The Valley Gardeners was founded in the year 2000. Several keen gardening friends, living in the Itchen Valley in Hampshire, had the idea to start a club for like minded residents of the villages and towns in the Winchester area.  Now, 26 years later, the club has about 120 members (as well as a waiting list) and is a thriving part of local life. Members enjoy not only the many events organised by the Club each year but the friendship and social interaction which comes through the shared love of gardening and plants. Last year was our quarter century anniversary year and to celebrate we had a champagne tea following the AGM in November.

Club meetings take place every 2nd Tuesday of the month, from January to November. In a varied programme of events, there are talks and lectures from experienced garden professionals, garden historians and designers, as well as demonstrations and workshops of practical gardening skills. These take place in the Itchen Abbas & Avington Village Hall at 2.30 pm, after which tea and biscuits or cakes are served.  In addition to our printed programme of events, we arrange the occasional evening meeting, which cover a diverse range of horticultural subjects, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic refreshments provided!

In the warmer months of the year, The Valley Gardeners visit interesting and beautiful gardens throughout the south of England. This might be an afternoon visit to a local garden in Hampshire or a day long excursion by coach to a more distant garden (or two), often with lunch and/or tea included in the day's itinerary. We have introduced Study Days recently when a small group of members concentrate on a specific topic with refreshments provided of course! In 2020, David Hurrion taught us how to create our own cutting garden and the year before we had a study day all about permaculture from Maggie Harland and in March 2023, David was back to reveal the secrets of successful pruning at a morning workshop.

We organise a holiday by coach each year, visiting gardens in different areas of the country and in 2012 we made our first foray overseas, to Normandy to see some stunning French gardens and a unique opportunity to visit the French version of the Chelsea Flower Show, at Courson. In 2019, we visited 4 wonderful gardens in Essex including the iconic Beth Chatto Garden and in 2021, we enjoyed a trip to gardens in Monmouthshire. 

2023's programme included a 4-day holiday to the gardens of Northamptonshire. In 2024 we went to Somerset and North Devon and 2025's short holiday was to Herefordshire in June.   This year we are visiting the gardens of East Sussex on the 24th– 26thJune.

We always welcome guests at our talks so do come and join us if you can. We make a small charge of £10 for guests but it is £5 if you are on our waiting list.  We look forward to seeing you at a Valley Gardeners' event soon.