What is Blackmore Vale Bonsai Group?

Blackmore Vale Bonsai Group is a bonsai club that runs regular meetings, workshops, auctions and shows, and it offers a structured beginners course for people who want to start growing bonsai but don't know where to begin. It is aimed at newcomers as much as experienced growers: the first visit is free, new members are always welcome, and the club provides the tree, pot and other essentials on its beginners course (tools are loaned). If you are in or near the Blackmore Vale area and want hands-on help rather than scattered YouTube videos, this is the kind of group to look at.

What the group offers

The club's activities fall into a few recurring categories:

• Monthly meetings – an evening gathering with a sales table, a tree competition and a raffle. Refreshments are free.
• Monthly workshop – held at Silver Band Hall.
• Auctions – an annual auction where lots can be viewed and booked before bidding.
• Shows – the group organises and takes part in shows, with photos and results posted on the site.
• Workshops at other venues – including Thorngrove and Guggleton workshops.
• Tree of the Month – a recurring feature with photo archives going back several years.
• A December raffle for a tree – one of the listed member benefits.

The site also keeps an archive of photos, news and programmes by year, so you can see what previous meetings, auctions and shows actually looked like before deciding to attend.

The beginners course

This is the most useful part of the site if you have never kept a bonsai before. The club describes the problem directly: YouTube videos can be confusing and leave questions unanswered.

What the course involves, based on the club's own description:

The value here is that you work on a real tree through the full cycle of re-potting, wiring and pruning, with tools supplied on loan, rather than buying equipment before you know whether you enjoy it.

Cost and membership signals

The site gives a few concrete figures:

• First visit: free.
• Beginners course: £25, limited to 10 places.
• Subscriptions for 2026: £15.

Beyond those, the page does not set out a full price list, payment methods or membership tiers. Treat the figures above as the ones the club has published, and confirm anything else – such as what a full year of membership includes – directly with the group.

How to get involved

1. Check the programme first. The site lists a Programme for 2026 and a beginners course for 2025, plus dated events such as the 9 October autumn workshop at Charlton, the 31 October workshop at Silver Band Hall (9.30–1.30) and the 25 October annual auction (8.30 viewing and booking lots, 11.00–17.00 auction). Dates and venues matter here, so read the current programme rather than relying on an old listing.
2. Come to an evening meeting. The club explicitly invites people to "come along and join us for an evening", with the first visit free.
3. For the beginners course, book early. Only 10 places are available, and booking is by contacting Geoff on 07837781744 or by email.
4. Use the site's other pages – About/how to find us, Contact, Committee, links page and the photo archives – to check the location and see what meetings involve.

Who it suits, and who it may not

It suits you if:

• You want in-person instruction on re-potting, wiring and pruning rather than video tutorials.
• You would rather borrow tools and receive a tree and pot as part of a low-cost course than buy everything upfront.
• You want a local group with regular meetings, a sales table, competitions and a raffle.

It may not suit you if:

• You are outside the Blackmore Vale area and cannot attend evening meetings or workshops in person.
• You want a purely online or postal course – nothing on the page suggests one.
• You need a published full price list or membership terms before making contact; those are not set out on the page, so you would need to ask.

Practical points to confirm before you go

• Exact meeting venue and time – use the About/how to find us and Contact pages, since the programme lists different venues for different events.
• Whether the beginners course is still running – the page describes a course starting March 2025, so check current status if you are reading later.
• What the 2026 subscription covers – the £15 figure is listed, but the page does not break down what it includes.
• Course place availability – with 10 places only, confirm before travelling.

The quickest route is to ring or email Geoff, mention whether you are asking about a first visit or the beginners course, and ask for the current programme.