Alpine Plant Charity to Hold Biggest-ever Fair

The Alpine Garden Society (AGS), one of the largest specialist garden societies, is to hold its first-ever plant fair, aimed to appeal to all plant lovers and gardeners. At the AGS Early Spring Show and Plant Fair, enthusiasts and experts will be on hand to offer advice to visitors wanting to find out more about growing alpine, woodland and small hardy plants.

The event, to be held at Chelmsford City Racecourse on Saturday 2 March 2024, will include sales by 15 specialist plant nurseries, plus exhibits from other plant societies and gardening organisations. Nurseries include Aberconwy Nursery, Edrom Nurseries, Hartside Nursery and Pottertons Nursery – all of which specialise in alpine plants – alongside nurseries selling bulbs, woodland, exotic and rare plants.

Other plant societies at the event include the Hardy Orchid Society, Fritillaria Group, Essex Hardy Plant Society, the Hebe Society and the Southend Group of the British Cactus & Succulent Society. Students from Writtle University College will be creating live art and inviting visitors to make jewellery from plant material. There will also be a selection of food and craft stalls.

Visitors can ask gardening and alpine-plant related queries to a panel of gardening and alpine-growing experts drawn from the RHS Alpine and Rock Garden Committee during a gardener’s question time forum. Tom Freeth from Kew Gardens and Diane Clement of the Alpine Garden Society will be giving talks.

Superb alpine plants will be on display as part of the National AGS Show in various classes from expert grower to novice exhibitor, which are judged, with prizes awarded to the best plants.

Tony Bryan, Director of the Alpine Garden Society says “This is an exciting new venture for the AGS. This event will help introduce our Society to more plant lovers and offers all those interested in gardening the chance to find out more about alpine plants. These exquisite, usually hardy, plants can enhance any garden from miniature container gardens to larger rock gardens and borders.”

The Plant Fair will be open 9.30am–3.30pm on Saturday 2 March 2024, with the Alpine Garden Society National Show open from 11.00am; entrance is £5 (free to AGS members) and ample free parking is available.