Talks
In the winter, we meet for talks on a range of garden related subjects in the comfort of the Wildlife Trust's spacious conference room at 193 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AH. Talks are preceded by tea, coffee and biscuits. Free evening parking is available in the adjacent Abbey Foregate car park. All are welcome: Members free; guests £5 on the door.
Please contact Stephen Packer, Programme Co-ordinator on 07587 176996 or email events@shropshiregardens.org.uk with any queries.
"The Reverend William Gilpin and The Picturesque"
Chris Gallagher
William Gilpin was an English artist, Church of England cleric, schoolmaster and author who is most notable as a travel writer and introducing the concept of the picturesque, with its application to landscapes and its subsequent impact on landscape design.
Christopher Gallagher is a landscape consultant with over thirty years of experience in the UK, specializing in the survey, analysis, conservation, and management of parks and gardens. He has worked with various clients, including the National Trust, English Heritage, and Historic Scotland, advising on a wide range of properties throughout Great Britain and Ireland. In his role as Gardens & Parks Curator with the National Trust from 2002 to 2012, he provided extensive guidance on historic gardens and parks.
"The Language of Flowers: Potted Social Histories"
Julie Smalley
Across cultures and times plants had all sorts of meanings attributed. Mythology, art, literature and even etiquette contained coded messages, some logical and others just plain odd. This form of covert communication is called floriography, and surprisingly still flourishes today.
Julie Smalley has a post-graduate degree and twenty years’ experience in the heritage sector, including excavating and interpreting archaeological sites, leading guided walks and putting on museum exhibitions. She is a published writer with well over a hundred articles in periodicals from local to international.
"Significant plants, their stories and property connections in the National Trust"
Pamela Smith
Pam Smith is a senior expert in horticultural management with extensive experience in the curation of gardens and parks. Her current role is with the National Trust as Senior National Specialist for Garden Management and Access. Pam supports skills development, visitor engagement, and the conservation of historic landscapes. Previous roles include Garden and Parks Advisor in the Midlands region, and Botanical and Heritage Consultant at Sited, where community engagement through botanical heritage was emphasized. As Director of the University of Birmingham Botanic Garden, management included the restoration of a historic garden and public engagement initiatives.
"The Rise and Fall of Worcestershire’s Witley Court"
Ray Sturdy
A truly spectacular palace was created by the Dudley dynasty during Britain’s industrial age. No expense was spared on the construction of the house, grounds and the magnificent unique fountain. The property is now owned by English Heritage.
Based in Worcestershire, UK, Ray Sturdy is a photographer and explorer who has documented his travels around the world for others to enjoy. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
"Peacocks in Paradise: The Story of Hafod"
Stephen Packer
This is the remarkable story of Hafod, the eighteenth-century house built in the Ystwyth Valley of Mid-Wales. Thomas Johnes had a vision of creating a rural idyll amongst the wild hills of west Wales where he and his family would live like ‘peacocks in paradise.’
Stephen Packer is the Chair and Events Organiser for Shropshire Parks and Gardens Trust.
