HPS Sussex

Hardy Plant Society Sussex

Making gardens with hardy perennials

Welcome to the Sussex Branch of the Hardy Plant Society

Thankyou for visiting - we hope you'll come along to a meeting and join our community!

We meet monthly at 2pm (doors open at 1.30) at Henfield Hall BN5 9EQ from September to April - there are stalls with plants and seeds for sale, a raffle, gardening goods and clothing, an information point and often a good selection of second-hand books. There's always a speaker - perhaps a nursery owner, a specialist grower or an author. Our November meeting is a shared lunch and quiz - the prizes are great.

There's a great deal of sharing and learning from each other and a collective enthusiasm for gardening. And cake! The meetings end with tea and cakes, made by our members - and you can buy any left-over slices at the end of the meeting to enjoy at home.

From April to August there are visits to members' gardens and other gardens not usually open to the public, which are great opportunities to see ideas put into practice and to take away inspiration (and sometimes plants for sale). There's always coffee and cake and conversation, of course!

What's a hardy herbaceous perennial?

It's a plant which lives for more than two years - most herbaceous perennials grow and bloom over the spring and summer then die back every winter. They grow back again each spring from their root-stock, rather than seeding themselves as an annual plant does.

This year's meetings

October 15 at 2pm: 'Containing the Unconventional' with Ben Pope

November 19 at 11am: 'Design Inspiration' with Juliet Sargeant, followed by a bring-and-share lunch - please make sure you've booked your place

Next year's activities

Sunday 28 January at 2pm: 'The History of the Open Garden' with Steve Bustin

Sunday 25 February: at 2pm 'The Changing Seasons at Munstead Woods' with Annabel Watts, Head Gardener at Munstead Woods

Sunday 24 March at 2pm: AGM followed by 'Shining a light on bulbs' with Rachael Castle, owner Swallowfield Nursery

Sunday 21 April at 2pm: Seedling swap, followed by a speaker to be announced

Sunday 22 September at 2pm: HPS Sussex 30th Anniversary event

Sunday 20 October at 2pm: Speaker to be announced

Sunday 24 November at 11am: 'Creating Movement whilst Frozen Still' with Ben Pope

Group Holiday to Suffolk and Norfolk

June 14 - 17 inclusive staying at the George Hotel, Norfolk