How to Join Blackmore Vale Bonsai Group or Attend a Meeting

You can attend a Blackmore Vale Bonsai Group evening as a first-time visitor for free, and new members are always welcome. If you want to join formally, the 2026 subscription is £15. To book the beginners course, contact Geoff on 07837781744 or by email. The details below come from the group's own site, so treat anything not listed here — such as exact meeting addresses — as something to confirm with them directly.

What the group offers

Blackmore Vale Bonsai Group is a bonsai society that meets for evening sessions and runs additional workshops and events through the year. According to its home page, the regular format includes:

• A sales table each month
• A tree competition
• A raffle
• Free refreshments

Members also get access to a monthly workshop at Silver Band Hall, plus a raffle for a tree drawn in December.

Attending your first meeting

The site states plainly that the first visit is free and that new members are always welcome — so you don't need to commit or pay before trying a session.

A sensible approach:

1. Check the current programme page on the site for the next meeting date and venue, since the home page lists events by date rather than a single fixed address.
2. Turn up for the evening session — the group describes these as running from 19.30 to 22.00 for at least one listed workshop.
3. Bring nothing in particular for a first visit; the sales table, competition and raffle are optional parts of the evening.

If you want to confirm a date or ask about accessibility before travelling, use the contact details on the site's "Contact" and "how to find us" pages.

Membership and cost

The £15 figure is the subscription for 2026 as listed on the site. The page does not state how or when payment is collected, so ask the group directly if you need that.

The beginners course

The group runs a beginners course aimed at people who have always wanted a bonsai but don't know where to start — the site notes that YouTube videos can be confusing and leave questions unanswered.

Key facts from the page:

• Starts March 2025
• £25
• 10 places only — booking is required
• Runs in 4 parts
• Covers re-potting, wiring and pruning your tree
• The group provides everything you need to start, including tree and pot; tools are loaned

To book, contact Geoff on 07837781744 or by email. Because places are capped at 10, book early if you want a spot.

Events worth knowing about

The programme lists several dated events, including:

• 9 October, 19.30–22.00 — Autumn workshop, Charlton
• 25 October 2026, 8.30 viewing and booking lots, 11.00–17.00 auction — Annual Auction
• 31 October 2026, 9.30–1.30 — Workshop, Silver Band Hall

Dates and venues are worth re-checking on the site's programme page before you travel, as listings span multiple years and pages.

Quick answers

Can I just turn up? The group says the first visit is free and new members are welcome, so yes — but confirm the next date on the programme page first.

How much does it cost? Free for a first visit; £15 for the 2026 subscription; £25 for the beginners course.

Who do I contact? Geoff, on 07837781744 or by email, for beginners course bookings and details.