Friday 13th November 2026
7pm (refreshments) for a 7.30 start, at the Grove Centre, Horsforth
Ben Preston
People. Plants and Places
WYHPS member Ben and his partner Laura took on a derelict nursery near Harrogate in
March 2021 and have been transforming Cliff Bank Nursery since then. Ben has a passion for people, plants and propagation and this talk will cover how all three have sculpted the ethos of the nursery.
Our programme of events for 2026
Magic of Plants Conference
Saturday 1st May 2027 – 9.45 to 4.45, doors open 9am
Come and join us for our star-studded conference at Prince Henry’s Grammar School in Otley and hear:
- James Alexander-Sinclair – Dancing Through Borders: the stories and plants behind some of James’ favourite gardens
- Val Bourne – The Living Jigsaw Explained: gardeners around the world are beginning to come around to a new or, really, old way of thinking: a garden whose very diversity of plant and animal life makes it healthy, beautiful and productive
- John Grimshaw – Plants I have Loved and Lost: “How many plants have you killed? There have been some good ones I’ve killed!”. John talks about the plants he’s lost over the years, through incompetence, neglect, over-optimism and sometimes just bad luck. It’s a familiar tale for every gardener. John talks about the losses he really regrets, and some he doesn’t.
- Samantha Hopes – Roscoeas: low-maintenance tubers which provide beautiful, exotic, orchid-like flowers from summer to autumn. Thriving in dappled shade and moist, well-drained soil, these hardy perennials are perfect for woodland borders or containers. Come and hear an expert on their cultivation!
And we are delighted to be presenting the 2027 President’s Awards which recognise member contributions to the success of the Society
Plant Sales:
- Cliff Bank Nursery (Ben and Laura Preston)
- Woodlands Nursery (Bob and Ann Armstrong)
- Hooton’s Walled Nursery (Dean Charlton)
- Hopes’ Garden Plants (Samantha Hopes)
- WYHPS Members’ Plant Sales
£45 for West Yorkshire HPS members – available at our meetings at The Grove, Horsforth from 9th October. Payment by card, cheque or bank transfer.
£54.20 (includes booking fee) for all other delegates, from 9th October via Ticketsource
Free cakes and refreshments for delegates throughout the day
Please bring your own picnic lunch – no food sales at the school
Ample free parking. Wheelchair and level mobility entrance
To Book:
West Yorkshire members, please download this form and bring, completed to a WYHPS meeting:
If you are not a West Yorkshire member, click here to book through Ticketsource
Frances and her King of Gardens by Judi Barton
To view previous years, use the dropdown – Articles and Films – at the top of this page
Membership fees for 2027
Single membership is £20
Joint membership is £40
Under 30s and trainee/student gardeners can join us for free! (National membership still required)
Join in autumn and get the remaining months of the year for free!
The simplest way to pay is online – make your payment to:
Hardy Plant Society West Yorks Group
Sort no: 77-68-31 Acc no: 03121760
Please make reference ‘subs’ followed by your name.
You can also pay by cash or cheque at our next meeting, or by sending this form
Please email the form to Carine Carson carinecarson@yahoo.co.uk
Want to join us?
If you are a new member, please complete the form so that we get your details. Welcome!
Please email the form to Carine Carson carinecarson@yahoo.co.uk
Please note that to be a member of our group, you need to be a member of the National Hardy Plant Society. To join, click here
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