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Message 1.Â
Posted by fuchsialady54 (U12037603) on Thursday, 22nd May 2008
I guess this is a plea from the heart to you all, on behalf of the many people who belong to various specialist societies. My particular passion happens to be fuchsias, but I know that it`s not just fuchsia societies, both local & national, that are suffering a decline in interest & membership. I have heard time & again, members of several differing societies voicing very real concern about declining interest, as much through ignorance as anything, of the existence of people who run local branches of societies, passionate about their favourite plants.
A discussion with a friend of mine recently, who has a fuchsia nursery (which are also declining in number), told me that The British Fuchsia Society had at one point, over 8,000 members – sadly now that number is only in the region of 2,500!! This year is the 70th anniversary of the BFS, but will it see any more significant milestones, I wonder?! Does anyone else get the same feeling of despondency I wonder? -
Message 2
Posted by judimac (U2467704) on Friday, 23rd May 2008
I belong to the UK orchid forum, and one of the members was saying that the York OS was dwindling, through it's members passing on. The average age of the local garden club is well over 70.
We do have Societies having a stall at the Burton Agnes Garden Fair (June 5&6) but we need to be reaching out to folk at other functions as everyone at a garden fair already has an interest.
We need to be blowing the trumpet of these societies and attracting younger members. I don't know what the answer is. -
Message 3
Posted by blodau (U3908987) on Friday, 23rd May 2008
I belong to the BFS because I love fuchsias. But I do not consider myself an expert and, therefore, I don't attend meetings or shows. I try and read the journals but I have to confess I find most of it beyond me.
The impression I am left with is that the BFS is for those who really know their fuchsias and grow them to a high standard. I joined because, like you, I think the these societies perform an important role. I don't feel, however, that the society is for ordinary gardeners who happen to love the plant in question.
I'd fill my garden with fuchsias but I wouldn't want to show them. Maybe the societies need to decide who they want to appeal to. For wider support, maybe they need to be a little bit less focused on showing and encourage those who just like whichever plant it is. I guess it depends what the societies want really.
Blod -
Message 4
Posted by fuchsialady54 (U12037603) on Friday, 23rd May 2008
Hi Blod .. I started my journey into fuchsias by firstly joining my LOCAL society. Very few of the members are experts at growing fuchsias - the majority grow them purely for the love of them, not to become an expert. As mentioned in the other reply to my quest, most of the membership are pensionable age - myself, at 53yrs young, being one of the youngest!! As a society we meet once a month, but 3/4 of our speakers are specialists in other areas of gardening/plants/photography etc etc. The social aspect of the society seems to be the mainstay of it. We have organised outings, both day trips, evening & weekend excursions too. We did have a good web site as well - but that has recently been closed by a majority vote of the committee (pensioners) who could see no value in it!! How we`re supposed to attract younger people to us, heavens knows! So, please do not think we`re all experts. But over time as being a member, you certainly do get better & meet some nice people into the bargain! I would suggest if you`re in doubt about being a novice, then try attending a local society meeting as a one off guest. You`ll soon know if it`s for you or not.
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Message 5
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Friday, 23rd May 2008
Know the problem.
I am probably one of youngest members of my local Alpine Garden Society branch, which does have its compensations. I am also a member of the Scottish Rock Garden club, Primula and Auricula Society, Androsace Group, Cyclamen society etc.
I tend to pay my subscriptions but never get time in between work and re-building the nursery to go to many of the meetings. The average age is over 50.
Not sure how many of the societies are going to survive and in particular the specialized knowledge required to look after the plants. Even worse, as all the small nurseries shut the next time you visit there are houses built on the site.
Don't know what the answer is perhaps people have 'better' things to do. Just wish I had more time to grow better plants. -
Message 6
Posted by Little Cornflower (U12037777) on Friday, 23rd May 2008
I joined my local fuchsia society, but left after 18months because all they seemed interested in was growing for showing.When I left, I told them my reasoning and the chairman said that he was concerned by the empphasis on show plants - but the other committee members disagreed ( they are all avid show people).
I just felt there was nothing there for me - just a lover of growing fuchsias for my own pleasure. -
Message 7
Posted by hotsunlover (U5664870) on Friday, 23rd May 2008
We have recently started a garening club at our primay school. It has proved very popular and virtually all the children who are able to attend want to do so, we have had to split the group into two terms
. Maybe some of the societies should make some headway into visiting the schools and showing the children what you do and why it is important. It would need to be a lively, interactive talk, where maybe the children could have the option of taking a baby plant home to nurture - maybe with a care diary? A straight 'talk' would not capture their attention for very long I'm afraid.
Also, some gc's have gardening clubs which you could go along to to do a talk. They are usually on week days when the GC is quieter, but they advertise so you could pull in many people.
Stands at Garden shows should be more interactive, people do not just want to pick up leaflets anymore, they want to do something, see something and get involved. Its harsh, but true.
Try a Horticultural colleges/courses to find students interested in your societies speciality and encourage them to give you ideas. You must be open to change.
Hope this helps.
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Message 8
Posted by fuchsialady54 (U12037603) on Sunday, 25th May 2008
Thank you all for your input. Going into schools was an idea i brought to the attention of our committee several years ago! FINALLY they have taken up the idea (making it their own). Anyway .. we have 8 schools involved locally .. each of which have 10 plants for the children to take care of, under the guidance of a committee member. The best one from each school will go into a special `class` at our local show, & hopefully some of the children will come along with their parents. There will be prizes for the school, given to the top 3. Also Garden News magazine hope to do a feature, as it`s an anniversary year & the variety the children are growing is called `Garden News`. Will keep you all posted as to how it goes hehehe.
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Message 9
Posted by peonymad (U10815255) on Tuesday, 27th May 2008
I belong to the peony society and membership is dwindling here too, I am just an ordinary member of the society, but joined in order to learn from the more experienced. I also feel it is important to give something back to anything that I am taking from in any way, so I feel I have to attend the up coming AGM though buisness commitments make it difficult for me to do much more. Without the support of ordinary gardeners there will be no such societies as there are too few experts in the field who would have the time to attend all the meetings during a busy gardening year. What ever plants you have a passion for, join the society, learn more, it should result in a better garden too.
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Message 10
Posted by fuchsialady54 (U12037603) on Tuesday, 27th May 2008
Hi peonymad .. thank you for your input. You are so right about ordinary people & joining societies - without us specialists & specialist nurseries would be rare. I`ve lost count of how many times i`ve seen a `rare` plant mentioned on tv that i liked & gone in search of it, only to struggle to find more than a couple of sources to purchase one.
As for AGM`s .. societies should take the opportunity to try & make them minimal `business` & combine something interesting & sociable as an after event, so encouraging people to attend. We`ve had plant sales, light hearted quizzes, cheese & wine tasting, to name but a few things & attendance has risenKeep up the good work 
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Message 11
Posted by Braidman (U11753668) on Tuesday, 27th May 2008
I used to belong to the local Fuchsia Society, but left after 5 years. As some one else has said, all they were interested in was show varieties, which means small plants with even smaller flowers, not my scene, I would not give them garden space.
I have lots of coloured leaf varieties and large flowered ones, both of which I adore.
They are much more difficult to grow and show and definitely more difficult to over winter than what they had.
One other thing when plants were for sale, it was always the same small number of show varieties, never any thing new and exciting.
I also belong to the local Gardening Society, and it is booming, over 100 members turn out every month. When there is someone special speaking extra chairs have to be put out.
We also hosted a Gardeners Question Time session, though not every one was impressed with the proceedings, there were quite a few members at the next meeting saying it had been a waste of time.
But it sounded great when it was broadcast, long may it continue! -
Message 12
Posted by fuchsialady54 (U12037603) on Wednesday, 28th May 2008
Such a shame that so many people heading local societies are so blinded to what jo-public would like. I know there`s nowt so queer as folk, but from the response to my discussion it appears a lot of societies have only themselves to blame - it`s been a real eye opener!
It`s time they got out of the dark ages & modernised!! Such total selfish actions can only result in their demise.
At our local show, several members provide plants to sell on the society stand - myself included. I like to grow non run-of-the-mill varieties & always try to make sure some of these are on the stand. After all, jo-public that visits the show invariably want to buy what they see on the showbench! Maybe new branches of local societies should open with the emphasis on enjoyment of the plants?! -
Message 13
Posted by Braidman (U11753668) on Wednesday, 28th May 2008
One thing I should mention,but this does not apply to my gardening club, it is very difficult to get members to serve as officials of most clubs.
Treasurer, secretary, chairman etc,one gardening club that I joined when I moved into this area, along with the wine circle has now closed, because the people who ran both clubs were getting older and non of the other members would take over.
It was a very well run club, no money worries,it was with them that I first visited Chelsea, Wisley, Kew, Botanical Gardens of Wales as well as other local gardens.
It's a pity more would not take over the responibilities of running some societies! -
Message 14
Posted by fuchsialady54 (U12037603) on Wednesday, 28th May 2008
Hi Braidman .. I totally agree with you 100%. It is the reason i put myself forward for the committee with my fuchsia society. I`ve organised countless outings to local gardens as well as other places of attraction - also did a w/e for them at Kew & Wisley last Sept, Wisley & Saville Gardens on the Great Windsor Estate end of April this year & am finalising the organisation of a w/e at Rosemoor plus somewhere else. Botanic Gardens in Wales & Birmingham have been done too. It took me a few years to get them on their first coach outing (a day trip), & a good few more for the w/e outings. Now people are queueing up to go on them. But I am the youngest member on the committee at present, & am fighting draconian, you`ll do what we want, attitudes at present.
Despite all the problems societies have, i`m still of the opinion that tv - ie GW could have a huge influence on membership as well as how they`re run. Look how allotments have taken off in the last few years! A lot of the responsibility for that lies with progs like Gardeners` World promoting them. Coverage of Chelsea, though good to a point, could have made more of promoting societies & specialist nurseries rather than repeatedly showing the same gardens over & over again in my opinion. But i`m just a small cog in a wheel with an opinion. What say you? -
Message 15
Posted by Little Cornflower (U12037777) on Thursday, 29th May 2008
More the problem with the clubs around here is that no one will ever resign from the posts on the committees - they all live to be about 100 and are totally resistant to any changes "we've always done it like this" etc
No wonder they are dying on their feet - I've run out of energy trying to get accepted and I knoe of at least 3 other ( younger ) people who feel the same way.!!! -
Message 16
Posted by fuchsialady54 (U12037603) on Thursday, 29th May 2008
I know the feeling Penwith .. only the members can change that, by not re-electing them in the first place, which is not an easy task. I got on our committee without too much problem .. but i`m slowly being pushed out
I`ve been banging my head against a brick wall from day one. The annoying thing is, all the new ideas i`ve come up with, once they finally realise i may have a good point, work! But it often takes years for them to see it! Life`s too short & i may just channnel my energies somewhere else soon. Won`t give up my membership tho ... yet 
lol -
Message 17
Posted by peonymad (U10815255) on Friday, 30th May 2008
"Hi peonymad ... As for AGM`s .. societies should take the opportunity to try & make them minimal `business` & combine something interesting & sociable as an after event, so encouraging people to attend. We`ve had plant sales, light hearted quizzes, cheese & wine tasting, to name but a few things & attendance has risen Keep up the good work"
Last year the Peony society held it's AGM with lucnh, in a pub at Langport Somerset in order to add a visit to one of the best known peony nurseries,Kelway's who hold a collection of peonies too.It was their open weekend and the peony fields were also open. great afternoon it was too. This year, lunch at one of the committee's home, and then we are going on to one her allotment where she grows her peonies. Should be a good afternoon, -
Message 18
Posted by Lurganspade (U10706116) on Friday, 30th May 2008
Yes Fuchsialady, brick walls come to mind in trying to get change,especially for the better!
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Message 19
Posted by hotsunlover (U5664870) on Sunday, 1st June 2008
The slight change in tone of this thread made me laugh to myself. Although not a specialist plant society, I am a member of the Village Garden Show commitee. When I joined the average age was 92 and I was more than half their age, they called me 'the young 'un'
. We used to have the meeting at the house of whoever wasn't well enough to go out that month! 
I was very busy on show day!
BTW Our show is the longest running village RHS flower show at 127 years old this year. Even running through the war years. Its an official RHS Dahlia Show.
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