Who are we?

The Empshott and Hawkley Gardeners’ Club was formed in 1973 when the Empshott Club amalgamated with Hawkley. The club offers a sociable space for local people to come together to share information, learn more about plants and gardens, show off their gardening skills (and compete in the most friendly fashion). It has around 100 members and is run by a small committee of volunteer members.

What do we do?

Each calendar year the club draws up a programme of events after consulting members at the club’s AGM in October. The programme usually includes 3 evening talks over the winter months, 2 or 3 organised visits to gardens of interest, 2 shows -  in Spring and Summer, a plant and cake sale in May, a BBQ and social evening in August and AGM in October. Talks are open to non-members for a small fee. Members may bring a guest on a garden visit or the BBQ, subject to availability and payment of the full individual cost.

Plant and Cake Sales are open to everyone and most recently held on Upper Green Hawkley on the Saturday of the first Bank Holiday in May, with refreshments, as a truly community event. 

A small fee per entry is charged for adult entries at the Spring and Summer Shows but not for entries by children. We welcome  exhibits from children living locally, connected to Empshott or Hawkley or visiting at the time of the shows. Doors open to everyone in the afternoon of show day to see the displays and enjoy refreshments.

How to join us.

We welcome new members, especially those who have moved into the area. Membership gives access to all events and fees are currently £7 per person per calendar year. 

Further information

Information about upcoming events is published in the Village Magazine monthly. Anyone interested in joining can contact the membership secretary, Allen Horton, alhort@outlook.com or, for the current programme, the club secretary, Isy Large,  ehhortsoc@gmail.com

Programme of Events for 2026

The club holds at least one event every month, except for January and December:

• Monday, 9 February 2pm Talk by the Head Gardener of Horatio’s garden, Salisbury Hospital
• Saturday, 14 March Visit to RHS Wisley, free entrance for up to 55 members; return minibus extra
• Saturday, 11 April Spring Show, Hawkley Village Hall
• Monday, 13 April Gardeners Question time 7.30pm Hawkley Village Hall 
• Saturday, 2 May Plant and cake sale, Upper Green, Hawkley 
• Wednesday, 10 June Visit to the Old Rectory Winchfield, Hampshire
• Saturday, 18 July Summer Show, Hawkley Village Hall 
• Tuesday, 11 August BBQ and summer gathering, 6.30pm Hawkley Village Hall
• Thursday, 10 September Visit to the Therapy Garden, Normandy, Surrey
• Saturday, 24 October AGM and pumpkin carving competition 3pm, Hawkley Village Hall
• Saturday, 28 November Christmas decoration workshop with the Hanger Environmental Network, 10am Empshott Hut

 Talks (including question time and Christmas workshop) are open free of charge to members; non-members £5 per person per event. Annual membership £7.