We are a group of enthusiasts who meet to share our enjoyment of orchids.
Membership is open to anyone who is interested.
Beginners are very welcome!
Web site last update -
16th September 2025
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My apologies that this email is again so late but our lives have been very busy recently. Well, to be honest, it is also because I am getting slower with what I do and I am getting better at distracting myself from what I should be doing but do not really want to do.
As this is the last meeting that I am going to be acting Chairperson, we are going to have to sort out who is going to undertake the duties that I am ceasing as of this month.
We are very fortunate indeed that Richard is going to continue as our Hon Treasurer. As such, he acts as Membership Secretary and also manages the bookings for the Hall.
We will need to decide how we will organise CANWOS for future seasons and how we will share the work between us. Please come ready to join in both the discussion and subsequently the Society’s organization!
We will have a raffle, prizes welcome, and of course we will discuss and enthuse over the plants on the Display Table.
We will have a Members plant sales table, so bring any spares you wish to move on – though remember that this will cost you 25% of sales whereas an Auction, which we may well have latter in the year, will only cost 12.5% of sales. Add a second label with your name and the price.
Celia will be bringing some hardy orchid plants. “They have been lifted from large clumps in our garden that are dying down for the winter now, so an excellent time for planting in the garden, Bargain prices!”
Thanks to Jill who has volunteered to do the teas this month.
Iain Wright
Public Contact, CANWOS
| 2025 | |
| Friday 19th September |
To be announced |
| Friday 17th October | To be announced |
| Friday 21th November | To be announced |
| 2026 | |
| Friday 16th January | To be announced |
| Friday 25/26th January | Gordale Nursery Orchid Festival |
| Friday 20st February | To be announced |
| Friday 20st March | To be announced |
| Friday 24th April | To be announced |
| Friday 15th May | To be announced |
| Friday 12st June | To be announced |
| Friday 18th September |
To be announced |
| Friday 16th October |
To be announced |
| British Orchid Council | Our national organisation for orchid growing. There are lots of links here to other orchid societies around the country. |
| Plants of the World | The Kew database of species plants. Search by genus or species. |
| Jay Pfahl's Orchid Photographs | For photographs of orchid species,this is the place for you. Access the photos of over 25,865 orchids. |
| The International Orchid Register | Search the database of registered hybrids. Use full or partial names to identify parents and children of a grex. |
| Orchid History | Ron Rigby's site - with lots of information on the history of orchid growing is now back. |
We use the hall just behind St Mary's Church on Overleigh Road, just South of the River Dee.
The post code for the Church is CH4 7HL.
We meet at St Mary's Church Hall, Handbridge, Chester CH4 7HL, usually on the third Friday of the month but not in December, July or August. The Hall is open from 7.00pm.
Members are encouraged to bring their plants in flower to each meeting. There is a wealth of information within the Society and it is our tradition that this is shared freely amongst members.
We send an email to all our members about ten days before our regular meetings, to remind them what is on and to pass on other information. We are happy to send these to non-members and potential visitors - please use the index tab (☰) to reach the 'Contact Us' section.
At most meetings there is a raffle. Members often donate orchid plants. Refreshments such as tea and coffee are available during the evening, usually immediately after the speaker.
We have a library that contains many books suitable for both beginners and experts. Members can borrow books for one month and can browse the reference books, which cannot be loaned out.
At meetings where plants are not for sale by the evening's speaker, members may offer their own orchid plants for sale. A 20% seller's premium is levied and donated to the Society.
Each year we hold an auction where members buy and sell plants. Typically, about eighty plants are sold each year, usually at very advantageous prices. A seller's and buyer's premium operates (10% for each) and the proceeds are donated to the Society. This is an excellent way to extend a collection and try new types of orchid.
The annual subscription is currently £12. We no longer offer double or family
membership. Subscriptions are normally paid to the Membership Secretary at or just after the
October meeting.
CANWOS registered with the the Charity Commission in 1993 but surrendered its registration in 2011. It is now a "Charity exempt from the need to register". Tax paying members can still benefit the Society by making a Gift Aid declaration. Details can be obtained from the Treasurer at any of the meetings.
The Society is a member of the British Orchid Council (BOC) and sends two
representatives to its meetings. CANWOS is affiliated to the Royal Horticultural Society and
members can use some of the benefits available.
A copy of our present Constitution is available for downloading by clicking on CANWOS Constitution. This was last revised at our 2012 AGM.