Trips 2026

Departing from Kilmington Village Hall, EX13 7RF (programme subject to change)

Non-members are warmly welcome to all trips – there is a small additional fee of £5 on each occasion except as noted.

All coach trip costs include a non-refundable deposit of £5. Please pay the deposit at least 4 weeks in advance to secure a place and ensure the trip is not cancelled, and in full at least 1 week in advance. Payments can be made by cash at meetings or, preferably, by BACS – see Contacts list for BACS details.

The trip cost includes any venue entrance fees/driver’s tip, etc.

To book, please contact Jaclyn Garforth; text or call 07941 095537.

Coach pickups from Axminster by prior arrangement.

Self drive

Thursday – 3rd September – Poundbury Garden Centre 25% off

A shopping trip to Poundbury Garden Centre, with 25% off all full price purchases (excluding restaurant, farm shop, concessions and furniture). This is your opportunity to refresh your garden at a discount. The visit will start with a topical talk and a free drink with discount shopping from 2:30 to 5pm. This is a self-drive/car share visit meeting at the village hall at 1:20. Do let us know if you can offer a lift or need a lift, through [email protected]. Could you also let us know if you plan to get there under your own steam, but won’t be meeting up at the village hall first. As it is a club discount, we will need to meet up when you get to Poundbury.

Saturday 9th May – Sunday 17th May : The Newt in Somerset – The Great Garden Show

A nine-day celebration set amongst the gardens in all their spring finery

The first garden show at the Newt. Open to non members £25 per person. This years theme is ‘The Story of Gardening’. See here for details. 

Friday 3rd April – Sunday 19th April: Darts Farm Tulip Festival

A unique chance to see 350, 000 homegrown tulips bursting into bloom. £9.50 weekday, £10 weekend. See here for further details. Perhaps go with a group of your Gardening Club friends?

Sunday – 23rd August – Bickham House

Julia Tremlett’s gardens opening under the NGS, just outside of Exeter.  6 acres with colour-coordinated borders, lawns, mature trees and shrubs. ‘Mediterranean ‘ courtyard garden with many large pots and an olive tree. 1 acre walled garden with pergolas, rose ropes, nepeta-lined paths and profusion of vegetables and flowers including colourful annuals. Late summer colour with masses of dahlias, crocosmia, agapanthus, etc. Cactus and succulent greenhouse with over 100 well-displayed specimens. Pelargonium collection. New exotic beds. Lakeside walk.

Self drive/car share. (Do let us know if you can offer a lift or need a lift)

See here to book your ticket in advance for £7 (members and non-members). Homemade teas available.

Self drive – self organise

We’ve looked into other possible trips but for various reasons they are not suitable as an organised coach or self drive trip.  They are added below as potential options for you to visit.

Exeter University Botanical Gardens.  

A plethora of things to do and see at multiple times of the year. Worth a visit, according to your interest, allow lots of time for walking, there are steep places.

The grounds and gardens of the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus was awarded the title of Accredited Botanic Garden in July 2025. Please see here for additional details. The St Luke’s campus is also well worth a visit.

There are multiple guided walks available on the website here. 

Visiting during term time will ensure the various eateries found here will be open, but the campus may be busy.  Visiting outside of term time will be much quieter, do check to see which outlets are open or bring a picnic!

It can be difficult to park although there is a visitor car park.  The site can be quite hilly, but is beautiful with many things to see. 

There is no cost to enter and there is parking roadside at the outskirts of the campus.

They hold a national collection of Azara (see here) as well as Dierama (see here)

The Newt in Somerset

A working estate in Somerset with much to explore. See here for all the details. Usually only The Newt members can enter, however RHS members can visit the Newt for free on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and can bring up to 6 additional people at a cost of £25 each.