The National Cottage Garden Society
The Society was formed in 1982 for the benefit of owners of small gardens who want to keep alive the tradition of gardening in the cottage style and to encourage an interest in old fashioned flowers of merit and their varieties and cultivars. We aim to be a friendly and informal Society, bringing together amateurs and experts who share an enthusiasm for this type of gardening. It is not necessary to live in a country cottage to be a cottage gardener. Each one of us can create in our own way, wherever we live, the natural and informal style associated with the cottage garden. Many of the old fashioned flowers are still available; a few now have to be searched for in specialist nurseries. We will try to help you to find these. Members give seed from their own gardens, enabling us to offer hundreds of varieties through our annual seed distribution scheme. We also have a propagation scheme for more unusual plants. Other benefits include a national newsletter, garden visits and, every spring, a list of cottage gardens to visit comprising members' gardens which other members can visit.
The Lancashire and North West Area Group
This local group was formed in February 1996 and now has over 80 members scattered throughout Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cumbria. What we have in common is a genuine enjoyment of our gardens and an enthusiasm to share the triumphs and disasters of our mutual hobby. We organise events, garden visits and parties, plant sales and a regular newsletter for the benefit and enjoyment of our members.