2024 Prgramme
Unless indicated*, events are open to all. Visitors £5
FRIDAY 26 JANUARY, 7.30pm - Helen Picton
'Daisy Days'
Venue: Mackenzie Hall, Brockweir
Helen, with her husband Ross Barbour, run Old Court Nursery and Garden, near Malvern. They are the curators for the Plant Heritage National Collection of autumn flowering asters and related genera with more than 430 varieties.
FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY, 7.30pm - Marion Stainton
'For the Love of Blue Poppies'
Venue: St Briavels School Hall
What have the Himalayas ever done for us?
This talk is based around the historical introduction of many very familiar plants and the influence they & those who collected and introduced them had on styles in gardens at the time. It also looks at why many plants from the Himalayas have been so popular and why it was a very popular place for plant hunters to go, despite the difficulties they encounter.
FRIDAY 15 MARCH, 7.30pm - Dominic Hamilton
'The History and Restoration of Painswick Rococo Garden'
and Spring Bulb & Bloom Show
Venue: Mackenzie Hall
Dominic is Garden Director at Painswick. He will talk about the history and restoration of this unique garden, and provide an armchair tour of the restoration work, before and after.
SUNDAY 21 APRIL, 2 - 4pm
ANNUAL PLNT SALE - Our Main Fundraising Event of the Year
Venue: St Briavels Pavilion
Friday 24 MAY – Ken Thompson
'Soil'
Venue: St Briavels School Hall
What is soil, how does it work, and what are the implications for gardeners? Dr Ken Thompson is a plant ecologist and myth-buster, who is known for his scientific and practical approach to gardening. He is author of a number of popular science books on invasive species, biodiversity, wildlife gardening, weeds and compost-making.
WEDNESDAY 12/19 JUNE -CANCELLED
Visit to Eastbach Court Garden and Meadow, English Bicknor
FRIDAY 14 JUNE, 7.30pm - Paul Green
'Plants of the Season'
Venue: St Briavels School Hall
A return visit by Paul, who spoke about autumn plants in September 2019. Paul, who owns Greens Leaves Nursery in Newent, brings a huge number of plants, which are for sale after the talk. It’s a a good all-round talk, showcasing what is looking good (rarities / new varieties included). Merits / vices of the plants, propagation, pruning & best use in thye garden are covered.
FRIDAY 5 JULY , 5.30 - 7pm * - date tbc
Drinks in the Garden
Venue: The Nutshell, St Briavels
A members' get-together. Drinks and nibbles on a summer's evening
SATURDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER
VEGETABLE, FRUIT & FLOWER SHOW - details to follow
Venue: Mackenzie Hall, Brockweir
FRIDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER, 7.30pm - Sally Oates
'Gardening with Nature'
Venue: Mackenzie Hall, Brockweir
Sally Oates’s garden can be heard before it is seen. Situated among acre upon acre of bare, intensively farmed fields her comparatively small plot of land appears to be a lone island of sweet, thundering birdsong. The garden was featured in Gardeners’ World.
FRIDAY, 18 OCTOBER, 7.30pm - Nick Morgan
'A Productuve Year in a Small Greenhouse'
Venue: St Briavels School Hall
Nick Morgan, M Hort. RHS Retired to Gloucestershire in 2016 after 23 years working in key roles within the RHS as a Horticultural Specialist and Superintendent of RHS Wisley glass and propagation departments. Now in retirement, he would not be without his small greenhouse.
FRIDAY, 22 NOVEMBER, 7.30pm - AGM & Pip Smith
'The Fragrant Garden' - a look at fragrant plants throughout the year
Venue: Mackenzie Hall. Brockweir
A return visit for Pip, who was Head Gardener at several gardens, most recently Wollerton Old Hall in Shropshire. He is now working as a Landscape Designer His talks are illustrated with good quality, high resolution images.
Unless indicated*, events are open to all. Non-members £5