Is your branch not listed here? Do you know of events not listed yet? Please let us know!
Around the country each month there are many Branch meetings where you can meet like minded enthusiasts and have the opportunity to enjoy interesting talks by visiting speakers. Often at Branch meetings there are plants for sale too. If you don’t regularly go to meetings, or have never been before, please consider supporting your local branch.
This list is not exhaustive (not every branch has submitted information). It gives a flavour of what our meetings are about. If you are attending a Branch for the first time please check the relevant Branch website for the most up-to-date information about any particular meeting.
Note that Branch Shows and other events likely to be of wider interest to the BCSS are also listed on the Shows, Regional and National Events page.
All BCSS meetings are open to everyone. You do not have to be a member to attend (although if you are not a member we hope that you may be encouraged to join!) Some branches may charge a small admission fee to cover the cost of the venue.
Last updated: 14/10/2024.
January 2025
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|---|---|---|---|
03 January 2025 | Hull & East Riding | January Meeting | Bob Hall | Bob Hall will be giving a talk on USA Collections by Sonia Barker-Fricker. With usual raffle and table show. |
07 January 2025 | Southampton | Members' Evening | Short Talks by Branch Members | |
08 January 2025 | Teesside | Identifying Cacti and Succulents | Ray Stephenson | How to identify plants in cultivation and in the wild. |
09 January 2025 | Northumbria | Plants on my travels | Richard Torr | |
09 January 2025 | Rother Valley | Branch meeting - January | TBD | |
11 January 2025 | Gloucester | AGM & plant auction | ||
11 January 2025 | Manchester | Flora of the Canary Islands | Elizabethe Maddock | On her first visit to La Gomera in the Canary Islands in 2012, Elizabeth was captivated by the region's diverse scenery and plant life, particularly the Aeoniums. She has returned many times since then, marvelling at the habitat plants and endemic species that thrive in these isolated volcanic islands. The unique conditions found on these islands make their flora truly magnificent. |
13 January 2025 | Huddersfield | TBA | Peter Hoyle | |
13 January 2025 | Liverpool | Branch Meeting | TBC | |
14 January 2025 | Croydon | California and Mexico | David Sheppard (Presenter) | Digital Presentation -slides of the late Frank Horwood Table Show-Stenocactus Group, Sempervivum Subgroup, Plant in Flower |
16 January 2025 | Chelmsford | "It started with a dream" - My Cheiridopsis National Collection & other Mesembs | Nick Pengelly | This will be a Zoom meeting, held in our usual meeting place in Danbury, |
18 January 2025 | Portsmouth | Why are there no fossil cacti? | David Martill | |
21 January 2025 | Birmingham | Birmingham Branch Meal | Branch Run | A chance to socialise and chat over a meal and drink a this Victorian pub. Parking in Harborne. For more information please contact the Branch in early January 2025. |
25 January 2025 | Dover | AGM | ||
28 January 2025 | York | Workshop on Potting | David Fair |
February 2025
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|---|---|---|---|
01 February 2025 | Bristol Cactus Soc. | New Adventure in Mexico | Frank Sengpiel | Latest visit that Frank has made to Mexico
A meeting charge of £3.00 will apply to non Bristol Cactus Society members |
04 February 2025 | Southampton | Brazil Part 2 | Minas Gerais (Cliff Thompson) | |
06 February 2025 | Wiltshire | Seed Sowing and Seedling Care | Mike Read | Our annual seed growing workshop organised by members and an opportunity to get advice on previous seed grown plants. There will be a raffle and table show also. |
7 February 2025 | Hull & East Riding | February Meeting | Neil Hyde | Neil Hyde will be continuing his East Africa Series with Part 3. With usual raffle and table show. |
08 February 2025 | Gloucester | Members' short talks | Anne Haines & John Foster | |
08 February 2025 | Manchester | Stapeliads | Dr Tony Mace | This will be a Zoom presentation given in our usual meeting hall. |
10 February 2025 | Huddersfield | My Plant Journey | Ess Green | |
10 February 2025 | Liverpool | Branch Meeting | TBC | |
11 February 2025 | Croydon | Spring Flowers of the Sierra de Guadarrama | David Sheppard | Based on flowers seen on a trip to this region of Spain.
Table Show-Astrophytum Group, Euphorbia Group, Plant in Flower |
12 February 2025 | Teesside | 25 Years in Bolivia | John Carr | |
13 February 2025 | Northumbria | Propagation | John Carr | |
13 February 2025 | Rother Valley | Branch meeting - February | Paul Spracklin | |
15 February 2025 | Portsmouth | A Personal Choice - cacti and succulents over the last 50 years | Tom Radford | |
18 February 2025 | Birmingham | Seed swop and Propagation workshop | Branch Run | Swop seeds, plant seeds and share ideas on seed growing. Hear about forthcoming events, trips and open gardens. We meet at Winterbourne House and Garden Centre for Horticulture from around 7.00 pm to begin a talk or activity at 7.30 pm. Plenty of free parking. The car park is open from 6.45 pm. Cost £3 to go towards expenses. First time visitors can come in for free. There are often plants for sale at our meetings. . Full details on our website. https://birmingham.bcss.org.uk/ |
19 February 2025 | South Wales | Branch meeting | Alan Goldsmith | Alpine succulents and succulent alpines - a look at succulent mountain plants |
20 February 2025 | Chelmsford | Lithops and Conophytums | Brian McDonough | This will be a Zoom meeting, held in our usual meeting place in Danbury, |
22 February 2025 | Dover | Monthly Meeting | Philip Oostenbrink | Plant collecting - Hunters/crazes/national collections |
22 February 2025 | Grampian | Walk at Duthie Park Winter Gardens | Meet for a walk around Duthie Park Winter Gardens, Aberdeen. From 2pm | |
25 February 2025 | York | Bolivian Adventures | John Carr |
March 2025
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|---|---|---|---|
01 March 2025 | Bristol Cactus Soc. | Dave's x 2 | Dave Hartnell and Dave Phillips | A slection given by our Chairman and Secretary
A meeting charge of £3.00 will apply to non Bristol Cactus Society members |
04 March 2025 | Kings Lynn | Three Gardens/ Three Countries/Ten Miles | Laurie Poulson | |
04 March 2025 | Southampton | To be confirmed | ||
05 March 2025 | Leicester | An Introduction to Eretrea | Andrew Harris | An introduction to the environment, people and succulents of Eretrea |
06 March 2025 | Wiltshire | Cacti in Cltivation | Victoria Davies of C&V Cacti | First time visit from Vicky who will be sharing her wisdom and hopefully some hints and tricks about growing cacti successfully! The usual raffle and table show to take place too. |
07 March 2025 | Hull & East Riding | March Meeting | John Arnold | John Arnold will be giving a talk on Chile. With usual raffle and table show. |
08 March 2025 | Gloucester | Succulent alpines & alpine succulents | Alan Goldsmith | |
08 March 2025 | Manchester | Cleistocactus | Martin Lowry | |
10 March 2025 | Huddersfield | Just Two More Days | Ian Robinson | |
10 March 2025 | Liverpool | Branch Meeting | TBC | |
11 March 2025 | Croydon | Defeating Drought-a Tour of South African Biomes | Derek Tribble | A talk on the various regions of South Africa illustrated by Succulent Plants.
Table Show- Gymnocalycium Group, Crassula Subgroup, Plant in Flower |
12 March 2025 | Lincoln | AGM and Talk on Haworthias | Dr Adrian Weatherill | AGM for 2025 |
12 March 2025 | Teesside | Plants in my Greenhouse | Bob Hall | |
13 March 2025 | Northumbria | Memories of Colin Norton | Bob Hall | |
13 March 2025 | Rother Valley | Branch meeting - March | TBD | |
15 March 2025 | Portsmouth | Raising Cacti from Seed | Vicky Davies | |
18 March 2025 | Birmingham | Chinese Cactus Conference | Ralph Martin | In 2024 Ralph travelled to the 2nd Chinese Cactus Conference, as well as nurseries and gardens in China. Ralph is Emeritus Professor of Cardiff University. Ralph grows cacti and succulents as a hobby, and is Chairman of the Research Committee of the British Cactus and Succulent Society. He has lists of plants and journals for exchange or sale. His cactus and succulent field number database is well-known, as is his related database of collectors acronyms. Searches can also be made for field numbers corresponding to a given species or locality. Ralph may be able to bring plants to the talk for you to save on postage - check out his website. https://www.rrm.me.uk/ We meet at Winterbourne House and Garden Centre for Horticulture from around 7.00 pm to begin a talk or activity at 7.30 pm. Plenty of free parking. The car park is open from 6.45 pm. Cost £3 to go towards expenses. First time visitors can come in for free. There are often plants for sale at our meetings. . Full details on our website. https://birmingham.bcss.org.uk/ |
19 March 2025 | South Wales | Branch meeting | John Hughes | Harri Lorenzi and the Jardim Botanico Plantarum |
20 March 2025 | Chelmsford | Practical repotting | Dr Richard Rolfe | |
20 March 2025 | Grampian | Showing & Judging | Christine & David Bruno | Talk on Showing & Judging by Christine & David Bruno. 7.30pm-9.30pm |
21 March 2025 | Spalding | Mystery Talk | Carlos Zeferino | |
25 March 2025 | York | In a Different Light | Terry Goodfellow | Amazing macro-photography of cacti and succulents |
29 March 2025 | Dover | Monthly Meeting | Stuart Riley | American Travels |
April 2025
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|---|---|---|---|
01 April 2025 | Kings Lynn | Madagascar | Ron Crawford | |
01 April 2025 | Southampton | To be confirmed | ||
02 April 2025 | Leicester | Cacti and Succulent Propagation | Alan Rollason | |
03 April 2025 | Wiltshire | Butterflies and their role in pollination | Geoff Hobson | A slightly off-topic talk this month as we look into the mechanics of flower pollination. There will also be the usual raffle and table show. |
4 April 2025 | Hull & East Riding | April Meeting | Graham Walker | Graham Walker will be giving a talk on an Introduction to Bonsai. With usual raffle and table show. |
05 April 2025 | Bristol Cactus Soc. | Baja California | David Minion | A meeting charge of £3.00 will apply to non Bristol Cactus Society members |
08 April 2025 | Croydon | Sulcorebutia | Kathy Flanagan | An illustrated overview of the genus.
Table Show-Rebutia Group, Aloe Group, Plant in Flower. |
09 April 2025 | Lincoln | Small Opuntias | John Betteley | Talk from the Tephrocactus Study Group Secretary |
09 April 2025 | Teesside | Show and Tell | Bring along some of your interesting or significant plants to show to members. | |
10 April 2025 | Northumbria | Pretty Flowers | Mike Stansbie | |
10 April 2025 | Rother Valley | AGM & Plant Auction | None | |
11 April 2025 | Spalding | American Adventures | Stuart Riley | |
12 April 2025 | Gloucester | Succulents for the cactophile | Ian Robinson | |
12 April 2025 | Manchester | The Chinese Cactus and Succulent Union 2nd International Conference | Prof. Ralph Martin | In Spring 2024, Ralph was invited to give a talk at the 2nd Chinese Cactus Union Conference, and also visited many C&S nurseries in the region, and a couple of private botanical gardens. This talk will describe the trip, and show what he saw there. Be prepared for some amazing plants, on a mind-boggling scale.
Ralph has been growing cacti and succulents since he was in primary school, and retired to North Wales where he constructed a large greenhouse for them, and where he now spends much of his time. He is also the Chairman of the BCSS Research Committee, and is the maintainer of a large field number database: see https://fieldnos.bcss.org.uk/ |
12 April 2025 | Spalding | 17th Spalding Cactus Mart | Holbeach Community Centre, Fishpond Lane, Holbeach, Lincs, PE12 7DE Open from 10.00 to 15.00. See the National and Regional Shows and Events page for more details. |
|
14 April 2025 | Huddersfield | Baja - Part 1 | Carl Howard-Morton | |
14 April 2025 | Liverpool | Branch Meeting | ||
14 April 2025 | Northumbria | 2024 | Ray Stephenson | |
15 April 2025 | Birmingham | My affection for Agaves | Bryan Doherty | Bryan is Vice Chair of the BCSS Macclesfield and Wilmslow areas of East Cheshire. Bryan helps organise the Branch Show, and BCSS presence at the RHS Tatton Show. We meet at Winterbourne House and Garden Centre for Horticulture from around 7.00 pm to begin a talk or activity at 7.30 pm. Plenty of free parking. The car park is open from 6.45 pm. Cost £3 to go towards expenses. First time visitors can come in for free. There are often plants for sale at our meetings. . Full details on our website. https://birmingham.bcss.org.uk/ |
17 April 2025 | Chelmsford | More practical photography | Marion Sidebottom | |
19 April 2025 | Dover | Monthly Meeting | Dr Clive Nuttman | Orchids of Kent |
19 April 2025 | Portsmouth | Annual Branch Plant Auction | ||
22 April 2025 | York | Seed Raising Workshop | Nichola Theakstone & Nigel Walters | |
24 April 2025 | Grampian | Dragon Trees and Mother-in-law's Tongues | Colin Walker | 7.30pm - 9.30 pm |
26 April 2025 | Chelmsford | Rawreth Cactus Mart | Annual event, held at the New Village Hall, Church Road, Rawreth, Essex SS11 8SH.
Open from 10 am to 4 pm - £3.50 (children under 18 free but must be accompanied by an adult). Our fourth Annual event, with good parking in the car park itself and the local country lane. A fantastic array of plants for sale at great prices. Experienced and friendly growers on hand to give advice. Many lesser seen cacti and succulents will be available, including species such as Melocacti, Lithops and many more! Come and grab some healthy locally grown plants for your collection! Free tea and coffee in the conservatory. |
May 2025
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|---|---|---|---|
01 May 2025 | Wiltshire | 'Raising from seed - hints and tips' | Tony Irons | A welcome return to Mr Tony Irons who will be sharing his wisdom and bringing sales plants along too! The usual table show and raffle will take place. |
2 May 2025 | Hull & East Riding | May Meeting | Trevor Wray | Trevor Wray will be giving a talk on Namibia. With usual raffle and table show. |
03 May 2025 | Bristol Cactus Soc. | The Tom Mogg Memorial Meeting (this is a Joint meeting with the Bristol Branch of the BCSS) | Ian Woolnough | Subject "Mexico"
A meeting charge of £3.00 will apply to non Bristol Cactus Society members |
03 May 2025 | Manchester | Northwest Cactus Mart | ||
06 May 2025 | Kings Lynn | Baja 2023 | Ian Woolnough | |
06 May 2025 | Southampton | Cultivation & Propagation Evening | ||
07 May 2025 | Leicester | Echinocerous | Julian Cooke | |
08 May 2025 | Rother Valley | Coryphantha Update 2025 | Kathy & Keith Flanagan | |
10 May 2025 | Gloucester | Echeveria and related genera | Trevor Jackman | |
10 May 2025 | Grampian | National Collection of Atlostera, Rebutia & Weingartia Open Day | Paul Doyle | Our annual visit to Paul's collection in Collieston. 10 a.m. start. Best viewed in the morning as flowers tend to close up in the afternoons. |
12 May 2025 | Huddersfield | Evolution of Cacti - Part 1 | Ivor Crook | |
12 May 2025 | Liverpool | Branch Meeting | TBC | |
13 May 2025 | Croydon | Parodia | John Arnold | An illustrated overview of the genus.
Table Show-Parodia Group, Gasteria Group, Plant in Flower. |
14 May 2025 | Lincoln | Bolivia 2024 | Mr Ian Woolnough | A new presentation for 2025 |
14 May 2025 | Teesside | Back to South Africa | Richard Torr | Succulent plants of South Africa. |
15 May 2025 | Chelmsford | "Who needs flowers?" | Brian Cradwick | |
16 May 2025 | Spalding | Mesembs | Ian Robinson | |
17 May 2025 | High Wycombe | High Wycombe Branch Show | West Wycombe Village Hall, High St., West Wycombe, Bucks HP14 3AB. 10:30-15:30. | |
17 May 2025 | Portsmouth | Costa Rica and Antigua (Short Talks ) | Ian Woolnough | |
20 May 2025 | Birmingham | Brazil, Part 2 | Martin Lowry | Martin is a amateur botanist with a particular interest in South American Cacti, especially those of Andean Bolivia. There is still much to discover and he recently discovered and described a new genus of cactus. Martin is also a Trustee of the new Gordon Rowley Society, which is starting a Library in Rutland to preserve Cacti & Succulent Education material. We meet at Winterbourne House and Garden Centre for Horticulture from around 7.00 pm to begin a talk or activity at 7.30 pm. Plenty of free parking. The car park is open from 6.45 pm. Cost £3 to go towards expenses. First time visitors can come in for free. There are often plants for sale at our meetings. . Full details on our website. https://birmingham.bcss.org.uk/ |
21 May 2025 | South Wales | Branch meeting | David Lambie | Lithops |
27 May 2025 | York | Identifying Cacti and Succulent Families | Ray Stephenson | |
31 May 2025 | Dover | Monthly Meeting | Alan Bromley | Mexico |
June 2025
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|---|---|---|---|
03 June 2025 | Kings Lynn | Propagating with Plants | Carlos Zefferino | |
03 June 2025 | Southampton | Title to be confirmed | Ian Woolnough | |
04 June 2025 | Leicester | Branch meeting | TBC | |
05 June 2025 | Wiltshire | 'Pests and Diseases' | Amelia Williams | Horticulturist and bonsai grower Amelia will be sharing her experience and advice in dealing with pests and diseases that can impact our plants. There will be a raffle and table show. |
6 June 2025 | Hull & East Riding | June Meeting | Ian Woolnough | Ian Woolnough will be giving a talk on Mammillaria and associated genera in Habitat. With usual raffle and table show. |
07 June 2025 | Bristol Cactus Soc. | Echinocereus | Julian Cooke | A meeting charge of £3.00 will apply to non Bristol Cactus Society members |
08 June 2025 | Northumbria | Open garden day at Stansbie's & Torr's | ||
09 June 2025 | Huddersfield | If It's Flowers You Want - Part 2 | Peter Bint | |
09 June 2025 | Liverpool | Branch Meeting | TBC | |
10 June 2025 | Croydon | Mammillaria | Graham Evans | A look at this popular genus of cacti from the speaker's collection.
Table Show- Mammillaria Group, Haworthia Group, Plant in Flower. |
11 June 2025 | Lincoln | Greenhouse Visit and BBQ | Secretarys Greenhouse Saxilby 1830 onwards | |
11 June 2025 | Teesside | Table Show | Bring along your plants and learn from a qualified Show judge the do's and don't of showing plants off to their best. Schedule will be published later. | |
12 June 2025 | Northumbria | My Plants Through the Ages | Richard Torr | |
12 June 2025 | Rother Valley | Cotyledon, Adromischus and Tylecodon | Derek Tribble | |
14 June 2025 | Gloucester | Los Angeles County Arboretum & The Huntington | Ben Turner | |
14 June 2025 | Manchester | Seed Raising and Grafting | John Carr | |
14 June 2025 | Sheffield | Sheffield Branch Show | Sheffied Branch's Show will take place on 14-15th June at Sheffield Botanic Gardens, Dorothy Fox Centre from 12pm Saturday | |
14 June 2025 | Wiltshire | Wiltshire Branch Annual Cacti and Succulent Show | Our annual branch show will take place between 10am and 3pm at the Melksham Assembly Hall. This years judge is Gareth Darbon. | |
17 June 2025 | Birmingham | Namibia, Etosha NP and Lithop hunting | Alan Brown | Alan is the current chair of Leicester Branch and former show committee member. He has travelled extensively. His talk tonight will be on Namibia which is particularly rich in mesembs including lithops . We meet at Winterbourne House and Garden Centre for Horticulture from around 7.00 pm to begin a talk or activity at 7.30 pm. Plenty of free parking. The car park is open from 6.45 pm. Cost £3 to go towards expenses. First time visitors can come in for free. There are often plants for sale at our meetings. . Full details on our website. https://birmingham.bcss.org.uk/ |
18 June 2025 | South Wales | Branch meeting | Ian Woolnough | Chile |
19 June 2025 | Chelmsford | Turbinicarpus | Julian Cooke | |
20 June 2025 | Spalding | Soqotra Research Project | Neil Oakman | |
21 June 2025 | Chelmsford | Chelmsford annual Cactus Show & Mart | To be held in Danbury Village Hall, Main Road, Danbury, Essex CM3 4NQ. Open from 10 am to 3 pm - Admission : £3 per person (children under 18 free, but must be accompanied by an adult). Nearby car parks with free parking. |
|
21 June 2025 | Portsmouth | 75th Branch Anniversary Celebrations | Graham Charles - Favourite Plants from Rio Grande du Sul | TBC |
24 June 2025 | York | Social Event at their home | John and Margarent Carr | Ask branch secretary for details |
28 June 2025 | Dover | Branch Show |
July 2025
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|---|---|---|---|
01 July 2025 | Kings Lynn | Branch Meeting | TBA | |
01 July 2025 | Southampton | Small Opuntias in Habitat and Culture | Mike Partridge | |
02 July 2025 | Leicester | Mexico pt 2 | Ian Woolnough | |
03 July 2025 | Wiltshire | Travelogue | Ian Woolnough | Ian will be sharing stories and photographs from of his many trips overseas searching for cacti in habitat. There will also be the usual table show and raffle. |
04 July 2025 | Hull & East Riding | July Meeting | Mark Preston | Mark Preston will be giving a talk on An Introduction to Epiphytes. With usual raffle and table show. |
05 July 2025 | Bristol Cactus Soc. | Argentina and Chile | Mike Partridge | A meeting charge of £3.00 will apply to non Bristol Cactus Society members |
08 July 2025 | Croydon | General Greenhouse Ramble | Julian Cooke | A trip through the presenter's greenhouse with cacti and succulents.
Table Show-Opuntia Group, Aeonium Subgroup, Plant in Flower. |
09 July 2025 | Lincoln | I Have Lost The Lable | Members Night | Members bring their Plants for identity and Growing tips |
09 July 2025 | Teesside | Argentina 2023 | Ian Woolnough | Travelogue and cacti and succulents in Argentina. |
10 July 2025 | Northumbria | Argentina 2023 | Ian Woolnough | |
10 July 2025 | Rother Valley | Branch meeting - July | TBD | |
12 July 2025 | Gloucester | It started with a licence plate | Richard Booth | |
12 July 2025 | Manchester | My Love for Agaves | Bryan Doherty | |
14 July 2025 | Huddersfield | Peru | Martin Lowry | |
14 July 2025 | Liverpool | Branch Meeting | TBC | |
15 July 2025 | Birmingham | Gran Canaria and La Gomera | Les Pearcy | Gran Canaria: One of the larger Canary Islands, home to large numbers of succulent plants particularly Crassulaceae. The talk also features a visit to one of the largest cactus gardens in Europe. Gomera: La Gomera, the second-smallest of the main islands in Spain’s Canary Island chain, is marked by craggy volcanic mountains crisscrossed with hiking trails. In higher altitudes, dense forests of ferns and moss-covered trees grow in the mists of Garajonay National Park. Again large numbers of Aeoniums as well as Euphorbias are some of the main features. We meet at Winterbourne House and Garden Centre for Horticulture from around 7.00 pm to begin a talk or activity at 7.30 pm. Plenty of free parking. The car park is open from 6.45 pm. Cost £3 to go towards expenses. First time visitors can come in for free. There are often plants for sale at our meetings. . Full details on our website. https://birmingham.bcss.org.uk/ |
16 July 2025 | South Wales | Branch meeting | Hazel Taylor | Plants and Animals of the Western Cape (part 2) |
17 July 2025 | Chelmsford | "Crassulas everywhere" | Derek Tribble | |
18 July 2025 | Spalding | An Evening of Haworthia | Alan Rollason | |
19 July 2025 | Portsmouth | Bulbs of the Cape Floral Kingdom of South Africa | Benjamin Turner | |
20 July 2025 | Kings Lynn | Possible BBQ at Eau Brink.......Date to be confirmed | ||
22 July 2025 | York | South African Safari: part I | Graham Walker | |
26 July 25 | Croydon | Summer Show | Venue- Sanderstead Methodist Church, Limpsfield Road, Sanderstead, Surrey CR2 9EF. Time- 11:00am until 3:30pm. |
|
26 July 2025 | Dover | Monthly Meeting | Suzanne Mace | Columnar Cacti |
30 July 2025 | Chelmsford | RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show - 30 July to 3 August 2025 | Chelmsford annual participation in this major event, in our own marquee |
August 2025
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|---|---|---|---|
02 August 2025 | Bristol Cactus Soc. | Namibia, Etosha and Lithops | Alan Brown | A meeting charge of £3.00 will apply to non Bristol Cactus Society members |
03 August 2025 | Hull & East Riding | August Meeting - Annual Open Greenhouses | No Speaker | There is no Friday meeting in August, instead please join us for our annual Open Greenhouses Event on Sunday 3rd, please email Bob Hall for details if you have not received them. This year we will be back with Robert Lawrence and then on to Ann Lowry for a good catch up, with the usual raffle and buffet, plus plant and sundry sales. Not to be missed! |
03 August 2025 | Northumbria | Open day at Stephenson's | ||
05 August 2025 | Kings Lynn | Big Bend and Southern Rockies | Graham Walker | |
05 August 2025 | Southampton | Plant Focus Evening. Cactus - Astrophytum, Lophophora, Turbinicarpus. Succulent - Aeonium, Aichryson, Greenovia | ||
07 August 2025 | Wiltshire | Members Evening | No Speaker | An opportunity for Branch members to bring plants along to show or seek advice on. There will be a table show and raffle. |
09 August 2025 | Gloucester | "Succulent Asphodelaceae (Aloe Gasteria Haworthia)" | Branch forum | |
09 August 2025 | Manchester | Mexico Autumn 2014 - The Search For Ariocarpus In Flower | Ian Woolnough | |
9 August 2025 | Northumbria | Newbiggin by the Sea display and plant sale | ||
11 August 2025 | Huddersfield | Branch Auction | N/A | |
11 August 2025 | Liverpool | Branch Meeting | TBC | |
12 August 2025 | Croydon | Crassulaceae | John Hughes | An overview of the genera in the Crassula family.
Table Show-Echinopsis Group, Echeveria Subgroup, Plant in Flower. |
13 August 2025 | Lincoln | Nursery Visit | Visit to " Plant Lovers Nursery" Candlesby 1500 hrs PE23 5RU | |
13 August 2025 | Teesside | Welbury Social | Come along to buy and sell plants NB at Welbury Village Hall *NOT* usual venue. | |
14 August 2025 | Rother Valley | Branch meeting - August | TBD | |
15 August 2025 | Spalding | Brazil Part 1 - Rio Grande do Sul | Cliff Thompson | |
16 August 2025 | Manchester | RHS Bridgewater | Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 August. BCSS Cactus and Succulent Weekend Event at RHS Bridgewater | |
17 August 2025 | York | Greenhouse visits | David Johnston & David Fair | |
19 August 2025 | Birmingham | Bolivia | Ian Woolnough | Ian is a geologist and cartographer whose interest in cacti started as a teenager. As well as having written numerous articles on cacti and other succulents he has spoken widely throughout the UK and internationally on the subject. He is well travelled and will relates some of his ventures to the USA. We meet at Winterbourne House and Garden Centre for Horticulture from around 7.00 pm to begin a talk or activity at 7.30 pm. Plenty of free parking. The car park is open from 6.45 pm. Cost £3 to go towards expenses. First time visitors can come in for free. There are often plants for sale at our meetings. . Full details on our website. https://birmingham.bcss.org.uk/ |
20 August 2025 | South Wales | Branch meeting | David Minnion | tba |
26 August 2025 | York | Evolution of the Crassula Family | Ivor Crook | |
30 August 2025 | Dover | Monthly Meeting | Dr Jonathan Hughes | Holambra |
September 2025
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|---|---|---|---|
02 September 2025 | Kings Lynn | Gardens of the Western Cape | Trevor Wray | |
03 September 2025 | Leicester | 'What is this' | Adrian Weatherill | |
04 September 2025 | Wiltshire | 'Aloes and Hybridisation' | Ogie Placido | Ogie Placido will be talking about his passion for hybridising Aloes and also be bringing plants for sale. There will be a raffle and table show. |
05 September 2025 | Hull & East Riding | September Meeting | John Carr | John Carr will be giving a talk on 25 years in Bolivia. With usual raffle and table show. |
06 September 2025 | Bristol Cactus Soc. | Tephrocactus and other small Opuntias | Alan Weaden | A meeting charge of £3.00 will apply to non Bristol Cactus Society members |
08 September 2025 | Huddersfield | Big Bend National Park and Southern Rockies | Graham Walker | |
08 September 2025 | Liverpool | Branch Table Show | None | |
09 September 2025 | Croydon | Echeveria (Provisional) | Trevor Jackman | A look at this popular succulent genus in the presenter's collection.
Table Show- Ariocarpus Group, Mesembryanthemum Group, Plant in Flower. |
10 September 2025 | Lincoln | My Favourite Cactus Or Succulents | Members Night | Members bring there favourite plants to talk about and get advice |
10 September 2025 | Teesside | Namibia | Les Pearcy | Travelogue - Succulents of Namibia in habitat. |
11 September 2025 | Northumbria | Namibia | Les Pearcy | |
11 September 2025 | Rother Valley | Asclepiads | Tom Radford | |
13 September 2025 | Gloucester | Minishow | ||
13 September 2025 | Manchester | |||
16 September 2025 | Birmingham | Evening Showing and Judging, | Branch Run | A great prelude to our own Autumn show. An opportunity to gain confidence in showing off the best plants in our collections. A list of categories will be sent around. E.g. plant and pot pairing, a caudex plant, a globular cacti, an aloe etc Bring along plants and we all judge - with prizes! Judging is based on your own opinion. We meet at Winterbourne House and Garden Centre for Horticulture from around 7.00 pm to begin a talk or activity at 7.30 pm. Plenty of free parking. The car park is open from 6.45 pm. Cost £3 to go towards expenses. First time visitors can come in for free. There are often plants for sale at our meetings. . Full details on our website. https://birmingham.bcss.org.uk/ |
17 September 2025 | South Wales | Branch meeting | Ralph Martin | A Trip to the 2nd Chinese Cactus Union Conference |
18 September 2025 | Chelmsford | "In my new greenhouse" | Ralph Martin | |
19 September 2025 | Spalding | Continental Collections | Ian Woolnough | |
20 September 2025 | Portsmouth | Chile Odyssey Part 1 | Julian Cooke | |
23 September 2025 | York | South African Wanderings | David Slade | |
27 September 2025 | Dover | Monthly Meeting | Ian Woolnough | Argentina |
October 2025
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|---|---|---|---|
01 October 2025 | Leicester | Cacti & Succulents of North East Mexico | Branch AGM + Hazel Taylor | |
02 October 2025 | Wiltshire | 'Conophytums and other meesembs' | David Lambie | David will be sharing his knowledge of growing and cultivating these plants. There will be a table show and a raffle. |
3 October 2025 | Hull & East Riding | October Meeting | Chloe & Lara | Our very own young people, Chloe & Lara, will be talking to us about "Stuff and Things" With usual raffle and table show. |
04 October 2025 | Bristol Cactus Soc. | Video Selection | Peter Belcher | A selection of videos of Tuscon, Arizona Botanical Garden Tour 2024, Cactus and Succulent Fair in NSW, Australia 2024 and Irish Cactus and Succulent Society Show 2024.A meeting charge of £3.00 will apply to non Bristol Cactus Society members |
07 October 2025 | Kings Lynn | Monotypic genus | Julian Cooke | |
08 October 2025 | Lincoln | Members Social Evening | General discussions with refreshments at the Last Meeting of the year | |
08 October 2025 | Teesside | Plants in my Scottish Greenhouse | Brian Mc Donough | |
09 October 2025 | Northumbria | A close look | Brian McDonough | |
09 October 2025 | Rother Valley | Branch meeting - October | TBD | |
11 October 2025 | Gloucester | Thelocactus | Julian Cooke | |
11 October 2025 | Manchester | Northwest Mesemb Show | ||
13 October 2025 | Liverpool | Branch Meeting | TBC | |
14 October 2025 | Croydon | Autumn Show | Venue- As monthly meetings. Time-7:00pm until 9:45pm |
|
15 October 2025 | South Wales | Branch meeting | Ian Robinson | In my Greenhouse |
16 October 2025 | Chelmsford | Chelmsford branch AGM and Members' evening | ||
17 October 2025 | Spalding | AGM followed by Flora and Fauna of New Zealand Part 1 | Gerry Blacoe | |
18 October 2025 | Portsmouth | Argentina 2023 | Ian Woolnough | |
21 October 2025 | Birmingham | 'Greenhouse + automation etc' | Julian Cooke | Julian is Secretary of the Berkhampstead BCSS Branch. He is a plant grower and frequently travels abroad. Tonight we hear about tech that may help us! We meet at Winterbourne House and Garden Centre for Horticulture from around 7.00 pm to begin a talk or activity at 7.30 pm. Plenty of free parking. The car park is open from 6.45 pm. Cost £3 to go towards expenses. First time visitors can come in for free. There are often plants for sale at our meetings. . Full details on our website. https://birmingham.bcss.org.uk/ |
25 October 2025 | Dover | Monthly Meeting | Hazel Taylor | Galapagos and Ecuador |
28 October 2025 | York | AGM and Chair's Choice | All members input | All members input |
November 2025
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|---|---|---|---|
01 November 2025 | Bristol Cactus Soc. | Annual general meeting followed by a general Question and Answer Session | Bristol Cactus Society AGM | |
04 November 2025 | Kings Lynn | Branch AGM | ||
05 November 2025 | Leicester | Branch meeting | TBC | |
06 November 2025 | Wiltshire | 'Rescuing Cacti for a living' | Hayley Stephens of Mint Plants | We are delighted to have Hayley Stephens of Mint plants join us for an evening of plant rescuing and to glean some advice and tips from her wealth of experience. There will be the usual table show and raffle. |
07 November 2025 | Hull & East Riding | AGM and Members Contributions | Members Contributions | Annual General Meeting to discuss branch specifics. Slideshow of members contributions, all welcome, please bring a selection of 20-30 photos on a subject of personal interest to share with the group. With usual raffle and table show. |
08 November 2025 | Gloucester | Conophytums | Philip Moor | |
08 November 2025 | Manchester | Succulents for the Cactophile | Ian Robinson | |
10 November 2025 | Huddersfield | AGM and Member Discussion | N/A | |
10 November 2025 | Liverpool | Annual General Meeting | None | |
11 November 2025 | Croydon | Annual General Meeting | The formalities of the Annual General Meeting will be followed by a quiz with prizes based on cacti and succulent related questions. | |
12 November 2025 | Teesside | AGM and Photo Competition Slide Show | Please submit entries taken in 2025 | |
13 November 2025 | Northumbria | Anatolia 2025 | Ray Stephenson | |
13 November 2025 | Rother Valley | Yet More Days in Patagonia: The Deep South | Mike Partridge | |
14 November 2025 | Grampian | Branch AGM & social | At The Redgarth, Oldmeldrum. AGM at 6.30pm followed by bar supper | |
15 November 2025 | Portsmouth | AGM and Annual Social | ||
18 November 2025 | Birmingham | Workshop Cacti Miniatures, Succulent Bonsai and Bowl Gardening | Branch Run | Share ideas and learn about some growing techniques. Caudex plants will also feature. We meet at Winterbourne House and Garden Centre for Horticulture from around 7.00 pm to begin a talk or activity at 7.30 pm. Plenty of free parking. The car park is open from 6.45 pm. Cost £3 to go towards expenses. First time visitors can come in for free. There are often plants for sale at our meetings. . Full details on our website. https://birmingham.bcss.org.uk/ |
19 November 2025 | South Wales | AGM | ||
20 November 2025 | Chelmsford | "Namibia" | Ron Crawford | |
25 November 2025 | York | Show & Tell | All members input | Bring your favorite cacti and succulents, with an associated story |
29 November 2025 | Dover | Xmas Quiz |
December 2025
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|---|---|---|---|
04 December 2025 | Chelmsford | End of year "Social" | Venue and other details t.b.c. | |
04 December 2025 | Wiltshire | AGM and Christmas festivities | No Speaker | Thee AGM and annual Christmas festivities. |
5 December 2025 | Hull & East Riding | December Meeting - Christmas Party & Quiz | Christmas Party | Annual Christmas Party and Bob's Festive Fun Quiz of the Year! Members invited to bring some food for the buffet and enjoy a social catch up amongst plant friends. With usual raffle and table show. |
06 December 2025 | Bristol Cactus Soc. | Christmas Surprise | None | A general Xmas "Get together" with Seasonal Food and Drink
A meeting charge of £3.00 will apply to non Bristol Cactus Society members |
08 December 2025 | Huddersfield | Christmas Dinner - venue TBA | N/A | |
09 December 2025 | Birmingham | Christmas celebration and AGM | Branch Run | After our AGM we share food and have a raffle. Other fun activities are included and have, in the past, included a quiz, new cacti and succulent films and sales. We also plan the next years trips! We meet at Winterbourne House and Garden Centre for Horticulture from around 7.00 pm to begin a talk or activity at 7.30 pm. Plenty of free parking. The car park is open from 6.45 pm. Cost £3 to go towards expenses. First time visitors can come in for free. There are often plants for sale at our meetings. . Full details on our website. https://birmingham.bcss.org.uk/ |
09 December 2025 | Croydon | Christmas Party | Format to be decided. | |
10 December 2025 | Teesside | Exploring the Colorado River | Peter Berresford | Travelogue cacti and succulents in habitat |
11 December 2025 | Northumbria | Exploring the Colorado River | Peter Beresford | |
11 December 2025 | Rother Valley | Christmas lunch | None | All welcome! |
11 December 2025 | York | York Branch Christmas Dinner | All members | Venue to be confirmed nearer the time. |
13 December 2025 | Gloucester | Christmas social | ||
13 December 2025 | Manchester | AGM + Members' Social Evening |
January 2026
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|
February 2026
Date | Branch | Talk Title | Speaker | Synopsis |
---|