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The Lakeland Horticultural Society exists to promote the art, science and practice of horticulture, with particular reference to conditions in the Lake District.

We are fortunate that Holehird Gardens (which we lease from the Holehird Trust) provide a beautiful setting in which to carry out our work. The gardens are open to the public at all times and we are delighted to welcome an increasing number of visitors each year.

All the society's activities are undertaken entirely by members on a voluntary basis. This means that the emphasis is continuously adjusted by the current skills and enthusiasms of these members.

Around 250 active members out of a total membership of about 1800 provide the core of our workforce, while a significant proportion of members live further afield and may only be able to visit the gardens when on holiday. We welcome their involvement at all levels and are always interested in new contributions and new ideas.

Apart from developing and maintaining the gardens and running educational lectures and courses, members run a specialist library, maintain an extensive photographic and documentary archive, publish a full-colour garden guide, journals and newsletters, operate a Met. Office approved weather station and provide a wardening service to assist visitors to the gardens.

In May each year we hold a major plant sale at a local school which is great fun as well as being our main fund-raising event of the year.

The society maintains three National Plant Collections – Astilbe, Hydrangea and Polystichum. We have a computerised plant database, which provides the foundation for an extensive plant labelling system across the garden.

Voted on BBC Gardeners' World to be one of the Nation's Favourite Gardens in 2002, The Lakeland Horticultural Society's ten acres above Windermere is truly a garden for all seasons. In a superb Lakeland setting, Holehird Gardens are reputed to be among the finest in England and are unique in being maintained entirely by volunteers and supported by voluntary donations.