Events & lectures

‘A Labour of Love, Restoring the Lost Gardens of Canons Ashby’ - a talk by Laura Malpas

Date:  Thursday 12 November

Time:  7 pm
Venue:  Great Houghton Village Hall 

Laura spent ten years working for the National Trust overseeing the re-presentation of Canons Ashby, bringing it to life with a refreshed story and the restoration of the historic gardens. Since retiring, Laura regularly travels to Japan and is studying Ikebana, Japanese flower-arranging, with Ikenobo, the oldest ikebana school in Japan.

A Labour of Love: after nearly a century of neglect the once admired gardens of Canons Ashby had become a wilderness. This presentation features historic and contemporary photographs and describes the restoration process completed by the National Trust team recreating the beautiful early eighteenth century formal gardens.

Free to members

Christmas Celebration and talk ‘Gardening to Save Songbirds' by Nicola Oakey

Date: 10 December

Time: 7pm

Venue: Great Houghton Village Hall

Nicola Oakey is a garden designer based in Rutland. After spending 3 years working alongside designer and television presenter Adam Frost, she set up her own garden design studio working across Rutland and the surrounding counties. She has three RHS medals from BBC Gardeners' World Live, RHS Tatton Park Flower Show and most recently, RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Her songbird-inspired Chelsea Show Garden was awarded an RHS Silver-Gilt Medal and is the topic of her upcoming talk.

Nicola will share a fascinating insight into her Chelsea experience, while offering advice and inspiration on how we can all make our gardens a haven for songbirds.

Hellebores! 

A talk by Samantha Hopes combined with lunch and garden visit in Finedon

Date:  Friday 19 February 2027

Time: 11am

Venue: Mission Hall, Finedon

Winter doesn't need to be dull and boring in your garden! We welcome Samantha Hopes who will inspire us with a talk about Hellebores ─ truly inspirational plants bringing colour and interest in the winter months. She will shed light on the stunning range currently being bred at Ashwood Nurseries, the top breeders in the country, with hints and tips on cultivation.

Followed by a lunch of hot soup and a roll provided by our hosts Mary and Stuart Hendry (members of Northamptonshire Gardens Trust) in the Mission Hall, finally venturing into their delightful garden nearby.

From a concrete road and a Victorian brick wash house, Stuart and Mary Hendry have created a garden for all seasons! Starting with snowdrops, hellebores and winter scented shrubs leading onto spring bulbs and the promise of summer ahead. A flourish of roses, annuals and perennials follow. Autumn brings dahlias and then, oh too soon, winter comes around yet again with preparations of the next season!

Plants will be available to buy from both Samantha Hopes and Mary Hendry.