Ropley Horticultural Society



Who We Are

RHS affiliationWe are a group of keen gardeners who meet to share our interest in gardens and gardening.

We welcome everyone; from gardeners, amateurs to professionals or anyone with a general interest. It doesn't matter whether you are new to gardening with little knowledge, have years of experience, or have no garden at all, you should find something to interest you in the friendly atmosphere of our meetings. If you’d like to join us come along to one of our evening meetings and meet us.

If you’d like to join us please print out the Membership Form and bring it along to one of our meetings or alternatively send it to our Membership Secretary with a cheque for £10.

A short history of our Society

Ropley Village can boast a garden club of some description from 1895 when it was founded as the Ropley and West Tisted Cottage Garden and Allotment Society, with its first flower show held in Ropley Grove (formely known as Ryecroft) that August Bank Holiday. Really from those early years, with a few exceptions, there has been a gardening club of some description in the village. There were brief periods during the two wars when the shows were suspended but by 1946 club the membership reached of 150. The annual shows gained a reputation of being amongst the biggest and best in the south, rivalling the neighbourhood shows. Then the 1960’s arrived and interest in the club waned.

Not until 1983 was a small horticultural show again held with connection to Ropley. The show gave the impetus for a small group of enthusiasts, under the chairmanship of Mr B Ganfield, to reform the Ropley Horticultural Society into the Society we know today – a thriving, lively group, with a membership in the eighties, meeting regularly throughout the year and still holding an Annual Summer Flower and Produce Show, as well as a Spring Show and a Plant Sale in late spring.