We had a great talk this month from Jane and Tone at Tynings plants – and they had some lovely plants to buy too. Don’t worry if you missed them, they are not far from Bristol at Twickenham and welcome visitors or you can buy online at https://tyningsplants.co.uk
Next South Bristol Gardening Club meeting
Wednesday 1 April
Nathan Apperley: behind the scenes at Yeo Valley: soil, compost & organic gardening
Nathan Apperley is Head Gardener at the Yeo Valley Organic Garden. He oversees the management of a large, certified organic garden and brings extensive hands-on experience in soil health, composting systems and sustainable horticulture. This talk is firmly grounded in real-world organic practice.
Website: https://www.yeovalley.co.uk/the-organic-garden
Upcoming gardening club trips
Caisson Garden
Thanks to those who have booked to join the trip to visit the Caisson Garden near to Bath on Saturday 18 April in the morning, 10am – 12 noon. The garden is about 45 mins drive from Bristol, so we’d leave just after 9am and be back by 1pm. There is still time to book if you’re quick – the cost of the trip is £16.50. As with last year’s spring garden trip, we’ll be looking to arrange travel by car share – so if you need a lift, just let us know. Email southbristolgardeningclub@gmail.com to book a place.
National Botanic Garden of Wales
Our summer trip this year is to the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire on Sunday 19 July. The coach will depart from St Paul’s Church, Coronation Road at 9am and arrive at the garden at approximately 11am. We’ll depart the garden at 4pm arriving back in Bristol at approximately 6pm. The price of the trip for South Bristol Gardening Club member is £35* and £46 for non-members. You can now book your place online.
*The additional £5 discount for members who renewed their membership or new members who join before 31 January 2026 will be applied before payment. This discount is only eligible for members not any non-member guests you are booking tickets for.
Date for your diary
Early Spring Plant Fair at Yeo Valley Organic Garden near Blagdon is taking place on 28 March 2026. Tickets for morning entry may be booked online now, via the link on the homepage of our website www.somersethps.com. Don’t forget to book a parking space for your party at the same time. Afternoon entry tickets may also be booked online or you may pay on the gate. The cost of a ticket is only £5 (£4 for HPS and RHS members), and includes entry to the wonderful garden. The delightful café and the Yeo Valley shop will also be open all day. The plant fair runs from 10.00am until 3.00pm but the garden and café will be open until 4.00pm.
The first Bedminster Festival of Gardening will take place between Monday 8 – Sunday 14 June. This community led festival will include lots of fun gardening events, activities, and talks, concluding with Bedminster’s Secret Gardens open weekend on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June. Look out for full details of the festival programme in May.
Bits and bobs
Upcoming April National Garden Scheme open days in and around Bristol
Thursday 9th April
The Yeo Valley Organic Garden at Holt Farm, Blagdon, BS40 7SQ. Mr & Mrs Tim Mead, 01761 462798
Open 10 – 5 Adm £8, chd £2. Light refreshments.
One of only a handful of ornamental gardens that is Soil Association accredited, 6½ acres of contemporary planting, quirky sculptures, bulbs in their thousands, purple palace, glorious meadow and posh vegetable patch. Great views, green ideas. Around garden there are some grass paths and some uneven bark and gravel paths.
Sunday 12th April
Watcombe, Winscombe, BS25 1BP. Peter & Ann Owen, 01934 842666
Open 2 – 5 Adm £5, chd free. Homemade Teas. Visits also by arrangement
¾ acre mature Edwardian garden with colour-themed, informally planted herbaceous borders. Strong framework separating several different areas; pergola with varied wisteria, unusual topiary, box hedging, lime walk, pleached hornbeams, cordon fruit trees, 2 small formal ponds and growing collection of clematis
Sunday 26th April
4 Haytor Park Bristol, BS9 2LR. Mr C & Mrs P Prior, 07779 203626
Open 1 – 5 Adm £4, chd free. Visits also by arrangement
Lovingly created over almost 40 yrs. Wildlife in abundance with a pond and insect friendly plants. A totally peaceful haven in spite of being in a city suburb. Plenty of places to sit awhile and reflect, while spotting myriad plants for all seasons. Many arches lead to secret places, quirky features inc a bicycle wheel trellis.
Sunday 26th April
Greystones Bristol, BS9 1JB. Mrs Pam Townsend.
Open 11 – 4 Adm £5, chd free. Home-made teas
Peaceful garden with places to sit and enjoy a quiet corner of Bristol. Interesting courtyard, raised beds, large variety of conifers and shrubs leads to secluded garden of contrasts – sunny beds with olive tree and brightly coloured flowers to shady spots, with acers, hostas and ferns. Snowdrops, hellebores, spring bulbs, naturalised daffodils. Small orchard, espaliered pears.
Sunday 26th April
Lucombe House, Stoke Bishop, Bristol, BS9 1DD. Malcolm Ravenscroft, 01179 682494
Open 1 – 5 Adm £4, chd free. Home made teas. Visits also by arrangement
For tree lovers of all ages! As well as a 260yr old Lucombe Oak – one of the most significant trees in the UK – there are over 30 mature English trees planted to create an urban woodland underplanted with various native ferns. An Arts & Crafts garden has now been completed in the front and a woodland path provides a behind the scenes look at the woodland. A trio of recorder players will entertain visitors. Rough paths in woodland area and steps to patio.
Courses
Learn to Grow in Harmony with Nature – Courses at the Grange Project
The Grange Project, an 80-acre rewilding project and market garden near Monmouth has launched a new season of practical learning courses designed to help people grow food in harmony with nature. Running from April through summer 2026, the programme includes hands-on training in seed saving, propagation, soil health, mushroom growing, agroforestry and small-scale market gardening, alongside immersive nature experiences such as a Dawn Chorus weekend. Courses are suitable for beginners through to those exploring more serious food production or land-based skills. All sessions take place within the project’s permaculture market garden and purpose-built education centre, with home-grown lunches included and free camping available for weekend courses. Profits from the programme support Wilder Connections, helping young people build meaningful relationships with nature. Explore the full programme and booking details here: www.grangeproject.co.uk/events
South Bristol Gardening Club 
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