Alton Horticultural Society was founded in 1902. We are proud of our long history but we aim to reflect the current interests of Alton gardeners with talks, outings and social activities.

We meet at 7.30pm on the third Thursday of the month at:-

Alton Community Centre
Amery Street
Alton
GU34 1HN

Meetings are usually attended by 50 – 60 members and typically consist of a talk from an invited speaker with an interval for light refreshments providing members with the opportunity to also have a chat.

Visitors are always welcome at our meetings (£5.00 per person) and can join during the evening should they wish to.

The society arranges a programme of outings through the year, some day trips and others afternoon or evening visits. Often they include special access to gardens and are frequently led by experts. We try to vary the days of the visits so all our members, whether working or retired, have the opportunity to join in.

Every other year we arrange a holiday, visiting several gardens and places of interest.

We use executive coaches from a local travel firm as comfort is important. For more details of the vehicles click this link

We also try to ensure that the hotels we use are accessible.

The society holds two shows a year. The first is the Spring Show, a very informal event that fills the April monthly meeting and is limited to members only. The emphasis is on taking part rather than fierce competition.

The main event of the year is the Summer Show, held on the last Saturday in June at the Alton Assembly Rooms. This show is open for all to enter and there is a wide range of categories from plants and flower arranging to cookery and artwork. There are several categories for children and even a couple just for men. Most importantly there are no entry fees! Full details are in our 2017 programme.

Scarecrow Competition

The summer show coincides with our popular scarecrow competition open to children 11 years or under (parents are allowed to make the frame). There are two categories, individual entries or group entries, with prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in both. The scarecrows are displayed outside the assembly rooms for the public to admire and to vote for their favourite scarecrow.

Join Us

 
Membership is open all year round. The subscription is £15 usually collected in January, or £6 if joining after 1st June.