Garden Visiting – A Very British Tradition

On 18 October, Margie Hoffnung gave us a fascinating insight into that great British pastime of garden visiting in Britain. Filled with anecdotes and humour, Margie led us through all types of gardens, parks and historic settings that we enjoy. Margie completed a 4 year Horticulture Degree at Writtle College, after working at Westonbirt Arboretum. …

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American Garden meets English Landscape

On 20 September 2021, Andrew Cannell, Head Gardener at the American Museum & Gardens gave us an interesting live lecture talking of the transformation of The American Gardens in Claverton. In 2018 the American Museum & Gardens completely remodelled its grounds offering its visitors unique insights into American horticulture and landscape design.  Visitors can walk …

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Fergus Garrett

On Monday 6th September we were delighted for Fergus Garrett, Head Gardener of Great Dixter to give us an additional zoom lecture entitled ‘Layered Planting’. Fergus, a knowledgeable and popular speaker, has been to Fagus in the past and been much enjoyed. He has attained a reputation as of our most influential gardeners, driving forward Great Dixter …

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Lecture by Laura De Beden

Italian Gardens, their beauty, meaning and relevance today On Monday 17th May we held a lecture by Zoom. Over 100 members enjoyed tuning into this lecture. Laura has a deep knowledge of the arts, design and plants. She was a plant baby from birth, and all her memories, even the early ones, show an awareness …

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Abigail Willis

The Secret Gardens of Somerset by Abigail Willis

On Monday 19 April 2021, we had a Zoom lecture by Abigail Willis – The Secret Gardens of Somerset. Abigail Willis is an arts and gardening writer whose latest book, Secret Gardens of Somerset, explores the horticultural riches of the county that she has called home for nearly twenty years. Featuring stunning images by Clive …

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Nick Hamilton

Nick Hamilton – Barnsdale after Geoff – 1996 to Present Day

Nick Hamilton developed his passion for gardening, aged 9, when his father purchased a derelict garden centre in Kettering. He worked with his dad at weekends and during school holidays. He trained at Writtle College in commercial horticulture and his sandwich year placement was at Darby Nursery Stock in Norfolk where he later worked and …

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Tamsin Westhorpe

Tamsin Westhorpe – Life on a Gardening Magazine

Tamsin Westhorpe is well known as an editor, garden writer and lecturer. However, she prefers to be known as a gardener. Throughout her 25 year horticultural career she has focused on the practicalities of gardening. She is proud to say that she’s been a parks gardener and green keeper and is very at home at …

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Elizabeth Sawday

Elizabeth Sawday – What a lovely thing a rose is

Elizabeth Sawday grows roses on the Chichester plain in a little village called Apuldram. Elizabeth grew up just down the road in Birdham and her first love was ponies and horses. She hated school, left early and started working from 15 years old; she graduated over the years from picking tomatoes, looking after children, waitressing …

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Andrew Mikolajski

Andrew Mikolajski – The March of the Women

Andrew Mikolajski has a busy career as a gardening author, lecturer and speaker. Author of over 30 books, he was a horticultural adviser on the new edition of the RHS A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants and is now an RHS judge. Other titles include The World Encyclopedia of Apples, RHS Pruning Plant by Plant and, …

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Chris Watts - ©National Trust Images / Alana Wright

Chris Watts Trees of Tyntesfield – Past Present and Future

Chris Watts has been a volunteer Estate Guide at Tyntesfield since 2006 and it didn’t take him long to realise how fascinating the trees are. He knew very little about trees when he started but is now introduced to people as the ‘Tree Man’; Tyntesfield’s very own (very amateur!) dendrologist. Not too long after Chris …

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