The Harlow Branch of the British Cactus & Succulent Society (BCSS) was formed in January 1969 as a Branch of the then National Cactus & Succulent Society. (NCSS).

In 1983 the NCSS amalgamated with the then Cactus & Succulent Society of Great Britain (CSSGB) to become the BCSS - with the Harlow Branch as a member of BCSS Zone 15 with a catchment area including non-metropolitan West Essex and East Hertfordshire.

The BCSS is keen to promote, and actively supports, plant conservation in habitat; whilst also promoting the study and cultivation of succulent plants. CactusWorld is the quartery Journal of the BCSS. In a typical year the Journal runs to well in excess of 200 pages and features authorative articles on many Cactus/Succulent topics and contains adverts from major Cactus/Succulent nurseries. The December Journal carries a comprehensive seed list of both cactii and succulents. In addition, the BCSS publishes a Yearbook, Bradleya, in the second half of the year. Volume 25 of Bradleya was published in 2007.

As an experiment, Joint Meetings were instigated with the North London Branch (Based at Capel Manor) in the year 2000. The meetings alternated between Capel Manor and the Harlow Branch venue (The Latton Bush Centre in Harlow).

In 2003 it was jointly decided by the two Branches that there was merit in amalgamating the activities of the two Branches to form a new Branch - the Lea Valley Branch.

The Lea Valley Branch meets on the Third Friday of the month (unless indicated otherwise) in Classroom G1 at Capel Manor, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RQ  -  at 7:00 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. start.