News – Suffolk Plant Heritage

Cedric Morris Irises Open Day – May 20, 2026

SPH-Admin — Fri, 01 May 2026 13:46:26 +0000

Wednesday 20th of May – Open Day for the Cedric Morris Irises

Hullwood Barn, Shelley, IP7 5RE.
01473 822 400
11 am to 6 pm
Donations to Plant Heritage

Also open on the 21st June for Shelley Open Gardens, 11 am to 5 pm,
£7 per person; children free.

Benton Caramel

April’s Talk – ‘Orchids’

SPH-Admin — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:16:58 +0000

A talk by Bill Gardiner

Saturday, 25 April 2026, 2.00 pm, Wetherden Village Hall Park Road, Wetherden, IP14 3JS.

Bill Gardiner is Chairman of the Suffolk Orchid Society. He will talk about orchids and will give advice on members’ own orchids. In addition we will of course have other plants for sale, produced and maintained by our propagation team.

Note: This is a further change from the originally announced speaker.

Spring 2026 Plant Fair Programme

SPH-Admin — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:38:30 +0000

Helmingham Plant Fair Programme:

Alongside the stalls of the specialist nurseries and artisans, we have an exciting programme of talks and entertainment.

Sunday 24th May

Talks:

11.30am – 12.30pm Garden Speaker – Jim Marshall – The renewal of Benton End Gardens – home of Sir Cedric Morris.
12.30 – 1pm Meet the Experts Q&A:
Jim Marshall – RHS Gold Medal Winner and National Trust Gardens Advisor
Matthew Tanton Brown – Nurseryman (A Place for Plants) and Broadcaster
Anthony Pigott – Scientific Reference National Collection of Dryopteris

1pm – 2pm – Plants of Distinction Collection with Suffolk Plant Heritage Collection Display
2pm – 2.30pm – National Plant Collection Holder Talk: Lucy Skellorn, Foster Irises
2.30pm – 3pm – National Plant Collection Holder Talk: Darren Andrews, Engleheart Narcissus

Entertainment:

10.30am – 4pm Harriet Cree Musician
12 noon – 12.45pm – Suffolk Phoenix Brass Band
1.45pm – 2.30pm – Suffolk Phoenix Brass Band
Dancers – throughout the day
Sid the Sax – throughout the day in the stable courtyard

Artists in the Garden:

Details will be announced on the day, depending on the weather.

Monday 25th May

Talks:

11.30am – 12.30pm Garden Talk: Jim Marshall – The renewal of Benton End Gardens – home of Sir Cedric Morris.
12.30pm – 1pm Meet the Experts Q&A:
Jim Marshall – RHS Gold Medal Winner and National Trust Gardens Advisor
Matthew Tanton Brown – Nurseryman (A Place for Plants) and Broadcaster
Anthony Pigott – Scientific Reference National Collection of Dryopteris

1pm – 2pm – Plants of Distinction Collection with Suffolk Plant Heritage Collection Display
2pm – 2.30pm – National Plant Collection Holder Talk: Mel Collins of Mickfield Hostas – Hosta Q&A
2.30pm – 3pm – National Plant Collection Holder Talk: Gill Stafford of Woottens of Wenhaston, Pelargoniums (Species and Scented)

Entertainment:

10am – 12 noon – Holly Brice
12 noon – 12.45pm – Suffolk Phoenix Brass Band
1.45pm – 2.30pm – Suffolk Phoenix Brass Band
Dancers – throughout the day
Sid the Sax – throughout the day in the stable courtyard
2pm – 4pm – Suffolk One Musicians

Artists in the Garden:

Details will be announced on the day, depending on the weather.

Daffodil Open Day April 11 2026

SPH-Admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:31:35 +0000

Narcissus cultivars bred & introduced by the Rev G H Engleheart

Open day to visit the National Plant Collection.

A large, plantsman’s garden with an extensive and established collection of historic daffodils as well as most of the extant Engleheart cultivars. Refreshments will be available as well as pots of daffodil bulbs from both the Engleheart collection and the Plant Heritage propagation group.

Event Start Date	Saturday, 11 April 2026 11.30am
Event End Date	Saturday, 11 April 2026 4.00pm
Cost	£5.
Event Location	Cotton Lodge Cotton IP14 4RQ
Event Contact	Suffolk Group
Telephone	01473 822987
Contact	waspfactory72@yahoo.co.uk

Bath’s Flame

March’s Talk – ‘English Trees’

SPH-Admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:02:01 +0000

A Talk by Brian Partridge

Saturday, 28 March 2026 2.00pm, Wetherden Village Hall Park Road, Wetherden, IP14 3JS.

Brian is a retired electronic engineer who now spends his time woodturning amongst many things. He is a member of Suffolk Plant Heritage and his work, which he generously donates, can often be found in the raffles at Wetherden.

Members’ Weekend and Plant Exchange 2026 in Suffolk

SPH-Admin — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:59:21 +0000

Suffolk is hosting the annual National Members’ get together and Plant Exchange. Beautiful Helmingham Hall near Stowmarket and Bury St Edmunds are at the centre of what promises to be a memorable weekend for all. Everyone is welcome and you can invite friends or family.

Event Start Date	Friday, 5 June 2026 6.30pm
Event End Date	Sunday, 7 June 2026 12.00pm
Cost	£40 for dinner/talk on Friday, £50 for Saturday all day. Sunday morning for visits to National Collections and gardens open especially for us.
Event Location	Bury St Edmunds and Helmingham Hall near Stowmarket Suffolk
Event Contact	Plant Heritage Membership Team
Telephone	01483 447540
Contact	membership@plantheritage.org.uk

For full details, see the Plant Heritage National web site:

https://www.plantheritage.org.uk/events/national/members-weekend-and-plant-exchange-2026-in-suffolk/

BOOKINGS NOW OPEN.

Please note the Friday dinner/talk is fully booked but there are still spaces for Saturday.

February’s Talk – ‘A to Z of Roses’

SPH-Admin — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 10:22:41 +0000

A Talk by Simon White.

Saturday, 28 February 2026 2.00pm, Wetherden Village Hall Park Road, Wetherden, IP14 3JS.

Simon White retired as Garden Centre Rose Sales Manager at Peter Beales Roses with over 40 years’ experience in growing the nation’s favourite flower. He is the vice chairman of Norfolk & Norwich Horticultural Society, a judge for Anglia in Bloom and holder of the RHS Long Service Award (given to those who have made a significant contribution to horticulture over at least 40 years).

Plants will be available for sale.

First Talk of 2026 – 24th January

SPH-Admin — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 21:32:20 +0000

We start the new year with a talk by Tim Fuller on ‘New and Unusual Plants’.

Tim Fuller’s nursery, The Plantsman’s Preference, has been providing quality ornamental plants since its founding in 1996. Tim is a member of the RHS Floral Trials Panel (since 2008) who are responsible for recommending plants for the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) and of the Stipa Trial Panel.

Spring 2026 Plant Fair

SPH-Admin — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:41:11 +0000

It’s not too soon to put the date in your new 2026 diary!

Suffolk Plant Heritage Plant Fair at Helmingham Hall

24th & 25th May 2026

More details in due course.

Autumn Plant Fair 2025

SPH-Admin — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 13:37:51 +0000

Next weekend!

Plant Heritage Autumn Plant Fair and Artisan Market

It’s the 25th Anniversary Plant Fair at Helmingham Hall!

Sunday 14th September: 10 am – 4 pm, Helmingham Hall, IP14 6EF. Entrance: Adults £10 (£9.00 in advance) – Children: Free (includes admission into the Grade 1 Listed Gardens).

• 800 free plants for visitors distributed during the day
• Hundreds of rare and unusual plants
• Garden and lifestyle accessories
• Specialist nurseries & National Plant Collections
• Expert advice & demonstrations
• Live music & entertainment
• Local food and drink producers
• Children’s activities

Tickets for the Autumn Plant Fair can be purchased in advance from the Helmingham Hall web site or on the gate on the day.