History

In 1860, William Busfeild Ferrand founded the Kidlington Horticultural Society. It has had several different titles over the years, but is now known as the Kidlington Gardening Society. 

In the early days, shows were held annually and must have been quite major events in the village and surrounding area, as they included agricultural and livestock classes as well as the more familiar flowers and produce.

Meetings were held in various venues until 1982, when they began being held in Exeter Hall. This continued until 1994, when meetings moved to the Football Club pavilion off Evans Lane. 

From 2001 until 2020, KGS met at the St John Ambulance hall in Kidlington High Street. In 2018 the hall was renamed after Alan Walton, who died in that year and was not only a senior figure in the St John Ambulance, but also a long-standing and tireless member of KGS, having held several posts, most recently that of Vice-president. Since 2020, meetings have been held in the small hall at Exeter Hall.

A more detailed account of the history of the Kidlington Gardening Society can be found in a booklet researched and compiled by Albert Didcock, a long-serving and dedicated member of KGS. Copies can be bought at KGS meetings.