Suffolk Orchid Society

A society of orchid enthusiasts based in Suffolk, United Kingdom
Latest News

The Suffolk Orchid Society was founded on September 5th 1981 when 10 growers met at the Oddfellows Hall in Ipswich and is still going strong today. Read more about us

Monthly meetings

We hold regular meetings with different themes and run monthly competitions for the best growers.

Our meetings are normally held on the last Wednesday of the month. We do not have meetings in July, August or December. Meetings start at 7.30pm. Please refer to the “Events” section of this website for up to date information.

Events meetings

We began showing our plants in the mid-eighties at the Ipswich Flower Show. Today, we mount an annual stand at the Suffolk Show which is always a great success.

We hold a very successful show in March/April each year to promote the society. It includes a display of members’ plants, repotting demonstrations, advice on how to care for your orchids, homemade refreshments and the opportunity to buy plants from invite growers.

Where we meet

The venue is St Michaels Church Centre, The Drift, Martlesham, IP5 3PL.

You can find it next to the small shopping centre and the Douglas Bader pub where there is ample parking. It is a large modern church hall with good facilities. For those hard of hearing we encourage our speakers to use our PA system. At each meeting we normally have an outside speaker who gives a talk, often illustrated, lasting about an hour followed by questions. Some bring orchid plants for sale. Refreshments follow and a raffle is drawn.

We pride ourselves in giving new members a friendly welcome.

April 2025 monthly meeting

NEWS Our meeting on 30-April coincided with the 70th birthday of Bill Gardiner, our Chair, so we...

Suffolk Orchid Society Annual Show 29-Mar-25

Our Annual Show this year was very successful, with attendance 15% up on last year. Our members...

March 2025 monthly meeting

NEWS David Kohn has won the BOC photo competition for a second year! I will post the winning photo...

February 2025 monthly meeting

News items for our meeting on 26-Feb-25 were: Our visit to Henstead Exotic Gardens will now be on...

January 2025 monthly meeting

News items at our meeting on 29-Jan-25 included: the deadline for voting in the BOC photo...

November 2024 monthly meeting

Our annual social event, with guests The Rum Old Boys, was on 27 November. More people came than...

October 2024 meeting

Our returning guest at our meeting on 30-Oct-24 was Simon Tarrant of the Hardy Orchid Society, who...

September 2024 monthly meeting

Colin Thorburn (President of the Orchid Society of East Anglia) was our guest at our September...

Society members successful in BOC photo competition

At our meeting on 25-Sep-24, we received the news that one of our members, David Kohn, had come...

June 2024 monthly meeting

Our meeting on 26-Jun-24 was the Society's Annual General Meeting, in which the main business was...

New members to our society are always welcome