Are you an RHS member?

[Fluffycloudland77]

Do you visit the partner gardens? I'm thinking it could be my Christmas present this year.

[MaudantWit]

Yes and no. I have been an RHS member for a long time, but don't generally visit the partner gardens. I mainly enjoy it for the monthly magazine, the occasional visit to Wisley or Hyde Hall and discounted admission to the shows at Vincent Square and Hampton Court.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'm in the midlands so I don't think I'm near the main gardens.

It's only worth me joining, they only allow one member in for free anyway for joint membership.

[MaudantWit]

The partner gardens look lovely - did you see the one on Gardener's World last night? - it's simply that our life (like most people's) is so busy that time for garden visiting can be limited. If you have partner gardens near you, I'd say go for it. I've never seen the point of joint membership either.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Did you know topcashback.co.uk and quidco both offer 15% back on memberships?



We've got 22 partner gardens nearby.

[MaudantWit]

No, I didn't. Probably too late for me, as I have this membership and many others set up on an annual direct debit, sadly.

With 22 partner gardens nearby it does sound worth doing.

[Rhubarbgarden]

I'm a member. I've been to lots of partner gardens over the years.

[Purplewithred]

Yes and occasionally. There are loads of partner gardens, well worth it if you love garden visiting.

[bakingtins]

I'm a member at Westonbirt Arboretum which is one of the partner gardens and we get into all the RHS gardens for free. It might be much cheaper that way round - our family membership cost us less than a single visit to Kew, plus we go to Westonbirt about once a month and only have to go three times in a year to cover the membership.
We've also been to Wisley, Harlow Carr and the National Garden of Wales.

[Fluffycloudland77]

You mean you are a "friend of westonbirt"? That's only £33 and no waiting for cashback either.

You don't get the magazine off the RHS though that way do you?.

Unless the magazines as un interesting as the national trust one.

[Rhubarbgarden]

The Garden is a far, far better magazine than the National Trust one!

[MaudantWit]

Yes, The Garden is a good magazine, on a par with the more boutique gardening magazines.

[bakingtins]

No, we only get the Westonbirt magazine.

[Ferguson]

For visiting varied gardens, all over the country, the National Garden Scheme has a vast number of gardens open at various times.

Also, years ago we stayed in accommodation via the "Bed and Breakfast for Garden Lovers" booklet (pre-internet days). I don't know if there is still anything like that running, but worth investigating. We still have some excellent plants we bought then, as well.

[funnyperson]

www.sawdays.co.uk/collections/garden-lovers#!display=list

lots of the national trust properties do b and b

[MrsJohnDeere]

The magazine alone is worth the annual subscription IMHO.

I try to make one visit a year to Wisley if I can.

[Iwantacampervan]

I shouldn't read any posts on here - it's dangerous! I hadn't considered RHS membership before but I thought that I would investigate partner gardens and discovered some nearby plus one in the Lakes I want to visit when we go up there. So...special offer on membership noticed on website (I haven't enough Tesco vouchers to do it that way)...I am now signed up and looking forward to the magazine.
A friend and I are going to visit Wisley as it's not that far from us.

[funnyperson]

Is there a tesco offer then?

[Iwantacampervan]

£17 in Tesco vouchers gives you individual RHS membership for a year; £26 for joint.

I used my vouchers for English Heritage membership - but I will remember this for next year if I cancel the DD.

[Chatelaine123]

We have RHS membership and live in a tourist destination. The membership allows us to take in an additional two guests for free so it works for us for that reason alone. Now we have a bit more leisure time we have used it on days out. Same with NT, had membership for years and never had the time to use it.

[Iwantacampervan]

I discovered another benefit of RHS membership today - went to Mountain Warehouse and they are giving 10% off with certain memberships (e.g. Scouts, YHA) and 15% to RHS members. The discount is taken off everything including sale goods and BOGOF items.

[CruCru]

I am a member. I went to the RHS Autumn show in Pimlico and have tickets for the first day of Chelsea next year.

I really want to go to the partner gardens. There's one in Essex that the kids would love.