WHILE cacti might not be a familiar sight in Croydon, a group of hardy horticulturalists are proving the exotic plants can be grown in Sanderstead as well as southern hemisphere climes.

The Croydon branch of the British Cactus and Succulent Society (BCSS) was founded in 1952 to provide a forum for enthusiastic growers to share their common interest.

Dudley Baker, the secretary and chairman of the Croydon branch of the society, has kept his oldest cactus for 50 years.

He said: "My mum was in the WI and knew a lady who had cacti on her bungalow windowsill. She took me to see her and the lady gave me a plant, which I treasured. The bug bit me and it's still with me now."

Though his largest cactus these days reaches little over 3ft tall, Mr Baker has grown a few whoppers in his time.

He said: "My biggest one hit the roof of my greenhouse – it was getting so large that it damaged the plants. I had to cut the top off in the end."

He added: "It is a rewarding and absorbing hobby. We have 30 members in our Croydon branch but we love to hear from new people."

The group meets on the first Thursday of every month at the Garden Room, in All Saints' Church Hall, Sanderstead.

The meetings feature guest speakers and there is also the chance for members to display their latest cactus creations, to be judged by the speaker.

David Clark, 64, an event co-ordinator for the society, said: "There is a huge variety of shapes and forms and that is one of the beauties of growing cactus and succulent plants."

Cacti are stereotyped as prickly but Mr Clark said this isn't always the case. He added: "A lot of them are prickly to varying degrees, but there are cacti that are more like furry cotton wool but they are still cacti."