PlantAdvice.co.uk

Research conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has found that one of the best ways to make friends, share in a common interest and expand your horizons is to join your local gardening club. And with the launch of the charity’s new online and interactive map of gardening groups, coupled with the forthcoming Dig Together Day events, it has never been easier for gardeners to connect with their perfect partner.

A poll of 550 gardening clubs affiliated to the RHS found that 68% of members joined their local gardening club for social reasons, the making of friends and the enjoyment of meeting like-minded people; while 73% said they wanted to share gardening information, and 70% were keen to widen their knowledge.

Stephanie Eynon, RHS Communities Manager, explains: “I know it all sounds a bit like an advert for a dating agency, but gardening clubs really do offer excellent social benefits – monthly meetings, day trips out, annual events and even holidays abroad. And with each club averaging 80 members they are thriving mini-communities, full of passionate and committed people. Add to this the charity’s new online map, showing where local clubs are located, and a series of Dig Together Day events organised throughout this September and there really is no excuse for any green-fingered wallflowers.”

There are more than 3,000 local gardening clubs and horticultural societies affiliated to the RHS. As a way of celebrating their history and tradition, the RHS launched Dig Together Day in 2009. Each year the clubs are asked to hold events throughout September and invite the public to get involved. This year more than 70 Dig Together Day events have been organised, ranging from flower and produce shows through to mass planting days, BBQs and plant sales.

To find your nearest gardening club, allotment society or horticultural group, along with details of up-and-coming RHS Dig Together Day events visit:

www.rhs.org.uk/digtogetherday

Quotes

“Each year our gardening club distributes a free plant to our members to grow on and then take to our annual show. We find that this generates a great community spirit as you can be stopped in the street to discuss how your fuchsia, begonia, trillium etc is progressing. Or you can be asked to ‘come and see how many blooms my trillium has produced this year’ – although this is not quite the equivalent of asking someone to ‘come up and see my etchings’, it still gets to chins wagging!” - Dufftown Horticultural Society, Banffshire

“It brings lasting friendships; we have a common interest and a good mix of male and female members. It creates a social life and is a village asset.” - Barton Mills and District Gardening Club

Competition

In celebration of friendship and blossoming romances the RHS is offering a year’s free membership to the first five gardening couples, who met through their local gardening club, to get in touch. If your love bloomed over the dahlias or giant onions, then email the press office on pressoffice@rhs.org.uk with your story and an RHS membership could be yours.