What does the IDS do?

The Society:

• Organises tours, all over the world, visiting arboreta, including botanical and private collections, and to see trees growing in their natural habitats
• Holds Plant Symposia and Study Days
• Provides Bursaries for students to study horticulture, particularly international exchanges
• Produces a Yearbook for its members covering the Society's activities and annual tours, as well as specialist articles
• Provides twice yearly a Newsletter for members
• Provides information for the Society's membership through its dedicated Website
• Distributes legally collected seeds from the wild and cultivation
• Alerts the relevant authorities in countries where natural plant resources are under threat from development

This is achieved through:

• A Council of Members representing countries throughout the world, meeting three times a year
• A Scientific and Education Committee responsible for organising symposia and study days, making recommendations for grants, and supervising occasional publications
• A Tours Committee responsible for visits world-wide to places of special interest to members
• An Annual General Meeting (held in the UK every second year) when one third of the Council members are elected or re-elected
• A social event held each year, usually at the time of the Chelsea Flower Show or in association with the AGM
• Contacts with the 1,500 members from some 50 countries, many countries having a Vice President who is ex officio on Council