Happy New Year!

Happy 2026 to all our members! We hope your gardens are resting well and that you are already looking ahead to a flourishing new season.

As we kick off the year, we have an important update regarding 2026 Membership Cards:

Early Bird Memberships (Processed): If you submitted your renewal or new membership by November 22, 2025, your application has now been fully processed.
- Digital Cards: These have been sent out via email. Please check your inbox (and your spam/junk folder) for your digital joining email. (search for email subject 'Welcome to CGS in 2026 - your membership card is attached')
- Physical Cards: These are now ready for collection! Please stop by Ecocentric.Us on the Claygate Parade to pick yours up.
Recent and Ongoing Memberships: Any memberships submitted after November 22, 2025, or from this point forward, are now being handled on our standard weekly processing cycle.

Important Membership Reminders:

Renew in Person: If you haven’t renewed yet, you can do so in person at any of our upcoming monthly talks at the Village Hall.
Digital Newsletter: A reminder that we have transitioned to a greener society—we no longer hand-deliver printed newsletters. Ensure your email address is up to date to receive all society news directly to your inbox.

Upcoming Talks for Early 2026

We have a fantastic lineup of speakers to inspire your gardening year. Click the links below for full details and to add them to your calendar:

Jan - Let’s Talk Gardening with Jean Griffith
- The Practical Approach: A conversational session focused on "no-nonsense" gardening. Jean will share her expert tips on organic vegetable production, soil health, and creating a sustainable garden that thrives in the UK climate.
Feb - Vegetable Growing, Ideas & Advice with Barry Newman
- Following the success of popularity and success of his Vegetable talk last march, Barry Newman joins us for a talk on vegetable growing.
Apr - A Lifetime of Roses with Catherine & David May
- The Queen of Flowers: The founders of Seale Rose Nurseries share decades of wisdom on the art of rose cultivation. Learn how to select, prune, and care for both traditional and modern roses for a lifetime of beautiful blooms.
Oct - The History of the Allotment Movement with Dr. Judy Hill
- A Social Journey: Dive into the fascinating past of the British allotment. Dr. Hill explores how these small plots of land evolved from 19th-century social protests to vital "Dig for Victory" lifelines and modern community hubs.