Venue

• September 7th at Hemswell Court, Lancaster Green, Hemswell Cliff, Lincolnshire DN21 .5TQ. (www.hemswellcourt.com)
• A former RAF Officers Mess used in the Dambusters film, located in beautiful rural Lincolnshire.
• All specialist groups present
• Local nurseries there and local gardens in the area open

Speakers

Dr Andrew Ward will present a new talk especially for the event which will be prepared, as he says, “when the work in the nursery dies down a bit”. His Gardeners’ World appearance in March, when he discussed his astrantia collection, was very well received and he is  now concentrating on the development of his 16th sand bed.

Andrew, who graduated from a childhood collecting carnivorous plants and earning extra pocket money by helping neighbours with their gardens to a degree in plant biology, a PhD in plant breeding and a career growing the plants he loves in the garden and nursery created with his wife Helen
in rural Nottinghamshire. In recent years Norwell has become renowned for its collection of hardy chrysanthemums.

Peter Williams, former principal lecturer at York St. John’s University, is a plant scientist, ecologist, statistician and lifelong gardener. For many years he ran a small nursery and plant propagation is one of his passions. He now talks and writes about horticultural matters and opens his magnificent five-acre woodland garden at ‘Weathervane House’, considered one of Yorkshire’s finest, for charity events.

Nick Hamilton developed his passion for gardening, aged nine, 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 and Darby Nursery Stock in Norfolk, where he later worked and at other nurseries until his father bought a piece of land, adjacent to Barnsdale, in 1989. This land formed the nursery and ultimately part of Barnsdale Gardens. Nick took over the running of Barnsdale Gardens when Geoff died and has developed it into the inspirational garden that it is today. He has also managed to fit in appearances on Gardeners’ World, writing books, being a regular contributor to gardening magazines and talking to gardening groups. He is still creating Gold Medal winning displays at Chelsea Flower Show and at the Gardeners’ World Live Show. Nick is also President of The Cottage Garden Society, a position he took up in 2007.

Attendance

• AGM only: Free
• AGM and Lectures, bring your own lunch: £25
• AGM, Lectures and lunch includes: £33

For full details on the event plus accomodation details, a map and booking form please visit the AGM page.