Refreshments will be available.
Parking is available at both properties but please car share where possible.
- And finally note the date! Saturday September 5th.
The annual DGC Open Show at Denton Village Hall. See separate Show Schedule for details.
Future 2026 dates for your diary:
October 20th – the start of our winter programme, details to follow, starting at 7.30pm.
November 17th - 30 years of Denton Garden Club celebration dinner.
December 15th - Christmas activity evening making wreaths and table decorations.The Annual Show
An Annual Open Show is held either in July or, more commonly, at the beginning of September, or even at the end of August!
The 2026 Show was held on Saturday 5th September
Full details, the entry form etc. can be seen Here.Details of this year's winners and those from previous Shows appear on the Show History Page.
Christmas Tree Competition 22
Following on last year's triumph, the Club again decided to enter a tree in the Alburgh competition.
There were more entries this year, including one from the Art Group, but the Club won again -
The tree was then proudly displayed at the Club's very successful Christmas Social Event on December 29th.Christmas Tree Competition 21
A group of Club members joined together to create an entry in the 2021 Alburgh Church Christmas Tree Festival. To their great delight, following a poll of those attending, they were rewarded with First Prize.
The pictures below, thanks to Peter Wiltshire, show:
The winning entry -
The trophy and certificate -
And the plaque on the trophy -
The following photos are from recent shows – click to enlarge.
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