Events & lectures

Summer Party at Coton Manor

Friday 26 June at 7pm

An evocative harmony of colour and form pervades the inspiring gardens of Coton Manor, home to Northamptonshire Gardens Trust President Susie Pasley-Tyler and her husband Ian. Visit Coton Manor any time of the year and you will find Susie busily tending the extensive borders, creating a stylistic masterpiece of colour and texture which is cleverly woven throughout the garden, bringing joy and sensory pleasure to all who visit.

A Guided Tour of Castle Ashby Gardens by Head Gardener Peter Cox

Thursday 23 July at 2.00 pm

Home to the Compton family since 1512, the parkland of Castle Ashby has great historic significance. In 1761 Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown prepared a ‘great General Plan’ for Charles, 7th Earl of Northampton. Castle Ashby House has recently been passed to Earl Compton, the son of the 7th Marquess. The estate is known for its veteran trees, many planted around Brown’s new rides and serpentine carriage drive. These include native trees such as oak, beech, lime and horse chestnut and the more exotic Cedar of Lebanon, Brown’s trademark tree. The gardens are continually undergoing change and restoration. 

Refreshments in a member’s outstanding garden nearby.

Waterperry Gardens – a horticultural journey with Rob Jacobs

Wednesday 26 August at 11.00 am

A talk in the Garden School on the history and horticulture of Waterperry. Rob joined Waterperry in 1979 and has been horticultural manager since 1993. He is as entertaining as he is knowledgeable of this famous garden founded by Beatrix Havergal and Avice Sanders in the 1930s. The gardens were designed to offer something different throughout the year. Fruit and vegetables are equally important in this garden that played a vital role in WW2. Find out how the garden was created and has evolved for almost a hundred years; the characters who played their part and the link to Northamptonshire. 

Entry to the garden is not included however it is an RHS partner garden, free to members on Wednesdays. There is also an excellent café, art gallery, gift barn, garden centre, historic tools shop/display.

‘The Changing Seasons at Munstead Wood’ - a talk by Head Gardener Annabel Watts

Date:  Thursday 8 October

Time:  2.00 pm

Venue:  Rushton Hall

Annabel shares the magic of Munstead Wood, home of world-renowned gardener Gertrude Jekyll.  

Annabel was working as a secretary/pa in London for 25 years when, in 2002, she decided to stop commuting and look for a local part time job. Looking through the Surrey Advertiser her eye was drawn to a small advert ‘Part time gardener required. No experience necessary’.   She phoned the local number and was invited for an interview at Munstead Wood that afternoon; 4 days later she was reporting for work. Annabel considers the first 11 years as her apprenticeship, 13 years ago she was appointed head gardener. The short advert Annabel answered 24 years ago - completely changed her life!

Refreshments included.