What we do

Monthly Meetings

Regular monthly meetings start at 7.30pm on the last Friday of each month, (except for July and August when everyone is too busy enjoying their gardens!). From 2024, meetings will be held at the Garden Hall at The Lodge, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton, SM5 3NX.

At most meetings we have a guest speaker: topics vary widely and may include specialist gardening advice, wildlife and environmental interests, historical talks, and so on.. There is usually a lively discussion, refreshments, a raffle, and opportunities to buy or swap seeds, plants and produce. Meetings usually end around 9.30 to 10.00pm. Full details of our current programme can be found in our latest members’ newsletter.

Trips and Visits

We usually organise two or three trips each year to a variety of places of interest. Examples in recent years have included visits to the Royal Horticultural Society’s garden at Wisley, guided nature walks in Nower Wood, Leatherhead, and group visits to Wakehurst Place in Sussex , Loseley Park, Guildford, and Barnes Wetland bird sanctuary. Numbers permitting, we are sometimes entitled to group rate reductions on entry fees. Members often arrange car sharing to help others with travelling. None of these activities are particularly strenuous, so are suitable for nearly everyone.

Other Events and Activities

The Group tries to be involved at suitable major events. We usually have stands at the Cheam Charter Fair in May and the Carshalton Environmental Fair in August, where we display and sell members’ produce, plants, etc. These provide opportunities to raise funds, find new members, and are always enjoyable. Also individual members may sometimes give demonstrations of special skills or interests.
SOGG is for everyone.

We have members of all ages and from all walks of life, throughout South London and Surrey. SOGG is run by members for members, and is totally non profit making.

and it doesn’t cost much!

(We hope to resume trips and trading at fairs in 2022).

Membership costs just £8 a year for individuals or £12 a year for families (two or more at the same address). This covers the costs of regular mailings to members of newsletters and updated programme of events, speakers’ fees, and so on.