Membership – Lavant Horticultural Society

Annual General Meeting

Wednesday 13^th November 2024

All the documents for the AGM were sent to all members in advance of the meeting so members had already received the agenda, the reports from the officers, the accounts, the unadopted minutes of last year’s AGM and the proposed safeguarding policy. This resulted in the formal business being completed in less than an hour and everyone then went into the Green Room to socialise over complimentary refreshments.

In her role as Membership Secretary, Margaret Rhodes confirmed that there are now 164 members and that during the last year the average attendance at meetings has been over 60. These figures are very encouraging.

The next report from Lesley West, Programme Secretary, outlined the interesting and varied Programme 2025 .
This impressive programme includes the afternoon meeting in February with Matthew Biggs, followed by afternoon tea; a coach trip to RHS Wisley in March and a social evening in June. She also confirmed that the proposed garden tour to Essex would go ahead in September.

Michael Kingsford, Chairman and Show Contact, had received encouraging feedback complimenting the society on being so active. He suggested that members promote the Society to people who might be interested in joining as being the best way to gain new members.

He also encouraged us all to aim to increase the number of entries to next year’s Annual Show and the Spring/Autumn Flower Competitions. He gave pointers in particular to growing Chrysanthemums as they are relatively easy-going plants and worth a try.

In her role as Treasurer, Lesley West confirmed the strong state of the Society’s finances, largely due to another successful Plant Sale. The Committee had recommended that the annual subscription remain at £10 for the coming year and this proposal was adopted by the meeting.

The Election of Officers was agreed unanimously: Chairman Michael Kingsford, Secretary Margaret Rhodes, Treasurer Lesley West.
The other members of the Committee are also happy to continue Ali Butcher, Liz Hewitt, Sue Jackson, Beryl Starkey, Bob Wiggins. Stephanie Wankling has agreed to join the Committee.
Linda Hughes has stepped down and the Chairman thanked her for all she had done during her term of office, including making the celebration cake we enjoyed at the 2023 AGM.
These 6 members are elected with the Officers to the Committee as unanimously agreed by the meeting.
The Committee has proposed that we have a Safeguarding Policy This was presented by Beryl Starkey and was adopted unanimously. There is also a link to the policy at the bottom of this Members’ page.

Live in Lavant, Summersdale or nearby?
Why not join Lavant Horticultural Society?
and enjoy its lively programme:

monthly meetings with interesting guest speakers;
plus Shows & Competitions, Plant Sale, garden visits and other events.

Meetings are held in Lavant Memorial Hall.

All this for £10 per person for the year.

Regular meetings are then free to members.
Visitors are welcome to our monthly meetings at £3 each.

New members will find a warm welcome.

Interested?
Just click the button below to submit your details and
Membership Secretary, Margaret Rhodes, will contact you.

RHS GARDENS
REDUCED PRICE ENTRY
FOR OUR MEMBERS

Lavant Horticultural Society has a card that can be loaned to any LHS member that will entitle that member and one adult guest to a 50% reduction on the entry price to RHS Gardens.
Clearly, this could be very interesting for any of our members who are not themselves members of the RHS.

Any member interested in borrowing this card, click below:
RHS ENTRY CARD REQUEST.

‘SUMMER SOCIAL’
Wednesday 11^th June 2025

Members gathered early before the talk for a glass of prosecco, a few nibbles, and to meet and mingle with other members. The turn out was good on this sunny evening, despite a warning that the A286 was going to be closed for all with a homeward journey using that road. Forward planning by our Programme secretary rescued the evening. Negotiating with the contractors for an agreed convoy to come through at 9pm, meant that everyone was able to stay for Mark’s engaging talk which followed.

Don’t just look after your plants,
make sure you look after yourself!

LHS member and retired physiotherapist, Fenella Sowden, gave a talk with demonstrations on how to take care of yourself, both working in the garden and underlying fitness, with the emphasis on the prevention of problems.