We don't have a regular meeting time or place, but we arrange monthly meeting on WhatsApp choosing a place and time to suit the most members. It tends to be on a Thursday or Friday when it is less likely to clash with other u3a events. We also use WhatsApp to communicate with one another, arrange trips and lifts, make suggestions, ask advice, post pictures, swap plants and anything else with a horticulture connection. We currently have 25 members.

We have decided to visit our members gardens and open-gardens in the summer months. To visit garden centers, near and far in early Spring and late Autumn, and not to meet in December, January and February but to keep in contact via WhatsApp.

Next month, June, we have 2 gatherings. The first is being hosted by Judith in New Waltham on Friday the 12th. There is also the u3a garden strawberry picnic on Thursday the 18th opposite Morrisons where folks are welcome to poke around the garden. Do bring plants to swap on either or both occasions. Contact Vic for details via the form above . All information will be on WhatsApp in the next few days and we will gather a list of attendees. July will be hosted by Anita in Scartho.

If you would like to join the garden group, use the link at the top to contact Vic, the leader, and give him your mobile number so you can be added to the WhatsApp group and have all the information needed to take part in the trips and gatherings.

Gardening Group Blog Posts

21 May 2026

The May outing was a local trip to Beacon Hill Allotments. Nita is an active committee member of the allotments and told a gathering of a dozen of us about the site. It is very large but well hidden and many of the local neighbours have no idea of its existence. It is not just made of individual plots but it is also a thriving community. There is a very large poly-tunnel for gathering and socialising, and a big outside communal space. Inside the poly-tunnel some plants are grown and there are shelves of excess plants from all the allotments which can be cheaply bought and the proceeds go to the site improvements and to charity. The committee organise many open days and events (worm charming was mentioned) to raise funds and for general enjoyment. the Cleethorpes Observatory was also on the site, but not opened during our visit. We walked around the whole area. Flowers and vegetables were abundant, and the gardeners were friendly and conversed with us. There was a disabled garden with adaptations and enough pleasant toilets available. Nita and friends provided drinks and biscuits and we all said it was an interesting and very nice afternoon. Big thanks to Nita for her work in organising the day.

30 April 2026

Our April meeting was a trip arranged by Tim, our u3a trip organiser. It was opened to the general membership to make up numbers to fill the coach. We visited Wentworth Garden Centre near Rotherham. The garden centre was very well set up with many healthy plants for sale. There were 3 places to eat that were not too crowded
It was adjoining a RHS historic garden, for a nominal entry price. There were Italian gardens, sunken gardens, woodlands and many beautiful plant borders. It was all condensed into a small manageable area. There was also a maze which many of us enjoyed. The church and village of Wentworth was worth a visit. It is famously picturesque and very regulated as all doors fences and pipes are painted in the same green. Wentworth Woodhouse, a stately home was also within 15 minutes walk. There are so many photos online that I didn't take many myself.

27 March 2026

It was a cold damp visit to "Your Place", a community centre and garden in Grimsby's East Marsh. However being gardeners we were well wrapped up and we enjoyed Ernie's chat about the gardens and the biggest whale bones in England which are being made into an arch.. Almost everything is procured by donations, the flower pots, the planting medium the seeds, and the the plants. Local volunteers sow in pots and trays in a conveyor belt system. This results in 1000s (yes really) of plants for sale at minimal price (20p for small pots and £1 for big pots containing 5 sizable plants). Everything sold is pure profit. The aim is not to make money but to provide an interest for the local underprivileged community. 14 of us spent over an hour being entertained by Ernie and a few stayed on for his sourdough demo.

13 February 2026

We had a Garden Themed Quiz in February. It was held at AGEUK Grimsby. We had 4 teams, Spades, Rakes, Wellies and Gloves. It was very harmonious and good fun and we had several new people attending and some have since joined the group.

20 November 2025

9 group members met in the warm cafe and managed to find nearby tables. After refreshments several of us downloaded the Pennels app which allowed substantial offers. Beryl bought 2 resplendent primulas for £1 and Pat was able to get 30% reduction on a terrarium plant.

We amused ourselves by looking around the Christmas exhibits and Tony was pleased to find an orchid pot. It was nice to meet up and get inside in the warm, away from the bitter cold damp weather.

17 October 2025

We had a big trip to Sleaford for our October meeting. 14 of us car shared. The trip was in 2 parts, first we visited the garden of Clare's late mother and then we went onto Anwick Garden Centre for lunch and a look round. There are a lot of photos but there was so much to see.

Clare's mum's house is soon to be sold. This is a garden we all would have dreamed of owning in our younger days. It is 3 acres, triangular shaped and edged by a train track on one side and the River Slea on the other. To relieve flooding several ponds have been added with some success. Clare's mum was an enthusiastic member of Sleaford in Bloom and organised much of the winning displays from this garden in her younger years. The garden has also won the East Midlands in Bloom Wildlife Award in the past. The garden is divided into several areas, grasses to hide the train line, a wildlife patch, an ornamental pond, some flower areas, fruit trees greenhouses and polytunnels. We all came armed with secateurs and trowels and took several cutting and picked the fruit. It was a dry, mild day and we all really enjoyed it and are so grateful to Clare for inviting us.

Click to enlarge photo

We all returned to our cars to drive 15 minutes to Anwick Garden Centre aka J. Parkers Garden Centre, where we had a good lunch. The garden Centre was rather hidden down a back lane, but it was nice, clean, well kept and had a good variety of indoor and outdoor plants and garden paraphernalia (and some Christmas items). They also famously sell Parkers Dutch bulbs. There were 6 rows of bulbs of every conceivable type and colour. It was so difficult to choose but most of us left with at least one packet. Grimsby and Cleethorpes will be very colourful next spring. We all had a lovely day and returned to Grimsby by 4:30.

18 September 2025

21st August 2025

The First Garden Visit

On a sunny day in August, Clare led a group to visit the Secret Sarden in Louth. It certainly is well hidden! It looks like an ordinary house in an ordinary street but the garden at the back is huge and is bursting with exotic and common plants arranged around little separate areas. 8 members went and enjoyed refreshments there as well as the inspiring garden.