News & Events
Our events in 2025
Please note that events are for members only and generally have to be pre-booked.
A booking form is sent to members with the newsletter in January and June.
February Visit Event 1
The Picton Garden, Old Court Nursery, Colwall.
By kind permission of the Picton and Barbour families.
Garden at the foot of the Malvern Hills growing over 300 varieties of snowdrops. Winding paths with borders full of woodland plants and bulbs.
March Lecture Event 2
Wollerton Old Hall Garden. Talk by Pip Smith, previous head gardener.
Pip was Head Gardener at Wollerton from 2016 - 2020. He will reminisce on his time at the garden, looking at its early history and development through the last four decades. One of Monty Don's "Great Gardens".
Afternoon refreshments are included.
April Visit Event 3
Overbury Court.
By kind permission of Sir Bruce Bossom and Penelope Bossom.
A 10 acre historic garden nestling in a Capability Brown landscape. Harry Green, the Head Gardener, will give a guided tour, but in particular to view the myriad of daffodils. Vast formal lawns, rills and ponds, formal terrace, mixed borders and yew hedging
May AGM Event 4
Hartlebury Castle.
By kind permission of the Trustees of Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust.
Visit the garden to see the planting of the beds around the Carriage Circle and along Queen Elizabeth's Walk which were grant aided by HWGT, also the restored peony and iris beds should be at their best.
Garden visit followed by AGM.
Wine and refreshments are included.
June Visit Event 5
High Glanau Manor, Lydart, Monmouth.
By kind permission of Mr. & Mrs. H. Gerrish. 
Following our successful visit last year to the stunning gardens at Mounton House and Wyndcliffe Court, both designed by H. Avray Tipping we will visit another of his creations at High Glanau. This is a Listed Arts and Crafts garden laid out in 1922 and first opened for the NGS in 1927. Original features and impressive stone terraces with far reaching views over the Vale of Usk to Blorenge, Skirrid, Sugar Loaf and Brecon Beacons. Pergola, herbaceous borders, Edwardian glasshouse, rhododendrons, azaleas, orchard with wild flowers.
Includes a tour by Helena Gerrish and afternoon tea and cakes.
July Visit Event 6
Bredwardine Church and Castle followed by Brobury Gardens.
Brobury Gardens by kind permission of Keith and Pru Cartwright.
Starting at the Church with a talk by David Whitehead then walk to castle site. Afterwards to Brobury Gardens which are being restored with garden designer Peter Antonius. In the late 19th century Francis Kilvert, who lived across the river in Bredwardine vicarage, used the southern part of the gardens as his kitchen garden, he also took a passing interest in the gardens surrounding his vicarage but appears to have ignored the extensive 13th century gardens attached to Bredwardine Castle. A Victorian terrace garden was created in the 1880s and subsequent owners have added features such as a Lutyens-inspired pool, bog garden and stream leading to a water meadow. Panoramic views towards Regency-style Bredwardine vicarage.
Visit includes cream tea at Brobury Gardens.
July Visit Event 7
Wollerton Old Hall Gardens, Market Drayton.
By kind permission of Lesley and John Jenkins
Pip Smith’s talk in March will have whetted our appetites to visit this glorious 3 acre garden created 40 years ago around a Tudor house (not open). The current Head Gardener will take us on a guided tour which will include the hot garden and significant collections of rare perennials, roses, salvias, phlox and clematis.
The tea room serves light lunches and teas.
September Visit Event 8
Thenford Arboretum.
By kind permission of Lord and Lady Heseltine.
The 70 acre arboretum features a collection of over three thousand different trees and shrubs, together with extensive herbaceous borders, water gardens, sculpture garden, rose garden and rill, and restored walled garden. There will be a short introduction to the arboretum and then everyone will be given a detailed map to freely wander at leisure
Afternoon refreshments included.
October Lecture Event 9
The Work of The National Landscape/Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Talk by David Armitage.
David is the Landscape Partnership Manager of the Malvern Hills National Landscape and works alongside other organisations to enhance and conserve this area’s special qualities. His talk will slant towards local stories.
Refreshments will be served after the lecture.
November Lecture Event 10
The English Landscape Garden. Talk by Tim Richardson.
Tim Richardson is a well known garden historian and writer. He has just published his 24th book, which is the first fully illustrated study to be published about the 18th century English landscape garden.
It is structured as 20 case studies across the span of the century, from Castle Howard to Picturesque gardens such as Hackfall and includes Hagley Hall. .
Refreshments will be served after the lecture.