Previous Speakers and Past Talks

 2015/16

Daisy Days by Stuart Dixon, Lecturer & Broadcaster

Using Roses in the Garden by Michael Marriott, David Austin Roses

Geoffrey Smith Memorial Lecture: A Gardener’s Life by Alan Mason, Garden Designer

Behind the Scenes at Harrogate Flower Show by Nick Smith, Director

Hidden Secrets of Beningbrough Hall and Gardens by Bob Mansfield, Beningbrough Volunteer

York Museum Gardens through the Seasons by Alison Pringle, Curator

Auriculas:  their history and cultivation by Robin Graham, Auricula Specialist

Wicked Plants by Doug Stewart, Garden Lecturer & Broadcaster

A Year at Sledmere by Andy Karavics, Head Gardener

2016/17

Great Dixter Past and Present by Fergus Garrett, CEO & Head Gardener

Geoffrey Smith Memorial Lecture by Matthew Biggs, Garden Designer, Writer & Broadcaster

Wonderful Weeds by Peter Williams, Plant Scientist

Winter Gardening and Seasonal Preserves by Martin Fish, Garden Writer & Lecturer, and Jill Fish, Writer & Cook

A Hardy Planter’s Winter Survival Kit by Don Witton, Hardy Planter & Euphorbia Specialist

Growing and Exhibiting Sweet Peas by Darren Myers, Grower

Favourite Gardens of Yorkshire by Michael Myers, Lecturer, Craven College

Gardening at the Front by Gail Summerfield. Westshores Nurseries

An Oasis in the City by Clive Dawson, Friends of York Cemetery

2017/18

The Merits of Short- as well as Long-flowering Plants by Dr Andrew Ward, Norwell Nurseries

Geoffrey Smith Memorial Lecture: Scarborough’s Parks and Pleasure Grounds by Roger Burnett, Scarborough BC, Parks Department and Britain in Bloom judge

The Autumn Garden by Peter Foley, formerly Holden Clough Nursery

The Drunken Gardener by Doug Stewart, Garden Lecturer & Broadcaster

Gardening Tips and Unusual Garden Facts:  ABCGC open forum

Recent Developments at RHS Harlow Carr by Paul Cook, Curator

Veg my Way by David Metcalf, National Vegetable Society

Gardening using Culinary Herbs by Paul Turner, Garth Cottage Herbs

Gardening on the Radio by Julia Lewis, BBC Radio York

2018/19

The Walled Kitchen Garden at Clumber Park by Chris Margrave, Head Gardener

Geoffrey Smith Memorial Lecture: Memories of my Father by Caroline Smith

Old Site, New Gardens by Alison Pringle, Curator, York Museum Gardens

Gardening for Wildlife by Andy Rayner, RSPB Aire Valley Learning Officer

The Changing Faces of NT Gardens in York by Sam Shipman, Head Gardener, York Area

Camassia, Chris, Chelsea and Chaos by Stella Exley, Hare Spring Cottage Plants

Four Seasons at Slack Top Alpine Nursery by Michael Mitchell, Slack Top Nursery

My Gardening Landscape Journey from ABC to Chelsea by Mark Gregory, Landscape Designer

2019/20

An Introduction to Japanese Gardens by Andy Bolton, Chairman, Japanese Garden Society

Geoffrey Smith Memorial Lecture: Growing Perennial Meadow Orchids by Jeff Hutchings, Laneside Hardy Orchids

An Introduction to Georgian Gardens by Louise Wickham, Yorkshire Gardens Trust

York Gate through the Seasons and Plans for 2020 by Ben Preston, Head Gardener

Unnatural Gardening by Peter Williams, Plant Scientist

Spring Fever by Anne Wright, Dryad Nurseries
Victorian Gardens by Louise Wickham, Yorkshire Gardens Trust

2020/21 Zoom Meetings

The Making of a Memorial Garden at Littlethorpe Manor by Eddie Harland, Head Gardener

Not just Native:  embrace the exotic in our gardens by Andrew Fisher Tomlin, Director, London College of Garden Design

Creating and Planting a Cottage Garden by Andrew Oldham, Life on Pig Row

All Muck and Magic by Geoff Hodge, Garden Writer & Broadcaster