The group meet at Beech Hill Church, Otley at 7.30pm on the 2nd Tuesday of every month between September and May.
There is a program with expert guest speakers to inspire and inform, an annual plant auction and a Christmas party (see events section).
Membership is £20 for the year.Guests are welcome to attend at a cost of £5.Affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society, the group was formed in January 1947 for the purpose of promoting and extending interest in gardening
A HISTORY OF THE WHARFEDALE GARDENERS’ GROUP IN THE BEGINNING Initially inspired by the Ministry of Agriculture’s “Dig for Victory” campaign in the Second World War, Holmes Whiteley from Pool-in-Wharfedale and his fellow gardeners were so enthusiastic that after the war ended they were determined to continue with their efforts. In March 1947 they set up the Wharfedale Gardeners’ Discussion Group (the Group) to promote and extend an interest in gardening. The Group’s original logo In the first couple of months there were two pruning demonstrations, this was very much an activity of the times when professional gardeners were keen to keep tight control of shrubs and roses. For many years the committee and general membership was predominantly male. In fact, in 1967 a special ladies’ evening was held on the subject of “The Preparation and Cooking of Vegetables”. Things are very different today! In 1950 the Group was one of the first to become affiliated to the Northern Horticultural Society, which was responsible for Harlow Carr Gardens for many years. The Group became the “Wharfedale Gardeners” in 2002 and then the “Wharfedale Gardeners’ Group” in 2014. PROGRAMMES The first lecture was on “The Preparation of Spring Bulbs”, a subject which is still popular today. An early programme from 1948 Over the years our programmes have featured a mixture of head gardeners from some of the country’s most famous gardens and garden designers including Geoffrey Smith, Roy Lancaster, Bob Flowerdew, Fergus Garrett, Matthew Wilson, Christine Walkden, Andy McIndoe, Nick Bailey and Ben Preston. We also welcome very knowledgeable local and regional nurserymen and women and plantsmen and women and others connected to the horticultural industry. When the Otley Civic Centre closed in 2009, the Group moved to the Methodist Church in the centre of Otley. After Covid restrictions were lifted, in 2021 the Group moved to the Beech Hill Church on Westgate, which is our current location. PLANT SALES Plant sales have featured throughout the history of the group. Our annual Plant Sale moved from a members only event to a public sale at the Buttercross in 2021 ahead of the Otley Show in May. Selling plants grown by our members, has become a very popular and successful event which raises valuable funds for the Group. 2026 Plant sale at the Buttercross TRIPS Every year the Group offers a number of trips to the best local and regional gardens and nurseries. The first ever trip was to the Riverside Nurseries at Linton by private bus. On the second trip, to John Mitchell’s nursery at Askwith, twenty members walked there and back from Otley. In 1988 the first weekend trip, to Kew Gardens and RHS Wisley, was organised as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations by Alan Wilson, the then Secretary, who has made a huge contribution to the Group for many years and is now an Honorary Life Member. The 2000s saw trips to Norfolk, the Cotswolds, Cornwall, the Netherlands, France and Ireland. In 2009 the Group visited The Royal Gardens at Highgrove. More recently we have enjoyed visits to the RHS Garden Bridgewater, Scampston Walled Garden, Jackson’s Wold, the Himalayan Gardens in Grewelthorpe and the Grange near Skipton. GARDENERS’ QUESTION TIME In March 1949 the Group were invited by the BBC on to the “How does your garden grow?” series on “Gardeners’ Question Time”. We have also held several “Gardeners’ Question Time” sessions of our own. ANNIVERSARIES 60th ANNIVERSARY Our 60th anniversary year in 2007 featured a visit to Alnwick Castle, and we welcomed the Duchess of Northumberland as our celebration speaker. There was a five day visit to the gardens of Kent, including Great Dixter, a special trip to Maspin House in vintage coaches and period costumes, and an Open Day of members’ own gardens. 70th ANNIVERSARY Events for the 70th Anniversary included a film showing at Otley Courthouse of “Painting the Modern Garden - Monet to Matisse”, a celebrity lecture by Chris Beardshaw, an anniversary tea at Otley Golf Club and members’ open gardens. 80th ANNIVERSARY Events organised for our 80th Anniversary year include the welcome return of Chris Beardshaw in July, members’ open gardens in June and another visit to RHS Garden Bridgewater and also to Horticap in Harrogate.
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