Oxford & District
This lively and friendly group holds monthly meetings from September – April which include an insightful talk, refreshments and a plant raffle. The group also organises garden visits and social gatherings during the spring and summer months.
A small friendly group meeting from September to April for talks, with spring/summer outings and social events.
Winter Programme
Winter Programme 2025-26
Wednesday 10 September 2025
Kurt Vickery “Georgia and the Caucasus”
A highly knowledgeable plantsman, Kurt will show us the rich and diverse flora that the region offers, from early spring to late summer, from snowdrops to glorious perennials.
Wednesday 8 October
Jim Jermyn “Growing Alpine Plants in True Character”
The joy of seeing plants in the wild may seek us to try and grow them at home. How can we provide conditions in our lowland gardens to do them justice? Jim will explain.
Wednesday 12 November
Bob Worsley “A Partnership with the AGS”
This is a story about Cyclamen, Hepatica and Galanthus. Bob will provide something of interest for all of us.
Wednesday 10 December
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To be followed by a talk by Emma Thick “Autumn Flowering Snowdrops”
Fellow member and “Queen of the Snowdrops” will tell us about the Galanthus which flower in autumn.
Wednesday 14 January 2026
MEMBERS’ EVENING
This is an opportunity for members to give short talks, illustrated or not, on topics of interest to the group. Please let Celia Sawyer know at least a month before if you think you can help.
Wednesday 11 February
John Graham “Some Mountain Flowers of Chile”.
We will hear about and see the exciting plants that John found on his travels from the Andes south of Santiago.
Wednesday 11 March
John Mitchell “From Siberia through Central Asia a magical tour through the Stans”
As the title suggests a magical tour though Krygystan, Uzbeckistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Finding Hepatica, Iris, Tulips, Anemones and Corydalis, all surrounded by stunning scenery.
Wednesday 8 April
David Charlton “Flowers of the Picos de Europa”.
A small but dramatic limestone range in Spain, the Picos is a unique location where plants of northern Europe mingle with those of the Mediterranean region. Fuente De at 2000m is a magnificent high natural rock garden carpeted with wonderful mountain flowers. The talk concludes with an Orchid Extravaganza.
Please bring plants to each meeting for the raffle and the plant sales table. Members are also asked to bring along any interesting or unusual plants for other members to see.
This lively and friendly group holds monthly meetings from September – April which include an insightful talk, refreshments and a plant raffle. The group also organises garden visits and social gatherings during the spring and summer months.
A small friendly group meeting from September to April for talks, with spring/summer outings and social events.
Winter Programme
Winter Programme 2025-26
Wednesday 10 September 2025
Kurt Vickery “Georgia and the Caucasus”
A highly knowledgeable plantsman, Kurt will show us the rich and diverse flora that the region offers, from early spring to late summer, from snowdrops to glorious perennials.
Wednesday 8 October
Jim Jermyn “Growing Alpine Plants in True Character”
The joy of seeing plants in the wild may seek us to try and grow them at home. How can we provide conditions in our lowland gardens to do them justice? Jim will explain.
Wednesday 12 November
Bob Worsley “A Partnership with the AGS”
This is a story about Cyclamen, Hepatica and Galanthus. Bob will provide something of interest for all of us.
Wednesday 10 December
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To be followed by a talk by Emma Thick “Autumn Flowering Snowdrops”
Fellow member and “Queen of the Snowdrops” will tell us about the Galanthus which flower in autumn.
Wednesday 14 January 2026
MEMBERS’ EVENING
This is an opportunity for members to give short talks, illustrated or not, on topics of interest to the group. Please let Celia Sawyer know at least a month before if you think you can help.
Wednesday 11 February
John Graham “Some Mountain Flowers of Chile”.
We will hear about and see the exciting plants that John found on his travels from the Andes south of Santiago.
Wednesday 11 March
John Mitchell “From Siberia through Central Asia a magical tour through the Stans”
As the title suggests a magical tour though Krygystan, Uzbeckistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Finding Hepatica, Iris, Tulips, Anemones and Corydalis, all surrounded by stunning scenery.
Wednesday 8 April
David Charlton “Flowers of the Picos de Europa”.
A small but dramatic limestone range in Spain, the Picos is a unique location where plants of northern Europe mingle with those of the Mediterranean region. Fuente De at 2000m is a magnificent high natural rock garden carpeted with wonderful mountain flowers. The talk concludes with an Orchid Extravaganza.
Please bring plants to each meeting for the raffle and the plant sales table. Members are also asked to bring along any interesting or unusual plants for other members to see.
Contact us
If you want to contact us please get in touch with our Secretary, Celia Sawyer:
01608 684755
Joining the group
The annual subscription for the group is £10.00 per person.
Visitors are most welcome at any of our winter lecture events – £5.00 per meeting.
Further details and an application form can be downloaded here.
If you want further information, please contact our Treasurer/Membership Secretary David Hughes at dhollyhocks@btinternet.com.
Summer Programme
The group is active over the whole year. During the summer months we arrange social events and garden visits for our members and their guests.
Typically during May we hold an afternoon social event at a member’s garden where we serve tea and cakes and hold a plant sale.
Approximately monthly during the spring/summer we arrange a garden visit for a group of members and their guests.
To round off the season we hold an evening social event in August where we combine a visit to a member’s garden with an evening meal at a nearby venue and a plant sale.
If you are interested in participating in any of these activities please join the group.
Group Newsletter
At the end of each year the Oxford and District Group publishes a Newsletter for members. Here are links to the most recent editions.
Details
Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1AB.
Second Wednesday of the month, the hall is open from 7pm for coffee/tea and chat with a 7.30pm start for the talk (September - April)
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