TAGS Social Events

TAGS has proved to be a good way of making friends as well as learning about gardening and having an allotment.

Wednesday 11th June 2025 -  OUTING BY COACH TO RHS ROSEMOOR

Leave Holman Way car park at 9.30am, The Nelson at 9.35am.  Return Topsham at about 5.30pm.  Tickets for coach and garden to cost £13 for TAGS members, £15 for non members.

Usually we organise three trips to gardens, usually including one to RHS Rosemoor where we can take advantage of our affiliation to the RHS by offering free entrance. Most of the trips are by coach.

In previous years two or three TAGS members have opened their gardens for an afternoon for TAGS members to visit and one of the gardens usually invites members to tea, coffee and cake.

We have seen lovely gardens with a wonderful show of colour and an amazing variety of plants and with the sun shining we have had a lovely afternoon. 

We are hoping to repeat this in 2025 and would welcome volunteers to open their gardens.

We also organise at least 3 winter events, usually talks by garden experts on a wide range of subjects. We often host a “Gardeners Question Time” with 3 local garden experts on the panel.  During COVID these moved to Zoom, but we have resumed talks in St Nicks as well as having Zoom talks.

As an Affiliated member, the Society has a card available for Members to borrow, which permits half price entry for 2 people to RHS Wisley, Rosemoor, Bridgewater, Hyde Hall and Harlow Carr.
Contact Social Secretaries on topshamags@gmail.co.uk or 877318 to borrow the card.

If you have any ideas for trip or talks then we would be pleased to hear them, just email topshamags@gmail.com.

Also if you would like to go on any of the trips then please either email topshamags@gmail.com or phone the Social Secretaries on 01392 877318. We prefer payment to be made at least 2 weeks before the trips, some do get sold out so don't leave it too late. Cash or cheques made payable to Topsham Allotments and Gardens can be left in the Trading Hut or sent to the Social Secretaries at 67 Newcourt Road, Topsham EX3 0BU, but the easiest way to pay is by bank transfer, details will be provided when you book.
Members have priority in the first instance. If you would like to go on these trips please email topshamags@gmail.com and we can update you with further details nearer the time.

It is not necessary to book our talks in advance. We would love it if you stay for a chat afterwards over tea, coffee and a biscuit. 

2025-2026 TAGS Programme

PLEASE BOOK AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE OUTINGS – PAYMENT FOR COACH TRAVEL AND ENTRANCE FEE ON BOOKING. BACS, CASH OR CHEQUES PAYABLE TO TOPSHAM ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS. PLEASE BOOK AT THE TRADING HUT OR WITH DAVID AND STELLA McLARIN on 877318, OR EMAIL topshamags@gmail.com

Thursday 24th April - OUTING BY COACH TO LUKESLAND

Leave Holman Way car park at 9.30am, The Nelson at 9.35am.  Return Topsham at about 5.30pm. Tickets for coach and garden to cost £20 for TAGS members, £22 for non members.

Sunday 4th May - SEED AND PLANT SWAP at the Trading Hut at Butts Park 10.30am-12noon. Bring any spare seeds, seedlings and plants to swap. Bring tea/coffee and enjoy a chat with other members.

Wednesday 11th June - OUTING BY COACH TO RHS ROSEMOOR

Leave Holman Way car park at 9.30am, The Nelson at 9.35am.  Return Topsham at about 5.30pm.  Tickets for coach and garden to cost £13 for TAGS members, £15 for non members.

Sunday 27th July - PHOTO and POETRY COMPETITIONS - Last day for entries.  Details to follow in the Estuary magazine and by email to members. (13th August is closing date for Show entries)

Friday 15th August - PICNIC (venue to be advised) 6pm. Bring your own food and drink to share. All TAGS members welcome.

Sunday 17th  August - FLOWER AND VEGETABLE SHOW, MATTHEWS HALL

Staging of entries and judging in the morning.  Open to the public at 2pm. Why not give it a go, it's free to enter and free admission to the Show. All surplus produce welcome for the stall.

September  - OUTING BY CAR - TO BE ADVISED

Wednesday 8th October – Saul Walker on The Art of Growing in Shade

7.30pm in ST NICHOLAS CHURCH Members £4, non members £5 including tea and coffee.

Tuesday 11th November – An Evening with Toby Buckland

7.30pm in Matthews Hall. Likely to be very popular so BOOKING IN ADVANCE ADVISED VIA topshamags@gmail.co.uk or 01392 877318 withTAGS Members £8, non members £10. £12 on the door.

January 2026 - Topsham Wassail  Date, time and place to be advised.

Wednesday 11th February 2026– Bella Given on Dahlias

7.30pm in ST NICHOLAS CHURCH Members £4, non members £5 including tea and coffee, or on Zoom.

Wednesday 11th March 2026 - Annual General Meeting 7.30pm in Matthews Hall.

Wednesday 18th March 2026 - OUTING BY COACH TO LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN

Leave Holman Way car park at 9.15am, The Nelson at 9.20am.  Return Topsham at about 6.00pm.  Tickets for coach, garden and house to cost £33 for TAGS members, £35 for non members.

Monday 1st April 2026 - MEMBERSHIP FEES DUE. Please pay at the AGM, Trading Hut or contact the Membership Secretary by phone or on membershiptags@gmail.com.

Programmes for previous years: 

  2024 to 25  2023 to 24  2022 to 23   2021-22   2020-21   2019-20   2018-19  

We work with Topsham Folk Club on the Topsham Wassail on the third Thursday in January each year.

If you are unable to get to this Wassail then you can celebrate your apples trees at any time using our  DIY Topsham Wassail, see OTHER USEFUL ARTICLES