Membership of The CGS

For the very modest annual subscription of £12 single and £15 joint (two people living at the same address), the Society offers the following benefits:

The Cottage Gardener

Our informal and informative, quarterly magazine. Approximately fifty pages of articles by members, amateur and professional, sharing their knowledge and experience. It includes book reviews, book offers, letters page, cottage garden recipes and much more.

Talking Cottage Gardener

The magazine is also available on audio-tape for visually impaired members. Contact Ann Broscombe on 01799 584 929 or email her at: abrosc@oneservice.co.uk

Seed Exchange

An opportunity to obtain seed donated by other members - and send in your own surplus seed. Twelve packets of seed for just £4.00 handling charge within the UK. Seed donors and joint members receive a bigger allocation of seeds. See the Seeds section for more details

Plant Sales

Locally organised by various Regional Groups, as detailed in the magazine and on groups' websites. There is also a National Plant Sale each year.

Regional Groups

Over 35 regional groups hold their own meetings, visits and plant sales. We also have a group for dedicated "galanthophiles", the Snowdrop Group, and a lively Correspondence Group.

Garden Visits

We produce an annual booklet of members' Gardens to Visit, with a list of village "Garden Open" days throughout the UK. This is sent out with the March magazine. Sometimes we organise national garden visits for members, if there is sufficient interest.

CGS Merchandise

The Society produces a range of merchandise for sale to members. For details, see the Products section.

RHS Affiliation

The CGS is a RHS Affiliated Society, so our members can seek advice from the RHS free of charge. You can email the Advisory Service at gardeningadvice@rhs.org.uk but will need our affiliation number - as in the December 2010 magazine. Sadly, it is no longer possible to ring or write with queries and, as from September 2011, this advice service will no longer be available to individual CGS members. In addition to getting help from the RHS, each year a group of up to 55 people can visit one of the RHS garden's free of charge - details in Dec 2010 magazine or contact the CGS chair if you want to go in 2012 or later.