Who are we ?
For all who love growing fruit
The RHS Fruit Group was formed in 1945 with the object of encouraging fruit production in private gardens, and bringing the findings and practical experiences of fruit growing professionals to bear on new problems. This objective is brought up to date in our constitution: to encourage and improve the study and cultivation of edible fruits generally grown in the UK.
Our Team
Fruit growing enthusiasts
Chaired by leading fruit grower Gerry Edwards, grandson of one of its founding members, the RHS Fruit Group is run by a team of amateur and professional fruit growing enthusiasts, for the benefit of its members.
Join us
You must be a member of the RHS
The RHS Fruit Group operates from the RHS Garden Wisley - there are also regional branches with additional local activities for the South West, based at RHS Garden Rosemoor, and for the Midlands, based at Pershore College. If you live in either the South West of England or the Midlands you will also be enrolled in the appropriate Branch, for which there is no extra subscription.
email membership@thefruitgroup.org.uk
The RHS Fruit Group also has links with the Northern Fruit Group
Meetings are held at RHS Garden Harlow Carr. Working sites are at Harewood House Walled Garden near Leeds, and at Huddersfield and Doncaster.
For more information visit the website www.northernfruitgroup.com
Visits 2021
If you are you an RHS member you can join The RHS Fruit Group and take part in all of our activities, for an additional £7 each year.
In addition to the four Fruit Group meetings at the RHS Garden, Wisley, there are three major external visits for members during 2021. Costs vary for each visit, please contact: events@thefruitgroup.org.uk
for details.
Details of visits correct as of 23/12/2020, but may be subject to change.
Please note that at a Committee Meeting, 14/01/2021, it was decided that that this event will be cancelled - having considered the situation regarding COVID-19 and the health & safety of members.
Tuesday 8th June 2021, our 75th + 1 Anniversary Meeting at Hatfield House(meeting time and arrangement details to be confirmed nearer to date)
We celebrate our 75th Anniversary in style atHatfield House, Hatfield, in Hertfordshire, on the 8th June, when Lady Salisbury has invited us to a private visit, on a day when the property is closed to the public.
A 75th Anniversary
Lunch will be held for all members present.
As part of the visit we will be shown the walled gardens and kitchen garden as well as experimental fruit plots where seedlings and wayside fruit trees that are being trialed.
The House itself will not be open on that day.
Numbers are limited for this visit, so we must restrict places to paid-up members of the RHS Fruit Group only, i.e. no guests.
Wednesday 11th August 2021
Tuesley Farm, the Hall Hunter Partnership, commercial fruit farm, growing top quality fruit
Our second external visit of the
year is on the 5th
August we visit Hall Hunter’s
Tuesley Farm
which is near Godalming in Surrey where
blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are grown,
mainly under cover.
Tuesley Farm is highly productive and grows quality fruit for many of our supermarkets.
It is set in the beautiful, wooded county of Surrey and has stunning country views. As well as growing great fruit, there’s also a packhouse where the fruit is carefully packed for its customers.
Wednesday 15th September 2021
Audley End House,Nr. Saffron
Walden, Essex, CB11 4JF
collection of regional and historic apples and other fruit.
The third visit of the year is on the is to the magnificent Audley End, near Saffron Walden in Essex.
The house is surrounded by extensive ‘pleasure gardens’ and there is a very large walled kitchen garden growing fruit, flowers and vegetables, using organic principles.
The walled garden also features vast glasshouses with grapes and peaches, a restored ‘Orchard House’ designed by Thomas Rivers, an extensive display of trained fruit, and orchards with historic and local varieties.
The Fruit Group hasn’t visited Audley End for some years now and it seems perfect to visit another great house in our 75th Anniversary year.
