The Society and its History

Established in 1924, the Malden & Coombe Horticultural Society (M&CHS) is one of the oldest horticultural societies in the South of England. The Society is dedicated to encouraging the science and practice of horticulture, developing the enjoyment, appreciation and understanding of plants and the environment, and working with gardeners and allotment holders with the aim of reducing our carbon footprint.

History

The Malden & Coombe Horticultural society was formed in 1924 as "Malden Allotment Holders Association" with 70 plots and a small trading hut in Mount Road, New Malden. Annual subscriptions were 1/- (5p) and there were between 100 and 150 members, mainly railway employees. In 1930 the Society became "Malden and Coombe Allotment Association" and in 1932, when the Society joined the Royal Horticultural Society, the present title of "Malden & Coombe Horticultural Society" was adopted.
Since the 1920's the M&CHS had played and still plays a large role in the local community. It is extremely proud of its long history and heritage and has exhibited numerous times at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. In the ten years from 1990 and 1999 the Society has won an extraordinary number of medals; five Bronze, two Silver and a Silver Gilt.

 

The Society's programme of activities includes:

• Informative talks by professional speakers, see the calendar section for dates.

• Monthly Newsletters.

• Trips to houses and Gardens.

• Discount scheme for seeds, plants and other sundries with Dobies.

• Trading hut offering gardening products at low prices.

MCHS Logo

Membership Benefits - £6 a Year

• Gardening supplies at great prices, with access to the Elm Road sales hut for the member and immediate family (husband, wife, partner, children).

• Regular, informative newsletters emailed directly to your inbox.

• Monthly talks from experts in their field.

• Discount scheme with Dobies for seeds, plants and other sundries.

• All the above for just £6 a year. Contact us for details on how to apply.

Calendar

A huge effort goes into organising the Talks and Trips for members. If you wish to know more, please contact us.

Detailed below is our program of events.

All talks take place on Zoom from 7.30 to 9.30pm.

Full details of other events not listed below are shown in the Newsletters

Date Event Location / Speaker
September 17th
2024
Garden Trip:-
Location:- Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Cranbrook, Kent
July 23rd
2024
Garden Trip:-
Location:- Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey, Hampshire
July 13th
2024
Plant Sale:-
Location:- New Malden Methodist Church, High Street, New Malden
June 5th
2024
Garden Trip:-
Location:- Penshurst Place House & Garden, Tonbridge
April 15th
2024
Garden Trip:-
Location:- Capel Manor Gardens, Enfield, Essex
Capel Manor is a beautiful Georgian house set amongst 30 acres of picturesque gardens.
April 10th
2024
Talk:-
Its Not All About Plants
Speaker:- Richard Barnes
Writer, Photographer, Lecturer
March 13th
2024
Talk:-
The Bee Line Way
Speaker:- TBA
February 14th
2024
Talk:-
Creating A Space to Remember Someone Special
Speaker:- Ruth Goudy
Owner, Kiln Farm Nursery and Garden Centre, Suffolk
December 13th
2023
Talk:-
Dig for Victory
Speaker:- Andrew Oldham
Gardener, Writer and Blogger Saddleworth, Greater Manchester

Supplies

Elm Road supply hut
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Saturday
Closed
14:30 - 16:00
Closed
Sunday
Closed
10:00 - 11:30
Closed
The Society is very aware of its environmental responsibility and the produce range has changed in recent years to reflect this. Almost all composts are peat-free, pesticides are largely environmentally friendly and we also have organic liquid fertiliser.

Below are the prices of supplies in the hut. The prices are correct at the time the page was updated.
The hut is staffed by volunteers and you must show your current membership card when making purchases.

Lawns
Unit
Price
Lawn Feed - Autumn/Winter 1kg £1.50
Lawn Feed - Spring/Summer 1kg £1.00
Lawn Weed and Feed 1kg £1.70
Lawn Feed, Weed and Moss Killer 1kg £1.45
Fertilisers
Bonemeal 1kg £1.10
Fish Blood & Bone 1kg £0.90
Garotta Compost Maker 1kg £1.40
Growmore 1kg £1.00
Growmore 25kg £46.70
6X Groworganic Pellets Tub £9.90
Maxicrop - General 1Lt £5.50
Maxicrop - Tomato 1Lt £5.50
Rose Food 1kg £1.00
Garden Lime 1kg £0.30
Sulphate of Ammonia 1kg £0.75
Sulphate of Potash 1kg £1.60
Manures
Country Natural Organic Compost 80Lt £4.00
Compost Centre Extra Rich Fertiliser (Horse/Chicken blend) 60Lt £8.65
Composts
Melcourt Sylvagrow Peat Free All-Purpose Compost 50Lt £8.30
Evergreen Multi Purpose 60Lt £7.90
Westland Ericaceous Compost 60Lt £9.50
John Innes No.1 Seed Compost 25Lt £4.40
John Innes No.3 Potting Compost 25Lt £4.40
BIG TOM Tomato Growbags Each £5.00
Marsh's Sedge Peat 60Lt £5.20
Melcourt Ornamental Bark 80Lt £10.50
The Compost Centre Ornamental Bark 80Lt £8.50
Gardenwise Woodland Mulch 60Lt £4.50
Compost Centre Gold Award Top Soil 35Lt £4.00
Sands and Grits
Sharp Sand 5kg £5.80
Coarse Grit 20kg £7.40
Potting Grit 20kg £6.50
Canes
3ft - each £0.10 10 £1.00
4ft - each £0.20 10 £2.00
5ft - each £0.30 10 £3.00
6ft - each £0.40 10 £4.00
7ft - each £0.45 10 £4.50
8ft - each £0.60 10 £6.00
Split Canes 24inch 25 £0.65
Other
Vermiculite 500g £2.50
Fleece - 20gm - 1.5m wide 1m £0.30
Ground Cover - 2m wide 1m £1.15
Capillary Matting 1m £1.50
Bird Seed 500g £1.20
Peanuts 500g £1.40

In addition to the stock items in the sales hut, members also benefit from a Group Discount Scheme offered by Dobies. This scheme entitles members to a 50% discount on seed purchases and 15% on any other items in Dobies catalogue or website. Members order direct from Dobies either on-line, by post or telephone using the dedicated discount code which is announced each September for the following twelve months.

Contact

We do not as a general rule publish telephone numbers or addresses of the Committee; additionally, member ID is protected by GDPR. Send a message to us if you wish to contact the Committee or submit articles for inclusion in the Newsletter

General Secretary - Mrs Jeanne Brodie

Membership Enquiries - Mr Andrew Brodie

You may join in person at the trading hut on Elm Road: The entrance is next to number 174 Elm Road, please check the supplies section for hut opening times.

You may also contact the membership secretary by post.

M&CHS Membership
63 Green Lane
New Malden
KT3 5BX

Gallery

Photographs from previous years' events
Basingstoke canal trip

Basingstoke Canal Trip 2019

All Aboard
Plant Sale

2021 Plant Sale

New Malden High Street 2021
Upton Grey

Upton Gray 2021

The House
Upton Grey

Upton Grey 2021

Formal Garden
Plant Sale

2009 Plant Sale

2009 Plant Sale
1995 Courtyard Garden

1995 Chelsea Flower Show

1995 Courtyard Garden at RHS Chelsea
2004 Show

1995 Chelsea Flower Show

1995 Courtyard Garden at RHS Chelsea