OPINION
BETTER
together Let’s engage and retain members of our societies, says Lewis Normand
W
hen I was a child, I was a member of the He-Man Club – what a great group to be a part of! That club doesn’t exist now, but instead I am member of a number of horticultural societies. Times are tough for these UK societies. Gardeners may have increased by three million people, according to the RHS, but this hasn’t translated to a spike in garden/horticultural group membership. In March this year, I became president of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society – more affectionately known by members as the Caley – which is Scotland’s national horticulture and gardening charity. It is a huge honour and privilege to be in charge of an organisation that has been running for more than 200 years. Most, if not all, of Scotland’s most famous plantspeople, gardeners, designer and horticulturists have been members of the Caley and impacted on our contribution since 1809. The history alone appeals to me, but I concede that it isn’t reason enough for most to join a society as a member. How then do they appeal to new members? It is all very well to say ‘modernise’ and it is true that many groups do need to be more open to technology, contemporary payment options, like QR code scan-to-pay, or indeed something more modern than paying by cheque!
Giving new members the opportunity to benefit from the support of more experienced members in a judgement free and nurturing environment is so important
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Pro Landscaper | June 2023
That alone isn’t enough, though. Instead, one of the things most clubs need to do better is to remove any concerns that many inexperienced gardeners have that they will look foolish in asking a question, or if they don’t have any previous knowledge. Even the most welcoming and friendly of groups has a disadvantage of not being as safe and unassuming as a Google search. To overcome this is not likely an easy proposition, but as you, dear reader, and I know all too well, horticulturists and gardeners are largely very helpful, very generous and all too keen to support those learning about how to grow and tend for plants and gardens. We need to make this message the one that prospective members see, then club and society offerings need to be community focused, inclusive, unburdened by excessive jargon and more than just a plant and/or gardening group, but a community group. A culture shift for many, but if some smaller groups are to survive, an essential change. Modernity, to some groups, I have seen translate as terrifying, but to others it enables them to thrive. Forums, WhatsApp groups, working parties, courses, events, visits, talks, demonstrations, guest speakers, fun competitions, charitable and community benefitting projects and much more are the new lifeblood of a group now. Giving new members the opportunity to benefit from the support of more experienced members in a judgement free and nurturing environment is so important to not just finding but keeping new members. So, I ask you, the experienced professionals, to consider supporting local and national groups, either as a member or through expertise, advertising to your clients or in any other way you can. They may well need help to change, but I’m sure most are willing to secure their futures. We have been known through recent history as ‘A nation of gardeners’ and that’s no bad thing. We are, however, at a crossroads, where a traditional route to support gardening entrants, young, future horticultural and landscape professionals and career changers into our industry is under threat of disappearing from a lack of support. I hope that industry will look to support our clubs and societies in any way we can. It will have a huge impact on the industry long-term and on our reputation as good gardeners and horticulturists for generations to come.
LEWIS NORMAND Lewis has worked in a wide variety of roles within horticulture over a 20-year career. He has lectured on garden design and horticulture, and designed gardens in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Since 2011, Lewis has focused on nursery sales, now working as sales manager at Bernhard’s Nurseries, and has helped to launch a number of new plants into the UK plant market. He is a specialist supplier to show gardens, supplying more than 100 gardens at major shows.
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