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EnglishWhat are the benefits of membership in Blackmore Vale Bonsai Group?
Updated
Membership in Blackmore Vale Bonsai Group (BVBG) gives you a monthly meeting with a sales table, a tree competition and a raffle, free refreshments, and access to a monthly workshop at Silver Band Hall. The clearest way to test it is to come along to an evening meeting first, because your first visit is free. Annual subscriptions for 2026 are listed at £15.
What you get as a member
Based on the group's own site, the regular benefits are:
- Monthly meetings with a sales table, a tree competition and a raffle.
- Free refreshments at meetings.
- A monthly workshop at Silver Band Hall.
- A raffle for a tree drawn in December.
- Access to group events such as auctions and shows, plus recurring features like Tree of the Month.
New members are described as always welcome, so you do not need to be experienced before joining.
Try before you commit
If you are unsure, the lowest-risk step is an evening meeting rather than a subscription:
- Check the programme for a meeting date.
- Turn up for the evening — the first visit is free.
- See how the sales table, competition and raffle work in practice.
- Decide afterwards whether to take out a 2026 subscription at £15.
This matters if you mainly want to know whether the group's style suits you before paying anything.
The beginners course, if you are starting from zero
The site also advertises a beginners course starting in March 2025, aimed at people who have always wanted a bonsai but are not sure where to start, and who find YouTube videos confusing and unanswered. The stated format:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cost | £25 |
| Places | 10 only |
| Content | 4 parts: re-potting, wiring and pruning your tree |
| Provided | Everything you need to start, including tree and pot; tools are loaned |
| Booking | Contact Geoff on 07837781744 or by email |
The course is separate from membership, so check with the contact whether it also requires or includes a subscription.
Workshops, auctions and shows
Beyond the monthly meeting, the programme lists a mix of paid or ticketed-style events and open ones, including:
- Workshops — for example an autumn workshop at Charlton on 9 October, 19.30–22.00, and a workshop at Silver Band Hall on 31 October 2026, 9.30–13.30.
- Annual Auction — 25 October 2026, with viewing and booking of lots from 8.30 and the auction running 11.00–17.00.
- Shows — a 2026 show appears in the programme alongside past show pages.
The site does not state member versus non-member pricing for these events, so ask before travelling if cost matters to you.
Is membership worth it?
It is likely to suit you if you want a regular, local, in-person group with a low annual cost, free refreshments, a monthly workshop and the chance to buy and compare trees at meetings and auctions. It is less useful if you cannot attend evening meetings, since most of the listed benefits are tied to turning up.
The practical next step: attend one free evening meeting, then decide on the £15 2026 subscription, and ask about the £25 beginners course if you are starting out.