The Delphinium Society

Will You Help the Society?

 Important Aspects of our Work

• We aim to be an important part of the horticultural and gardening scene and we have formed Groups of the Society for that purpose. Also we are seeking to establish new Groups in those parts of the UK where we are still under-represented.
• We aim to promote horticultural education within the remit of our aims and objectives and as a duty laid on us by our charity status; we also wish to develop scientific interests.
• We offer lectures/talks to local societies wherever we have members locally able to help.
• We are developing valuable plant collections at Carnell, nr Kilmarnock, Ayrshire and at Godinton House, Nr Ashford Kent. We are also planning to extend this work both through our Groups and in an advisory capacity for other interested organisations and centres.
• We are planning show stands at premier shows (eg, Dundee) in Scotland and we already have showstands in the North of England, at the RHS Chelsea Show and at the Royal Norfolk Show.
• We are developing what is currently a small show at Carnell and we have already established the Northern Show at Temple Newsam, Leeds. Our traditional two Southern Shows take place at the RHS Garden, Wisley, Surrey..
• We offer the West of Scotland Delphinium Championship at the Ayr Flower Show, the Cheshire Championship at the Alderley Edge & Wilmslow Horticultural and Rose Society, the Yorkshire Championship in conjunction with our showstand at the Great Yorkshire Show and the Norfolk Championship in conjunction with the Norfolk & Norwich Horticultural Society which administers the horticultural section of the Royal Norfolk Show.
• We represent and promote knowledge of one of the finest herbaceous flowering plants to be found anywhere and we are justified, by history,in calling our flower "The Queen of Flowers" and "The Queen of the Border".
• Our work in Scotland forms an integral part of our international work for our flower and represents our most recent advance in regionalisation.
• Our history goes back to 1928.
• We help Members to locate delphinium cultivars.

 We Need the Help of Gardeners and Horticulturists in the UK

• We need you as a Member of the Society.
• If possible, we want your membership to extend to active participation in our work but we appreciate that not all members are in a position to do so.
• Without more help, we cannot man show stands properly. You learn how to participate in this role by becoming actively involved generally.
• Horticulture generally is at a crossroads in its history in the UK and we need to map our future. Can you help? The horticultural traditions of the UK are the finest in the world. Will you participate in helping the Society to maintain those traditions in our areas of work?
• In Scotland we are members of the Scottish Gardeners' Forum which is working to uphold the horticultural traditions of Scotland.
• We are affiliated to The Royal Horticultural Society and we are represented on the Delphinium Committee of The Royal Horticultural Society.
• We are a leading herbaceous plant society so much of our educational work is aplicable to herbaceous plants in general.

Membership

• Membership is £6 per annum. You receive our Year Book and our Autumn Bulletin and you can participate in our shows anywhere in the UK. The international membership subscription is £8 per annum.
• You can participate in the annual seed distribution scheme. We do, of course, also sell seed to the general public because it is an important source of income in support of the educational work of the Society.
• You can gain friendly advice on all matters concerning the cultivation of delphiniums. That is part of our educational mission.
• When you have enrolled as a Member, by using the application form which you can download, you can contact the Chairmen of our Incorporated Groups either by e-mailing them or writing to them. They will be delighted to welcome you into the activities of their Groups.
• The Chairman of our Scottish Group is:- James McMaster, Pinaulton Cottage, Coal Hall Road, Drongan, Ayrshire, Scotland KA6 6NG.
  E: pinaulton@tiscali.co.uk
• The Chairman of our Northern Group, the Yorkshire & Lincolnshire Group, is:- Gordon West, Dishforth Nursery Gardens, Topcliffe Road, Dishforth, N. Yorks YO7 3JT.
  E: dishforthnursery@aol.com
• The Chairman of our Kent & East Sussex Group is:- Duncan Hagan, Bramleyhurst, 229 Willington Street, Maidstone ME15 8EN.
  E: duncanhagan@aol.com
• Our Representative in Norfolk is:- Barry Wade, 81 Westerley Way, Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk NR30 5AD
  barry@wadekin.com