The GentianThe Newsletter for the Friends of Ness GardensISSUE 240 SPRING 2016

Free to Friends of Ness Gardens £2

NESS BOTANIC GARDENS, NESTON ROAD,NESS CH64 4AYT 0151 795 6300Email friendsofnessgardens@liv.ac.ukWebsite www.nessgardens.org.uk

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 511294

From the Director’s Chair ...................................................... 2

In the Gardens .............................................................................................. 3

Chicken News ............................................................................................... 4

Visitor Services ............................................................................................. 5

Inspirational Ness ............................................................................. 6-7

Aquaponics Project ................................................................. 9-11

Photographic Competition ...................................12-13

Rhododendron Society Centenary ......14-15

Friends’ Coach Trips ........................................................... 16-17

What’s On ........................................................................................... 18-19

ContentsISSUE 240 SPRING 2016

Editorial Board: Helen Watters, Matthew Clough, Fiona Harrison, Dilys Court.

Design: Big Drum Communications. Printed on recycled paper by The Printroom UK, Liverpool.

Cover picture: Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus, on blossom. The Friends of Ness Gardens is a registered charity No 511294. Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Ness Botanic Gardens or the Friends of Ness Gardens.

Material for the next issue should reach the editor by 1 June 2016. Email fiona.harrison1@btinternet.com

University of Liverpool, Ness Botanic Gardens Tel 0151 795 6300Website: www.nessgardens.org.uk Email: friendsofnessgardens@liv.ac.uk

Spring 2016 1

Editor’s welcomeWhat a fantastic spring – the first time I have had daffodils, primulas and snowdrops all flowering together. It certainly encouraged me to get out in the garden and do some work!

This issue of The Gentian gives you a round-up of the work done by staff and volunteers at Ness keeping everything in order over the winter and getting ready for our enjoyment over the spring and summer. The enthusiasm of all is fantastic!

Support from the Friends is invaluable to the Gardens. Specifically our recent funding has provided for the purchase of the Ecogreen composter shredder (page 3), a label making machine (page 15) and an upgrade to the AV system in the Lecture Theatre.

Looking to the future, follow the novel Aquaponics system installed by Farm Urban in the Conservatory (page 9) and the continued growth of Ness’s role in educating local youngsters. Children are important to Ness, and we are seeing an increasing number of schools using the Ness facilities (see page 6 for Rose’s latest plans). Particularly telling are comments from children who have been to Ness for the first time with a school party and return with parents in tow to enjoy the same delights. Keep them coming!

Fiona Harrison

Linghams Bookshop,

2 The Gentian www.nessgardens.org.uk/friends-area

In the Gardens Nick Lightfoot

Woodland Play Area Jim Rumble of Acorns to Oaks Forest School

Spring 2016 3

PROGRESS has been made with a number of projects this winter and we hope you will notice some changes when you visit. We’ve 10 new chickens and new vegetable beds. New items have been added to the play area including balancing beams and a den building area (see below). Also across the last few months beds have been mulched, woodchip has been added to paths and shrubs have been pruned.

You will probably notice that our pruning has included the car park hedge which has been reduced in height to make Ness more visible from the road. Thanks to all the Ness team who helped with the work. It was a great opportunity to use our new Ecogreen shredder. Herbaceous and woody plant material is fed into this machine and it produces good compost quickly. Garden Supervisor Ian is a happy man! The shredder has been funded by the Friends, so our heartfelt thanks for your support.

We’ve planted tulips again in the beds outside

the Visitor Centre. We hope you’ll enjoy them. We’ll follow this up with another annual order bed. You might remember that last year it was the sunflower family (Asteraceae). This year it will be the mint family (Lamiaceae).

Finally, we’ve begun work on a new management plan for the Gardens. We’ll be looking at each area of the Gardens and bringing various types of information together. This will include looking at each area’s history, horticulture, plant collection, infrastructure, present projects and potential future projects. As always, there is a lot going on!

We’ve been chipping away at the jobs

Work on the boundary hedge is made easy with the new shredder funded by the Friends

From the Director’s Chair Matthew Clough

Dear Friends,

As we look forward to our spring and summer season you will be interested in some of the developments of recent months. We have been delighted to

receive financial support from the Friends for various projects, including an upgrade to the Lecture Theatre AV system. This work will enhance the picture and sound quality. We will also be able to record events in the Lecture Theatre and provide a live stream to the Hulme Room, effectively increasing our room capacity. Overall this should markedly improve the experience during events and make the venue more marketable.

We will shortly begin work on the potting sheds, and you will notice some site establishment in this area until May. This work, funded by a grant from

the Royal Botanical and Horticultural Society of Manchester and the Northern Counties with additional support from the University, will make some repairs to the actual potting shed and create a new classroom space within the rear coach house. We plan to use this space for our education programme and as additional bookable space within the Garden.

Finally, we had a very enjoyable Christmas party with our volunteers in December and made Volunteer of the Year awards to Brenda Marshall and Tim Yoxen. Brenda works across many areas, including serving as a Friends Committee Member, whilst Tim has provided countless hours of support to the garden team. We are very grateful to everyone who gives any time to assist with the running of the Gardens across the year.

I am very much looking forward to my first calendar year at Ness and to experiencing a full set of changing seasons and I hope to welcome you to the Gardens soon.

Matthew CloughDirector, Ness Botanic Gardens

Ness is indebted to Friends and volunteers

FEBRUARY saw several exciting additions to the Gardens’ offer for children and families. Using sustainable natural materials already on

site, we have created wilder play options designed to appeal to older children.

A timber balance walkway now weaves

between the trees and above the snowdrops alongside the existing play area. This was built using logs from previously felled trees and oak planks gathered from around the grounds.

Behind the play area there is a new den building site behind a brushwood fence of coppiced materials. Some fixed posts have been provided for children to build up around but already dens have sprung up against trees and in thickets along with fire circles and log seats.

The tractors have returned with Spring, and a bamboo tepee has been erected, perfect

for make believe and storytelling.

These features are the latest examples of the Gardens’ commitment to children and families, ideal for drawing in regular young visitors.

RHS accreditation awarded to Ness

The Gardens has become an exam centre for the nationally recognised RHS Level 2 & Level 3 horticultural qualifications. Ness is now one of only seven

centres in the North West accredited by the Royal Horticultural Society to hold examinations.

Founded on qualifications first established in 1893, the RHS qualifications are studied

part-time and mainly by adults. Students range from interested gardeners who just wish to learn more, potential career changers and those working in the horticulture industry who want to gain more knowledge.

At Ness, we teach both the Level 2 & 3 courses on a rolling programme of eight modules lasting six weeks each, with students able to start at the beginning of any module. The exams aren’t compulsory so don’t let them put you off if you are interested.

The first students from Ness took their exams in February, and are now awaiting their results!

THE beautiful sweeping displays of snowdrops and the excitement of February half-term ushers in a new season and the whole team is involved in ensuring that we are ready for action! With new retail lines, a developing events programme and wedding season imminent there is plenty to keep us busy.

As well as looking after our visitors and keeping the Visitor Centre and Friends’ Office running smoothly, we have been working closely with the Garden team on a number of new initiatives, including the competition to name the new chickens and undertaking monthly staff job swaps. Most recently Jen has spent a day in the Garden while Nige undertook a day in the Visitor Centre. We are also working closely with the Wirral Branch of the Cheshire Beekeepers Association on exciting bee-related projects.

In the Friends’ Office, Karen Blower has now

moved on to pastures new, and we pass on our thanks for her hard work and dedication over the last 18 months. We are currently in the recruitment process for a new Membership & Bequests Administrator and look forward to updating you all in due course. In the meantime, Diana Russell and Chloé Cheadle have really stepped up and proved themselves invaluable in ensuring that the Friends’ Office

continues to provide excellent service.

We also welcome Kate Hotson in the new six-month post of Visitor Services Support Officer. You may know Kate from her role as Operations Manager for the Garden Kitchen Café, and we’re looking forward to her good humour and dedication working more closely within the Visitor Services team.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming you all to the Gardens over the coming months.

Visitor Services Zoë Chapman

Kate Hotson

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Chicken News Louise Emberson

FEBRUARY saw the arrival of 10 new chickens from the Hedgerow Henporium, run by the lovely Julie and Keith of Great Sutton, Wirral. They breed a variety of hybrid chickens for domestic gardens and smallholdings. All the chickens are hybrids of various breeds which are often used for commercial egg laying - and they will produce 300+ eggs each in their first year.

Two hens each of four different breeds and one hen each from two other breeds were selected to come and live a life of luxury at Ness Gardens. I have included a little bit of information about each breed below but if anyone is interested in having their own chickens, a lot more information is available at The Henporium website www.hedgerowhenporium.co.uk.

Hedgerow White Leghorn – a pretty white hybrid leghorn often called a White Star whose eggs are large and bright white. They are often more active than other hens and love to explore.

Hedgerow Lavender – a sweet-natured lovely silvery blue coloured hen, selected from top strains of Blue Plymouth Rock and Barred Plymouth

Rock. They have a calm personality and lay darker brown eggs.

Hedgerow Cuckoo - a beautiful hen with green black and white feathers similar in appearance to a Coucou Marans, they are part Barred Plymouth Rock and part Rhode Island Red. They are very calm and peaceful hens.

Hedgerow Partridge Leghorn - an attractively-coloured hen which is a hybrid crossing of Gold and Partridge Brown Leghorns. They are active and inquisitive hens, and lay large cream or white eggs.

Hedgerow Blacktail – a lovely ginger coloured hen from specially selected strains of Sussex and Rhode Island Red. They are nosy and friendly, and lay large brown eggs.

Hedgerow Rhode Rock – a hybrid of Rhode Island Red and Barred Plymouth Rock, Rhode Rock hens are black with a very attractive dark green sheen, and an amber bib. These hens are very friendly and calm and lay brown eggs.

The 10 chickens have all been given names: Gin and Tonic, John and Yolk-o, Ant and Pec, Hen Solo and Princess Lay-a, Apple and Crumble.

Sorting out your Leghorns from your Plymouth Rocks

Caldy Village Gardens Sunday 22 May 2-6pm Supporting North West Cancer ResearchGardens are open around the village. Refreshments will be available in several gardens but to give visitors more time to see the gardens, we are offering self-service drinks paid for at point of sale instead of our previous waitress service.

Tickets will be available during May in various local shops: Linghams Book Shop, Heswall, A I Roberts Butchers, Hintons Butchers and Le Bizz Gift Shop in West Kirby. Look out for posters after Easter with more details. Maps will be supplied to advance ticket holders on their arrival in the village. Tickets and maps are also available on the day.

However much or little the organisation of the day changes, one constant factor is the support, enthusiasm and goodwill of the visitors who come to see our gardens, so please remember that we rely on you to make the day truly successful and enjoyable.

Further information: www.opengardens.co.uk or email simonsfield@btinternet.co.uk

6 The Gentian www.nessgardens.org.uk/friends-area

Inspirational Ness Rose Froud

”I’m showing my family where my teacher brought us on our school trip” – comment from a Wallasey Primary School child.

AS A six year old, growing up in a town in Hampshire, I was privileged to have been taken on a school trip to rural Selborne, visiting the beech hangers and meadows and climbing an enormously steep-angled path known as ‘The Zig-Zag’. After our exciting descent, we carried out a pond dip with the ranger and peeped down a microscope. It had a tremendous impact on me and I can still remember the Daphnia that swam across the view finder. A magical day, sparking my interest in environmental science and a lifelong fascination with the British countryside.

Ness has this power to inspire our local children – so spread the word around your families and friends.

Our schools programme is constantly being developed to offer a more varied range of activities and we are also working with the Widening Participation Team at the University of Liverpool to organise trips for pupils of under-represented groups. Currently we support teachers by organising guided tours mostly on plant and habitat related themes but there will be more options in the future. We are researching art projects, a botanical crime scene science investigation, an archaeological dig to link with the KS2 Stone Age topic and simple horticultural activities. These will be offered when the Potting Shed education facility is fully operational.

Our main emphasis, of course, is on plants. We are delighted that the new Science National Curriculum emphasises the importance of plants. Primary school children have opportunities to learn about deciduous,

evergreen, native, non-native, flowering and non-flowering plants. This includes topics about plant anatomy, water transportation, the flowering plant life cycle, food chains, evolution and seasonal changes.

The National Curriculum states that: ‘where possible, pupils should observe the growth of flowers and vegetables that they have planted’ and this is music to our ears. It is also encouraging to hear that many of our visiting teachers utilise outdoor space at school for growing, whether it be just a raised bed, a simple vegetable patch or a big plot including a vegetable garden, water feature and other habitat areas. If they don’t have outdoor space, teachers find growing patches

on window ledges. So it is potentially a good era in school for children to learn about plants, particularly growing them. Let’s hope that plants are finally ‘on the map’.

Our family events often have a plant focus too. Hallowe’en was all about poisonous plants and February half-term was based on the beauty of snowdrops. Half-term in May - Swarm to Ness - will include activities that focus upon flower types.

As you have a lifelong romance with Ness, don’t miss these

Family events, or simply spread the word! Check out the What’s On pages and follow the website: www.nessgardens.org.uk

Now plants are back on the map, let’s keep them there!

Spring 2016 7

www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk

Specialist Plant Fairs

26 Mar Battlefield 1403 Shrewsbury, Shrops. SY4 3DB 9:30am­4pm Free Entry27/28 Mar Dorothy Clive Garden nr Bridgemere TF9 4EU 10am­5pm Fair & gardens £3.503 Apr Ness Botanic Gardens Wirral, Cheshire CH64 4AY 10am­4pm Fair £1.0010 Apr Cholmondeley Castle Malpas Cheshire SY14 8HN 11am­5pm Fair & gardens £3.5017 Apr Consall Hall Wetley Rocks, Staffs ST9 0AG 10am­5pm Fair & gardens £2.0023 Apr Sugnall Walled Garden Eccleshall Staffs ST21 6NF 10am­4pm Fair & gdns £1.0024 Apr Norton Priory Runcorn Cheshire WA7 1SX 10am­4pm Free entry to fair1/2 May Weston Park Shifnal Shrops TF11 8LE 10am­5pm Fair & gardens £3.008 May Adlington Hall, Macclesfield Cheshire SK10 4LF 10:30am­4pm Fair & gardens £3.00Sun 15 May British Ironwork Centre Oswestry Shrops SY11 4JH 10am­5pm £1.004/5 Jun Hodnet Hall Mkt Drayton Shrops TF9 3NN 10am­5pm Fair & gardens £3.5026 Jun Whittington Castle, Whittington, Shropshire. SY11 4DF 10am­4pm £1.00 per car

Every plant lover's favourite day out

Snowdrops event display

BELOW: Mini-gardens

Aquaponics Project Rowena Eakins and Nicola Davidson of Farm Urban

8 The Gentian Spring 2016 9www.nessgardens.org.uk/friends-area

FARM Urban is a research-driven, community focused social enterprise. We use aquaponics to engage and inspire people to connect with their environment, explore their relationship with food, and empower them to make positive and informed choices.

Aquaponics is a way of growing fish and crops together in a completely closed-loop ecosystem. The technique is largely chemical-free, extremely efficient at using water and can be used to grow a wide variety of crops and freshwater fish.

The growth of fish and plants in tandem was used in Indian and South-East Asian societies to supplement the diets of rice growers with freshwater fish over 2,000 years ago. Aquaculture methods date back as far as fifth century BC China, although the first modern European freshwater fish farm was only established in Germany in 1733. Around the world, aquaponics is now being brought up

to date and made increasingly suitable for the urban environment. The contemporary growth in aquaponic farming can be widely credited to the emergence of commercial farms in Australia and the United States.

So how does it work? In its simplest form, fish excrete waste into the water and this waste makes a fantastic fertiliser for the plants, so we pump it into a separate tank where microbes break it down to release the nutrients, which feed the plants. The plants in turn clean the

water by taking up these nutrients through their roots, and the clean water is pumped back to the fish to start the whole process again.

At the start of 2015 we took over the disused and overgrown conservatory at Ness (see left). With the generous support of the

Growing-your-own: it can be a fishy business!

Aquaponics is an ancient method of growing fish and crops together... now it is being showcased in the Conservatory at Ness

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The conservatory before work started

Spring 2016 1110 The Gentian www.nessgardens.org.uk/friends-area

Aquaponics Project continued

Friends of the University of Liverpool, and scientific input from Dr Iain Young and the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Integrative Biology, we began planning our showcase aquaponics installation.

Once plans for the build were mapped out, we enlisted the help of student volunteers from the Liverpool Life Sciences University Training College. As part of their enrichment programme, our volunteers began by clearing the site and digging out a large pit which would become our main fish pond (see pics above).

The next, and perhaps most technical, stage was to install several grow-beds of different designs, each involving much plumbing and wiring (right). With our grow beds installed, we planted the systems with salads and oriental greens.

Approximately 100 fish, a mix of koi carp and goldfish, made the Conservatory their new home in the summer.

When you arrive at the Conservatory now, you will see the fish pond in the centre, surrounded by grow-beds which demonstrate the main methods of aquaponic growing. On each side of the tank are rows of white guttering, which contribute to the soothing sound of trickling water. These are an example of nutrient film technique, where thin films of nutrient-laden water run continuously over the roots of plants as they hang into the gutter. The black tank immediately ahead of you, full of a clay ball growing medium, is a flood and drain system. Here, water is pumped into the media-filled grow-bed continuously and a siphon intermittently allows the bed to drain, pulling oxygen down to the deeper plant roots as it does so.

At the back are two further tanks with silver floating rafts on their surface. These are our deep water tanks. Supported by the buoyant rafts, plant roots hang into a deep trough of water which circulates continuously.

With systems installed, the water flowing and the fish and plants settling in nicely, we are looking

forward to an excellent growing season in 2016.

As well as a demonstration of sustainable food production, the Farm Urban aquaponics showcase is a living lab, making an inspiring and educational addition to Ness Gardens.

If you’re interested in finding out more about aquaponics and how you can use it at home, look out for our workshops at Ness.

Sieving clay balls

Fish in the pool

Above: Plumbing in growbeds as the fish superviseBelow: The project up and running

Photographic Competition Andy Lambie

Spring 2016 1312 The Gentian www.nessgardens.org.uk/friends-area

Ness Photographer of the Year 2015 is Georgina Keena for Dragonflies Mating. Her stunning picture and the other winning images from the various categories are pictured here...

All of the shortlisted entries and winners of this year’s competition are on display in the Visitor Centre at Ness until Sunday 24 April. The exhibition will also be on display at the World Museum in Liverpool and the University’s main campus later in the year.

The deadline for this year’s competition is Wednesday 30 November. There are no restrictions on the type of camera you use (phones are great too!). Just take some pictures of Ness and enter them in the appropriate category. Full details are on the Friends section of the Ness website.

The 2015 winners and their workTHIS year’s competition received hundreds of images, including from many Friends, across four adult and two children’s categories - giving our panel of judges much to deliberate!

Top right: Landscape Winner “Mirror Image” Andrew Crothall

Right: Abstract Winner “Puzzle Grass” Valerie Alderson

Bottom right: Plants Winner “Autumn Rudbeckia” Sara Bishop

Bottom left: Winner Under 10 Oliver Wilkinson “Poppies”

Right: Winner 10-17 Katherine Rutherford “Meadow”

Below: OVERALL WINNER & Winner Wildlife “Dragonflies Mating” Georgina Keena

14 The Gentian Spring 2016 15www.nessgardens.org.uk/friends-area

Rhododendron Society Ted Brabin

THIS year sees the centenary of the founding of the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group, although its origins were not quite as simple as that.

The Rhododendron Society was founded in 1916 by an elite group of “landed gentry”, mostly with large estates, who sponsored many of the plant collectors of the early 20th century. It was the huge number of plant specimens, mostly as seed, collected by these intrepid explorers that led to the desire for

an “appreciation society” to enable plants raised from the seeds to be grown in the UK.

Arthur Bulley, at Ness Gardens, was the first sponsor of George Forrest, Frank Kingdon Ward, Reginald Farrer and RE Cooper and his staff were deeply involved in plant introductions, wagon loads of tea chests, laden with seed, arriving at the potting sheds at Ness. Bulley was mostly interested in herbaceous plants but sent seed of thousands of specimens to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Edinburgh. He was very cross when some of this was never sown! Prior to Bulley’s collectors going about their work, Ernest “Chinese” Wilson, who was initially employed by Veitch’s and later poached by Dr Sargent of the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, Mass., was the first great collector of

the last century, starting in 1900 in Western Hupeh, China. Forrest followed in 1904, Kingdon Ward in 1913, Farrer in 1914, Joseph Rock (a naturalised American) in 1923 and Ludlow & Sherriff in 1933. More followed up to the present day, including the Coxes

from Glendoick, Roy Lancaster, Alan Clark and Keith Rushforth.

The Rhododendron Society became an Association in 1928 and the present Rhododendron Group was founded

in 1948 under the aegis of the RHS. Camellias and Magnolias were subsequently added to the groups “interest list”. Most of the seed that was sent by the collectors was from wild species and once these were flowering it allowed a new wave (or more accurately an ocean of waves) of hybridising to begin. This was often at the same estates that started the society and the owners were vying with each other,

exhibiting their new hybrids at RHS Shows. Competition was ferocious! The collection of Rhododendrons at Ness is not from Bulley’s time but was planted during the 32 years that Ken Hulme was the Director of the Gardens. Ken was also a driving force in setting up the local branch of the North West England and North Wales branch of the main group.

All this leads to the species and hybrids growing in Gardens today and not just in gardens of wealthy landowners. Many species and their hybrids remain small plants, suitable for more ordinary domestic gardens and do not grow into 60ft tall “red trees”, which gave rhododendrons their name. Some of these will be on display at our branch show at Ness Gardens on 1/2 May 2016.

Society’s centenary landmark celebrates these wonderful exotic discoveries

The North West Branch of the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia & Magnolia Group

Centenary Show Sunday & Monday 1 & 2 May 2016

at

Ness GardensThe show is open to all – there is no need to be a member of the Group or Friends of Ness Gardens. If you have a lovely specimen bring it along and some of the stewards will be able to put it in the right category. Rhododendrons, Camellias and Magnolias all feature at the show.

Setting up will be from 9.30-11am on Sunday 1 May. The show will be open to the public in the Bulley Room at Ness from 12noon–5pm on Sunday and from 10am–3.30pm on Monday 2 May. There will be events to mark the centenary at RHS Wisley, RHS Rosemoor and RHS Harlow Carr. Details of these events will be in the RHS journal The Garden.

R dalhousiae var. rhabdotum, discovered by Roland Cooper and introduced by Kingdon Ward

Rhododendron clementinae

Rhododendron mallotum

LABELLING is a key components of a botanic garden, and its purpose is to unlock all the information about a plant. This detail tells us its origin, the climate and habitat it grows in, its economic uses and how it can be cultivated. So why are more plants not labelled at Ness? Simply put, labelling plants is difficult. Ness has around 20,000 plants to label with many of known provenance. Limited resources and the inevitable constant evolution of the garden increase the complexity.

Historically labels at Ness were made by a photographic development method onto a photosensitive metal plate. This was an effective method for many years but more recently has been hampered by financial and time constraints.

To better label the Gardens, the Friends have provided generous funding for a new label-making machine which engraves onto plastic. This makes the labelling process much quicker and simpler, and enables us to generate labels in-house quickly as we need them. Over the next months and years you will see an ever-increasing number of labels in the garden, underlining our commitment to this aspect of Ness’s work.

The importance of labels

16 The Gentian Spring 2016 17

Friends’ Coach Trips Brenda Marshall

DURING 2015, Friends enjoyed a series of coach outings to a fantastic range of venues carefully selected by the team: Brenda Marshall, Wendy Jones and Judith Wheat.

Spring started off with a trip to Yorkshire proving so popular that a second coach was needed. The visit to Burnby Hall, a lovely garden in its own right, was timed to coincide with their annual Tulip Festival run in conjunction with Bloms Bulbs. Coupled with the wonderful atmosphere and fascinating gardens at Stillingfleet Lodge this trip proved to be a real success.

In May we set off by the scenic route through North Wales to Crûg Farm Nursery whose owners are keen plant hunters and travel extensively. The guided tour was fascinating and the haul of plant purchases needed several trolleys to transport it to the coach. Next stop Bodnant Garden one of the most beautiful gardens in the UK with stunning natural features.

Gardeners’ World Live at Birmingham’s NEC provided

the venue for the June trip. Once again good weather in which to enjoy the show gardens and outdoor exhibits plus the added attraction of the Summer Good Food Show and tickets for the Celebrity Theatre made for a fun filled day.

The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire,

with over 300 unique memorials and beautiful woodlands was the morning venue for the July trip. Light showers did not stop Friends from exploring as much as possible of this year-round Centre of Remembrance. A visit to Trentham Gardens completed the day and the improvement in the weather in the afternoon allowed everyone to enjoy the lakeside walk,

Italian Gardens and many other features including some retail therapy.

One sunny Sunday in August saw two coaches of Friends on their way through Herefordshire to Hampton Court Castle and Gardens - lovely gardens and an amazing quirky Castle whose history was brought to life by excellent guides. Stockton Bury Gardens provided the afternoon’s entertainment with their well planted borders and converted medieval barns.

In September we received a warm welcome at Rode Hall where guides led groups on a tour of the house allowing Friends to enjoy the gardens at their own pace. The walled kitchen garden with its wonderful display of dahlias as well as fruit and vegetables proved very popular. In the afternoon we visited Cholmondeley Castle Gardens which provided opportunities for lakeside walks or just to sit and enjoy the sunshine and the trees. There is also an excellent tea room – always an essential element of a Friends’ coach trip!

To round off the year, the team put on a Special to see Tatton Park at Christmas. This was a sell-out and Friends thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful Christmas decorations at the house and an excellent Christmas meal in the Tenant’s Hall. Arrangements are in hand to return this

year – so book early to avoid disappointment. The 2016 Coach Trip Programme is enclosed with this issue of The Gentian – be inspired!

National Memorial Arboretum Derek Wakeham

Hampton Court Castle Wendy Jones

Christmas at Tatton Park Judith Wheat

Coach team’s splendid choice of venues gave us a 2015 season to remember

With a little help from our FRIENDS…WE ARE always on the look-out for interesting, worthwhile venues that can be offered as outings. We have records of visits made by Friends going back as far as 1988. Obviously we try not to repeat although the tried and tested favourites may return to the list after a few years. We three keep our own eyes and ears on alert as we travel around AND ... we also receive helpful suggestions from others. (Our thanks to you if you have already been active in this area).

We would be extremely grateful if any of The Gentian readers felt they could pass on their experiences of visiting gardens, parklands, arboretum, specialist nurseries ... in fact any worthy destination within our compass of travel by coach for a day jaunt. We follow up and assess the potential of every offered idea. Messages can be left for us at the admissions desk in the Visitor Centre at Ness.

Thanks in anticipation. Brenda, Wendy and Judith

18 The Gentian Spring 2016 19

What’s On at Ness... www.nessgardens.org.uk What’s On at Ness... www.nessgardens.org.uk

www.nessgardens.org.uk/friends-area

Tuesday 7 June 1–4pm Ladies & Gentlemen Who Lunch & Afternoon Tea – Sweet Tarts and TraybakesTo book, call The Garden Kitchen 0151 353 1573 or in person on your next visit. £12 Friends, £15 non-members.

Sunday 19 June 10am-5pmFather’s Day. Free entry to the Gardens for all dads. Take part in the Garden Kitchen Pale Ale Trail.

Wednesday 6 – Wednesday 13 July 10am-5pmAnn Blake Exhibition. Free entry.

Thursday 7 July 6-9pmFriends’ Summer Walk and Supper Enjoy supper and a leisurely walk after hours around the Garden with gardener and lecturer Andy Lambie. £12 Friends only. Pre-booking essential.

Sunday 10 July 11am-4pm Artists and Makers Fair. Shop for unique items from some of the regions most talented creatives. Free entry.

COURSESWednesday 20 April 1–4pmRHS Level 3: Plant Taxonomy, structure and function 6 weeks £70, no concessions

Thursday 21 April Daytime 9.30-12noon or Evening 6.30-9pmIntroduction to Garden Design 10 weeks. £65 Friends & UoL Staff, £75 non-members

Thursday 21 April 1-3.30pm RHS Level 2: Garden Features, Plant Selection and Planning 6 weeks. £60 Friends & UoL Staff, £65 non-members.

Sunday 24 April 9.30am-4.30pmWild Food Day Foraging and sampling all the wonderful wild foods that abound at this time of year. £45 includes lunch, no concessions.

Saturday 14 May 10am-4pmPlants for Free Take the mystery out of propagating plants, have fun and save yourself some money. £25 Friends & UoL Staff, £30 non-

members.

Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 June 10am–4pmBeginner’s Guide to Woodcarving FULLY BOOKED!If you would like to register on the next

course on 24 and 25 September, please call John White on 07930 332 227. £126 Friends and UoL Staff, £140 non-members.

Saturday 25 June 9.30am-4.30 pmHerb Day Gain insight into the many herbal applications of plants and learn about practical techniques for making the most of garden herbs. £45 includes lunch, no concessions.

Saturday 25 June 10am-4pmSummer Flower PhotographyRegardless of your camera or experience learn how to capture the beauty of flowers and gardens with professional photographer Michael Turner. £45 Friends & UoL Staff, £52 non-members, includes lunch. To book call Michael on 0161 850 4909.

Until Saturday 24 April 10am-5pmNess Botanic Gardens Photography Exhibition 2015 A chance to see the shortlisted and winning images of last year’s competition, free entry.

Friday 25 March - Friday 1 April 10am-5pmEaster chocolate hunt in the Garden!Easter chocolate trail. Gardens admission applies plus £1 for the trail.

Sunday 27 March 1-3pmFriends’ Spring Walk and Lunch Enjoy lunch and a leisurely walk around the Garden with Gardens & Collection Manager Nick Lightfoot. £12 Friends only. Pre-booking essential.

Saturday 2 April - Sunday 17 April Spring Gardening Fortnight Celebrating all things gardening! Activities include: Spring Trail, all fortnight 10am-5pm, normal Garden admission applies. Free family craft activities Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week.

Sunday 3 April 10am-4pmPlant Hunters’ Fair Entry to Fair £1, redeemable on Garden entry. Free to Friends.

Sunday 3 April 2pmGuided Tour with Ted Brabin of the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia & Magnolia Group normal Garden admission applies.

Saturday 16 April 7-9amRSPB Up with the Lark & Breakfast Bird watching with the RSPB followed by full English breakfast in the Garden Kitchen. £10 Friends, £12 non-members.

Sunday 24 April 11am-4pm Artists and Makers Fair shop for unique items from some of the region’s most talented creatives. Free entry.

Tuesday 26 April – Monday 9 May 10am-5pmWirral Potters Exhibition. Free entry.

Sunday 1 (12noon-5pm) & Monday 2 (10am-3.30pm) MayRhododendron Show Come and see the fantastic array of rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias on display. Free entry. (see page 14 for more details).

Tuesday 10 – Tuesday 17 May 9am-5pmHeswall Photographic Society Exhibition Free entry.

Sunday 15 May 10am-5pmNational Garden Scheme Open DayVisit today and we will donate half your admission ticket to the National Garden Scheme.

Saturday 28 May - Sunday 5 June 10am-5pmSwarm to Ness – a week of bee activities especially for half-term. Most activities free, normal Garden admission applies.

BOOKING COURSES

For booking courses and events, call Ness on 0151 795 6300 unless

otherwise stated.For further information go to:

www.nessgardens.org.uk

(Est. 1910)SPECIALIST GROWERS

Ornamental and Amenity TreesRHODOS • AZALEAS • MAPLES

Full Shrub RangeGarden Shop

8.30 am — 5.00 pm DAILYCLOSED SUNDAY

Catalogue on RequestFOREST NURSERY, KELSALL

A54 near TARPORLEY, CHESHIRE CW6 0SWTel: Kelsall 01829 751342

FF.. MMOORRRREEYY && SSOONN

20 The Gentian Spring 2016 21

Lansdowne Road, Stamford bridge, Tarvin, Chester, CH3 8EL

www.turnergroundscare.co.uk

BrIan.Spruce@turnergroundscare.co.uk

Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm

Saturday 8am - 12:30pm

CALL NOW 01829 741797 John Deere Lawn Tractors From £2494.80 Inc. VAT

John Deere Walk behind Mowers From £295.20 Inc. VAT

The Gentian welcomes advertisements. If you would

like to advertise your company, contact the Editor for details of technical requirements for copy and rates. Special rates offered

for repeat advertisements.

www.nessgardens.org.uk/friends-area

For more information on what’s going on or for bookings please contact us on 0161 273 3469 or email us on info@mosaichospitality.com

There are lots of exciting things coming up at the Garden Kitchen this Spring, a few key dates for your diaries:

14th – 28th March – Easter Colouring Competition Children are invited to colour in a Bunny for our ‘Bunny Wall’, prize

for the best entry!

16th April – RSPB up with the Lark & Breakfast Experience nature at its best on this special Spring walk with experts

from the RSPB at hand and enjoy a hearty breakfast!

10-16th May - British Sandwich Week Competition to get your favourite ‘sarnny’ on our menu for the week

19th June – Father’s Day Pale Ale Trail in the Gardens

LADIES & GENTS WHO LUNCH PLUS COOKING LESSON

Tuesday 1pm – 4pm one per month

Our much enjoyed cooking lessons are continuing throughout 2016 and have

kick started the year more popular than ever! Watch our great chefs scrub up a variety of dishes & treats. Don’t forget

the fun part where you can get involved, and did we mention Afternoon Tea is

served also! £12.00 friends/£15.00 public

please contact us on 0151 353 1573 for more information & bookings

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK US OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Mosaic Hospitality/The Garden Kitchen at Ness

@mosaiceventfood

SPRING at

The Garden Kitchen

@theprintroomuk

T. 0151 922 8516

info@theprintroomuk.com

The Printroom provides the very latest large format print solutions. From a simple pop-up banner, to a fitted shell scheme. From the initial consultancy and design process, through to manufacture, assembly, installation and maintenance.

Hundreds of products available atwww.theprintroomuk.com

A Living Legacy Help secure the future of Ness Botanic Gardens...

When you are thinking about making a will, please consider leaving a legacy to the Friends of Ness Gardens, to help secure the long-term future of this lovely place with a gift which will continue to grow.

If you would like to learn more about Ness Gardens, and how a legacy may be used, please call 0151 795 6300 and ask to speak to Matthew Clough.

All discussions will be totally confidential.