Ilkley Gardeners Association

Visit our web site at: www.ilkleygardeners.org.uk

The Association was founded in 1967 and held its first AGM in November of that year.

Object

To promote and foster the practice and enjoyment of Gardening:- i.e. the growing and care of flowers, vegetables and houseplants, and the maintenance and presentation of gardens and allotments. Membership is open to all, and the subscription covers all adults and children at one address.

See the sections below to get information about the activities of the Association.

All Members are encouraged to participate in the operation of the Association by assisting in manning the Stores Hut on Sundays and in joining the rota of helpers to serve tea and biscuits at the monthly meetings.

Subscriptions at the present time (March 2001) are £3.00 per annum. There is also a charge of 50p per head at the monthly meetings, which includes tea and biscuits.

Meetings

A meeting is held every month on the first Thursday of the month, in the evening starting at 7.45pm at the Ilkley Parish Church House Hall.

The A.G.M. followed by a short talk or Slide Show is held at the February meeting and a Plant Auction Sale forms the June meeting (free admission).

At the other nine meetings a speaker is engaged to talk on an aspect of gardening in all its ramifications, and most talks are illustrated by slides. Some talks also include plants for sale by the speakers.

There is no meeting held in January.

Stores Hut

A Stores Hut is operated at which fertilizers, an exclusive range of Bark products, composts, garden sundries etc., are available for purchase, by Members only, at advantageous prices.

The Stores Hut is opened during the season weekly from March to June on Sunday mornings from 10.00am until 12.00 noon and then fortnightly in July & August, then once a month until, and including, November.

The Stores Hut is situated at the bottom of the track, leading to Leeds Road allotments, which runs to the North beside the Riverside Business Park, close to the Wharfedale Gate Hotel on Leeds Road.

Excursions

Excursions are organised during the year to venues of interest to gardeners. Three trips are usually held, depending on support, one full day trip, one afternoon trip.

The full day trip is most often to a "Stately Home" associated with a famous garden so that there is an alternative in case of bad weather. Other trips are to places with a gardening interest, but closer to home.

Harlow Carr Membership

The Association maintains a group Membership of the Northern Horticultural Society and one Card is available, for loan to Members, which permits free entry to Harlow Carr Gardens for the Member and a Guest. A telephone call to check availability is all that is needed to borrow it.

Newsletter

The Association has a Newsletter issued three times a year to all paid up members where the Committee try to keep Members up to date on points of interest and offers, also an e-list is available where you can receive monthly updates of stores offers and other short notice items. (Send a blank e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )