Membership
Application to join: HPS NW Group
Application to join: National HPS
What the HPS North West Group offers to Members
It is a condition that members of the North West Group should also be members of the Hardy Plant Society (HPS) (registered charity No. 208080). Student members (reduced rates apply) are particularly welcome. Membership of HPS provides wide access to a knowledgeable community of gardeners who are enthusiastic about hardy herbaceous perennials; benefits include a twice-yearly journal (The Hardy Plant), newsletters, access to specialist groups, and an annual seed exchange scheme. HPS organises events and visits around the country with the help of local and specialist groups. These include an autumn weekend - where lectures and visits to private gardens are arranged - and study days on a particular topic, such as Hardy Geraniums and Shade & Woodland plants.
The North West Group is affiliated to the HPS and aims to further the objectives of HPS on a regional basis. During autumn, winter and spring we have a programme of lectures on the third Monday evening of the month. These are held at Samlesbury War Memorial Hall located in Cuerdale Lane, PR5 OUY near to the M6 junction 31. (See our Programme, via top menu, which includes a map.) At each of these meetings there is also a sales table where members can place plants for sale and buy plants. We publish a local Newsletter twice per year.
We often have stalls at plant sales. In the summer there are garden visits and outings to places of interest. From time to time we will have additional meetings or workshops; and we join with other groups having similar or sympathetic aims to provide events such as study days and lectures by celebrity speakers.
In 2008 we were privileged to represent the Society at Chelsea Flower Show and were awarded a silver-gilt medal. From then until 2017 we also had many gold medal successes at Southport FS. Since 2017 we have been staging successful exhibits at Chorley FS.