Meadowsweet Lodge - Independent Council of Ancient Free Gardeners of Scotland
The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners is of Scottish Origin with the earliest record being a Minute of a Lodge of Free Gardeners in Haddington, East Lothian dated 16th August 1676.
The earliest Lodges were Operative, being made up of Gardeners employed in Large Estates and Country Houses. At that period Country Houses were particularly fashionable and both plants as well as Gardeners themselves were imported from the Continent. Within the Lodge, Free Gardeners would look after the sick and needy, and also care for the welfare of a deceased members family. These early Operative Lodges gradually admitted into membership non-operative gardeners and the structure was similar to other Fraternal Organisations. In the 19th Century membership expanded greatly, and thousands of Lodges were formed. These were the days prior to the Welfare State and the organization was very much a Friendly Society. These Friendly Societies flourished until 1946 when the Welfare State was created in the United Kingdom. Overnight Friendly Societies folded and by the Mid-Fifties Free Gardeners Lodges were all but extinct.
The earliest Lodges were Operative, being made up of Gardeners employed in Large Estates and Country Houses. At that period Country Houses were particularly fashionable and both plants as well as Gardeners themselves were imported from the Continent. Within the Lodge, Free Gardeners would look after the sick and needy, and also care for the welfare of a deceased members family. These early Operative Lodges gradually admitted into membership non-operative gardeners and the structure was similar to other Fraternal Organisations. In the 19th Century membership expanded greatly, and thousands of Lodges were formed. These were the days prior to the Welfare State and the organization was very much a Friendly Society. These Friendly Societies flourished until 1946 when the Welfare State was created in the United Kingdom. Overnight Friendly Societies folded and by the Mid-Fifties Free Gardeners Lodges were all but extinct.
However, in 2002 a revival took place with the development and creation of a small number of Independent Lodges, out of this development Ayrshire Bluebell Lodge No.7 was Instituted on Thursday 20th November 2003, and that Lodge Instituted the Rose and Bluebell Lodge on Saturday 24th August 2019 in Dalry, Ayrshire, Scotland and on the 29th August 2020 The Rose and Bluebell Lodge Instituted the Rose of England Lodge in Stoneleigh Surrey. Meadowsweet Lodge was founded in 2025 under Charter from the International Confederation of Ancient Free Gardeners of Scotland 1676 - 2021, an American organisation, but formed a new Council with two other lodges in 2026.
Meadowsweet Lodge is mainly virtual and welcomes English speaking applicants from anywhere in the world. Virtual meetings are held every second month on a Saturday. Initiations in person are available in the USA, the UK, Spain & Switzerland. Presently there are four other lodges working under this Council, Blue Aster Lodge Nº 1 in New York State, Lotus Lodge Nº 3 in Brazil, Acacia Lodge Nº4 in Colombia and Las Florecillas de San Franscesco Nº5 in Cuba. To enquire please use the contact form below.
Meadowsweet Lodge is mainly virtual and welcomes English speaking applicants from anywhere in the world. Virtual meetings are held every second month on a Saturday. Initiations in person are available in the USA, the UK, Spain & Switzerland. Presently there are four other lodges working under this Council, Blue Aster Lodge Nº 1 in New York State, Lotus Lodge Nº 3 in Brazil, Acacia Lodge Nº4 in Colombia and Las Florecillas de San Franscesco Nº5 in Cuba. To enquire please use the contact form below.
An ancient Free Gardeners Apron
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Sash Detail
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Meadowsweet
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Immediate Past Worthy Master, Brother Alistair
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Chaplain & Secretary, Brother Tristan
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List of Master Gardeners
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Bro A. - Switzerland
Bro M. - GA. USA Bro T - SC, USA Bro M. - Serbia Sr V. - Serbia Bro A. - Wales Bro L. - TX, USA Bro. B. - CA, USA Bro. K. - Alberta, Canada Bro J. - Northern Ireland 
2026/27 Worthy Master - Brother the Rt Revd Mark Colville
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New Charter, 2026
