British Cactus and Succulent Society Cambridge & District Branch 2012 Programme Join email list for latest information Some pictures from recent shows 2012 Summer Show: View or download the schedule and entry form 2012 National Show

The British Cactus & Succulent Society (BCSS) has around 100 branches throughout the country. The Cambridge & District Branch meets on the second Wednesday of each month (except February) in the Memorial Hall, Woollards Lane, Great Shelford, Cambridge, CB22 5LZ.

Here is a map which should open in a new window. Use the controls on the map if you want more of an overview of how to get there.

The Cambridge Branch was formed in 1947, and usually attracts up to 40 people to its monthly meetings.

The meetings start at 7pm, but the first half-hour is just an opportunity to talk to others, stage show plants, and search the sales table for bargains, so you needn't arrive until 7.30pm. As a guide, the meetings sometimes go on until 10pm, but might finish earlier.

Everyone is welcome at the meetings (including non-members). Most meetings have a visiting speaker, often illustrated with slides (or increasingly digital presentations), or sometimes with plants. Also there are:

• a monthly competitive show with about 14 classes. Awards are presented at the Annual General Meeting.
• a plant sales table, to which anyone may bring their spare plants for sale. The Branch takes a commission on sales - check how this works if you are thinking of bringing some plants.
• sales of pots and other sundries.
• coffee, tea, and biscuits, served during the interval in the talk.
• a library, from which members may borrow books.
• two shows each year. Pictures from recent shows

Do come to one of our meetings. Just come along, or if you want further information then email me, Clarke Brunt, or call our Secretary, David Bennett (01440 785643), or our Chairman, Doreen Oakman (01763 260819). If you want, you can join or request a membership leaflet online. Note that, like other branches, the Cambridge Branch has to be self-financing, and does not receive any money from your subscription to the British Cactus & Succulent Society. Entrance to our meetings costs £1, and you can also contribute to our fund-raising by buying a raffle ticket.

Join our email list to be kept up to date. Just fill in your details to receive occasional news by email about the branch activities.

2012 Meetings

Wednesday 11th January 2012	Annual General Meeting Although the main purpose of the meeting is to review the year 2011 and elect committee and officers for 2012, once the business is over we move to the more important matter of consuming lots of food and drink!
Friday 17th February	Annual Dinner, The Greyhound, 2 High Street, Sawston, CB22 3BG. 7pm for 7.30 Contact the Secretary for booking details.
Wednesday 14th March	Graham Charles - North Peru, and Ecuador Graham has made many visits to South America to study the cacti there.
Wednesday 11th April	Stuart Riley - Miniatures Stuart runs Plantlife Nursery. I'm not certain whether to expect miniature cacti, or succulents, or indeed both! More details if I find out.
Wednesday 9th May	Bill Morris - Succulent Geraniaceae updated Any talk by Bill is fascinating. This time, it's succulent Geraniaceae, which include the succulent species of Pelargonium and other genera.
Sunday 10th June 10:30 to 16:00	Summer Cactus & Succulent Show held at our usual meeting venue, Memorial Hall, Woollards Lane, Great Shelford, Cambridge, CB22 5LZ. All BCSS members are encouraged to enter, and for visitors it's an opportunity to see well-grown plants. A picture of one of the exhibits at a previous show - click for more pictures. View or download the schedule and entry form. Get Acrobat reader (if you don't have it already).
Wednesday 13th June	Derek Tribble - Haworthia Hunting - Success & Failure Searching for the succulent plants of the genus Haworthia in their natural habitat.
Saturday 16th June	Zone 6 Show - Northampton & Milton Keynes branch A show for all the branches in the area, known as Zone 6. To be held at Giffard Park School, Milton Keynes, MK14 5PY.
Sunday 24th June	Zone 6 Open Day Luton Branch. This year the members of Luton Branch open their collections to visitors.
Wednesday 11th July	Eddy Harris - South Africa again via Tucson, Part 1 I'm guessing a trip to see the succulent and other plants of South Africa. Not sure how Tucson, Arizona comes in!
Wednesday 8th August	John Hughes - Cool Customers I'm guessing about cacti which can be grown outside, or with minimum heating.
Saturday 18th August	National Cactus & Succulent Show held at Wood Green Animal Shelter, London Road, Godmanchester, near Huntingdon, PE29 2NH. As the nearest branch to the venue for the National Show (usually held every 4 years) we'll be helping with some of the organisation. Come to see some of the finest cacti and succulents in the country. Further details from the National Society site.
Wednesday 12th September	Chris Davies - Mexico Part 2 A visit to Mexico, home to many species of cacti.
Wednesday 10th October	Autumn Cactus & Succulent Show held at our usual meeting venue, Memorial Hall, Woollards Lane, Great Shelford, Cambridge, CB22 5LZ. Usual meeting time. The Autumn Show is a chance to exhibit and admire those plants with a later growing season, which aren't at their best in summer. But the usual cacti are still included as well. A picture of one of the trophies - click for more pictures. The schedule and entry form will be available for download here when ready.
Saturday 20th October	Zone 6 Convention To be held at Capel Manor, Enfield. Try the BCSS events calendar for further details.
Wednesday 14th November	John Pilbeam - South Mexico A visit to the southern part of Mexico, where the cacti are perhaps less visited than those in the north.
Wednesday 12th December	Alice Vanden Bon - South Africa I imagine a visit to see the succulents and other plants of South Africa.

2013 Meetings

Other Cactus & Succulent Resources

• Clarke Brunt's Cactus and Succulent Page
• British Cactus & Succulent Society page.
• BCSS Zone 6 page for details of all the branches in Zone 6 of the BCSS.
• Tony Mace's Cactus and Succulent Mall, which includes a vast amount of information with links to many other sites.
• Richard Hodgkiss' Succulent Plant Page
• Ralph Martin's Cactus & Succulent Page including details of the BCSS Cardiff Branch, and a search engine for field collection numbers and collectors.
• Cactus Center Club based in Spain, and in Spanish, which after all is the language of many countries where cacti grow.