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I used Tesco Clubcard vouchers to purchase it, £17 worth of vouchers buys a one year membership. They also have a gift subscription for the same price but with this option, you also get a couple of packets of seeds, a free RHS tote bag and a £5 voucher to spend in the RHS shops. It was a no brainer, I bought myself the gift subscription, it's a little gift from me to me.
The membership allows free entry to RHS gardens to a family guest as well as myself and also gives me free entry to RHS partner gardens. It looks as though I'll be garden visiting again this year.
Lucky you, all those plants to see.
ReplyDeleteI loved visiting Harlow Carr when I had my RHS subscription before so I'm really looking forward to visiting again.
DeleteI too have treated myself today, I am walking 2 young dogs 3 times a day for 30 minutes. I am hoping that it will help me get the excess weight off. I quite fancy the idea of a year of garden visits.
ReplyDeleteDog walking certainly keeps us on our toes and I'm sure that Ben will enjoy having some pals along on his walks too.
DeleteWell why not treat yourself Jo - you deserve it :) That is an excellent way of spending your points although unfortunately you can't renew existing membership that way :( I use my points to purchase my Senior Railcard which I do make a lot of use of over the year. Hope that you have many pleasant garden trips ahead of you in 2015. Shame that Archie can't accompany you though.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that existing RHS membership can't be renewed with Tesco vouchers, but I can always find something to use my points for. Poor Archie will have to stay at home when we visit Harlow Carr, though I often see worse behaved adults and they're allowed in.
DeleteWe are members too and it is sad that they operate a blanket ban in dogs. We once went to a lovely garden that had a sign saying "Dogs welcome when accompanied by well behaved owners" That just about sums it up.
ReplyDeleteThat sums it up perfectly. Archie's not keen on being left at home alone but he's older now so I don't mind leaving him for a couple of hours, he gets plenty of lovely walks to make up for it.
DeleteAn excellent gift to yourself, which I know you'll make full use of so happy garden visiting! Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to my first trip of the year to Harlow Carr, I wonder what differences I'll see since I was last there.
DeleteI love garden visiting and get the yellow books for England and Scotland for my birthday in march each year. I don't have a dog but I am very proud that my smalls know how to behave in other people's gardens and enjoy visiting them too.
ReplyDeleteThe Yellow Book is a great garden visiting scheme, such a lot of money is raised for charity through this scheme too, a win win situation. I think most garden visitors know how to behave in other people's gardens and most dog owners are responsible, it's the minority who spoil it for the majority.
DeleteWhat a lovely present to yourself. Such a good idea that I might need to persude Joe to do the same...
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great bargain, especially if you've got Tesco vouchers to exchange. We're not too far away from Harlow Carr so we'll be able to have some lovely days out.
DeleteI really enjoyed our visits to Harlow Carr last year. I wasn't too sure when we joined that it was a good idea but I didn't hesitate about renewing our membership this year. There was always plenty to see when we visited last year.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed membership when we had it before Archie came along. He's older now so I don't mind leaving him for a bit. It will be interesting to see any changes since we were last there. I always visit the kitchen garden, I think it's my favourite area.
DeleteI think it such a shame they don't allow dogs into more gardens, I can understand not in greenhouses or pond diving, but otherwise, on a lead... As some others have commented, when you see the way some humans are! Anyway, enough of that. I hope that you really enjoy your membership and your visits and I will look forward to reading your accounts and seeing your pictures! xx
ReplyDeleteI think it's because there are some dog owners who aren't responsible in the least so we all end up having to suffer. I'll enjoy the membership anyway, Harlow Carr is a wonderful garden to visit.
DeleteWhat a great gift, look forward to seeing the pictures of your visits. Happy New Year x
ReplyDeleteThere's always plenty of things to take photos of at Harlow Carr. Thank you. Happy new year to you too.
DeleteThat is a smashin' present Jo....the endless pleasure you will get, wonderful idea. The seeds look good too.xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's something I'll enjoy right the way through the year. The seeds are tomato and sweet pea, they'll definitely get used up.
DeleteWhat a treat, and very well deserved I think. I hope you enjoy it. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I will enjoy it. I can see lots of garden visits in 2015.
DeleteEnjoy! We use our pass for Harlow Carr pretty often. We feel we can just drop by and it's lovely in every season. Last week we parked there and took the dog on the walk from there to Valley Gardens. Marvelous views.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure my pass will get plenty of use this year. I think when you have a membership for somewhere you don't feel a short visit is a waste of time, it's just good to be able to pop in quite often.
DeleteThat's a really good deal. When you take into account all the partner gardens that let the member in free as well.. I get huge value out of my membership.
ReplyDeleteI've taken advantage of some good deals with Tesco Clubcard vouchers and this membership deal is particularly good. I'm sure I'll be pleased that I've taken this membership out again this year.
DeleteWhat a lovely way to spend your points and a great treat for yourself. I'm sure you will get great enjoyment from it with all the gardens to visit. xcx
ReplyDeleteI've used my points in the same way before and also for a subscription to Gardener's World Magazine. There's some great things to exchange the vouchers for and it works out so much less expensive than paying with cash.
DeleteWhat a wonderful use for those vouchers! Happy new year to you and yours x Jane
ReplyDeleteThank you. Happy new year to you too.
DeleteThat's excellent value for your vouchers, Jo. I really must start shopping at Tesco more often, although it's the supermarket that's furthest away from me (by miles). I love my RHS membership - currently I've dropped down to student membership but it means I can't take a friend into the gardens for free which is a shame. I'm hoping for fine weather on a day off so I can get to Wisley and see the winter walk there. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteTesco is our nearest supermarket though not the one I use through choice. We do usually travel so that we can use one of the other ones but the points do add up even when we're just popping in for the odd thing or a top up shop. I've never been to any of the other RHS gardens, only Harlow Carr. I'd love to visit one of the others.
DeleteHi Jo I got quite excited seeing all those seed packets.......almost feel the sap rising :(
ReplyDeleteWe all need to treat ourselves sometimes. I cannot think of a better way to do that and I gain because I will read all your posts when you visit the gardens :)
It won't be long now until the seed packets are out again and we're back to sowing. There'll be many people who don't live near, or don't get the chance to visit, RHS gardens so I hope that my Harlow Carr posts will be interesting.
DeleteWhat a great present you have given yourself, hope you enjoy all the gardens you visit. I look forward to reading about them :)
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to visiting Harlow Carr again, I've missed it since my RHS membership lapsed.
DeleteHappy New Year! A great gift and sometimes its nice to treat ourselves!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Happy new year to you too. I'm very pleased with my gift from me to me.
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