CGS Garden Visits Weekend and AGM, 2010

This year the Society will be holding its AGM in Cheshire, at Ness Botanic Gardens, on Sunday 20th June.

As last year, the plan is to have a garden visits weekend, so Clive Lane will be opening his garden (Brandon, Ravenshall, Betley Cheshire CW3 9BH) on Saturday from 11 am – 5 pm, as will

CGS members Janet and Martin Blow (Special Perennials, Yew Tree House, Hall Lane, Hankelow, Crewe, Cheshire, CW3 0JB).

Any members are welcome to visit these gardens, regardless of whether they will be attending the AGM.

Most members of the National Committee will be staying at The Ship Hotel in Parkgate on Saturday (The Parade, Parkgate, Wirral CH64 6SA: website) and will be dining there that evening.

Members are very welcome to join us for dinner at 7 pm. The meal will be sit-down buffet with salmon, quiches and salads, pudding and coffee for £13.50.
Anybody wishing to come should send a cheque to Caroline Harcourt.

There will be rooms available at The Ship (if you’re quick) and there are also numerous other places to stay in the area. Caroline can help with suggestions if needed (write, email, or phone in the evening), but members will have to book and pay for themselves.

For those with computers, a useful website is this one.

Clive Lane will open his garden from 11 am -5 pm. There will be no entry charge and CGS merchandise will be for sale.
Special Perennials nursery and garden will also be open from 11 am -5pm.   Entry free to CGS members (please bring your membership card for free entry and plant discount).

Non-members £2.50.   Tea/coffee and biscuits will be available for £1.

A flyer about the nursery will be sent to all members who are attending the AGM.
website

Other large gardens in the area include:

Dorothy Clive Garden, Willoughbridge, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 4EU. website

Bridgemere Nursery and Garden World, Bridgemere, Nr. Nantwich, Cheshire
CW5 7QB. website

Stapley Water Gardens, London Road, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 7LH. website

The AGM will take place in the Visitor Centre in Ness Botanic Gardens, Ness, Neston, South Wirral, CH64 4AY on Sunday 20th June.

As last year, there will be a charge of £5 to contribute towards the cost of the speaker and the coffee and biscuits before the meeting.

In addition, a buffet lunch will be available at £5.50 per head.

Alternatively, members can picnic in the garden, choose their own meal in Ness Garden’s café or eat at nearby pubs. As well as the café, Ness has a gift shop and a plant nursery.

The programme is as follows:
10.00-10.30: Arrival, coffee, tea and biscuits

10.30-11.15 Presidential address by Nick Hamilton (if he is available) and AGM

11.15-12.30: Illustrated talk by Bob Brown “New Varieties of Old Plants”

12.30-13.30: A buffet lunch to be served in the conservatory. This must be booked and paid for in advance – see the booking form.

13.30 onwards: Visit Ness Botanic Gardens. There will be an entry charge of £5.25, to be paid on the day, for those wishing to visit the gardens.