Gardening club history

WAVENEY GARDENING CLUB

The history of Waveney Gardeners Club

The club was founded in 1911 under the name of the Oulton Broad Gardening Association. It is known that all activities were suspended during the 1914-1918 war years.  The Association was revived in 1919, with new headquarters, at the Rock Institute in Oulton Broad.

From 1948, the Society held three shows a year, an early summer show in July, a summer show in August and a late chrysanthemum show in November. The Society’s Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 1961 with a very successful show in Nicholas Everitt Park on August Bank Holiday. The then President, Mr Malcolm Humphrey gave a magnificent silver punch bowl to be known as the Jubilee Trophy. This is still held, for one year, by the exhibitor with the highest number of first prizes in the Summer Show.

In 1936 the Association became the Oulton Broad and District Horticultural Society.  This was amended to the Oulton Broad and Lowestoft Horticultural Society in 1977.  In 2021 the Society adopted a new name –  Waveney Gardeners Club.

Affiliations

The WGC is affiliated to the following:

  • The Royal Horticultural Society
  • The British Gladiolus Society
  • The National Vegetable Society
  • The National Dahlia Society
  • The Norfolk and Suffolk Dahlia Society

More info

Our gardening club, is a friendly association of gardeners and horticulturalists local to the surrounding areas of Suffolk and South Norfolk. Members’ interests range from simple gardening through to the science of horticulture, from general garden interests through to specialism in particular plant groups or even single species. Members raise their plants in every kind of setting; gardens, allotments, greenhouses and polytunnels. Our combined expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm means there is something for everyone to learn, something for all to share and enjoy. WGC is a gardening club for everyone.

WGC holds its meetings at St Luke’s Church Centre, Homefield Avenue, Lowestoft NR33 9BX. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month from January to July and September to November. Meetings start at 7.30pm and there is a small entry charge to help defray the cost of hiring the hall; a raffle is organised and refreshments are served mid-way through the evening. The monthly meetings usually feature an outside speaker talking about gardening related subjects.

Past Events have included bee keeping, companion planting and local wildlife. For information about this year’s meetings see the What’s On page.

During the summer months we arrange a number of outings and visits. These have included Kew Gardens, the RHS Bicentenary Evening at Somerleyton Hall with a guided tour by the then head gardener Mr Bob Coutts, RHS Wisley, Hyde Hall in Essex and Wottons of Wenhaston.

The Waveney Gardeners Club is a non profit-making organisation, but the committee arrange various fund-raising activities throughout the year in order to cover expenditure. Through the generosity of many businesses and individuals within the East Anglia region, we have sponsorship of events and storage of equipment.

Gardening Club in Lowestoft

News & Updates

Please check here regularly for any important club news and special updates.

New Year, New Webmaster

We would like to say a big thank you to Sheila who has done an amazing job keeping our website up to date in the past eighteen months.  We wish her well as she moves on to pastures new.  From January this year Debbie will be taking on the role as Webmaster.  For website queries please get in touch with her through the contact form on our Get In Touch page.

Bereavement

It is with great sadness that one of our staunchest members have died. Our sympathies go to his family and partner Marion.

Allotment Sharing

One of our members has 2 large allotments at St Margaret Road site in Lowestoft which he shared with his late mother and her partner. He has tried to keep them going but is finding it difficult on his own. He finds gardening very therapeutic and having suffered from cancer himself he wondered if other members who have had similar experiences could join him on his allotments where they could share experiences and socialise together. Without a team to help him he will have to give up the allotments but feels it would be beneficial to all concerned to work together. For more information please complete the contact form.

Changes to membership fees

It has been agreed by both the members and the committee that the membership fee will increase to £10 per annum, In order to get good speakers we need to increase our income, speakers costs have also increased as have their travelling costs. The entrance fee will remain at £1.00 with first time guest free of charge.

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