Meetings
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.
Plants & Auction
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.
Membership
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.
Charitable Status
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.
Membership & Affiliation
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.
Constitution
A copy of our present Constitution is available for downloading by
clicking on
CANWOS Constitution.
This was revised at our 2012 AGM.
Some useful links
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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
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For photographs of orchid species,this is the place for you. Access the photos of over 24,186 orchids.
|
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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.
|
Where We Meet
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.
View Google Map
The church is an imposing building and easily spotted, whether you
approach from the city center by way of the old bridge ...
... or from the west by way of the new bridge or the Wrexham road
/ A55 junction.
The hall is directly behind the church and hardly visible from the
road.
Go down the driveway between a telephone kiosk and the church
itself and turn right.
