the gentian - university of liverpoolchapman, andrea harman, fiona harrison, dilys court. design:...

The GentianThe Newsletter for Members of Ness Botanic Gardensformerly the Newsletter for the Friends of Ness Gardens

ISSUE 252 SPRING 2020

Ness Botanic Gardens, Neston Road,Ness, Cheshire. CH64 4AYT 0151 795 6300Email [email protected] Website www.liverpool.ac.uk/ness-gardens

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

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

Global Challenges ............................................................................ 4-5

Research .................................................................................................................... 6

The Plant Hunters ................................................................................. 7

A New for Ness ................................................................................. 8-9

The Botanic Kitchen .......................................................... 10-11

Hedgehog Update ............................................................... 12-13

Cheshire Gardens Trust ............................................. 14-15

Coach Trips ......................................................................................... 16-17

Members’ News .................................................................................... 18

What’s On ........................................................................................... 19-21

ContentsISSUE 252 SPRING 2020

Editorial Board: Matthew Clough, Zoë Chapman, Andrea Harman, Fiona Harrison, Dilys Court.

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

Cover picture: The Crocus Lawn Jon Grimshaw. Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Ness Botanic Gardens.

Material for the next issue should reach the editor by 14 June 2020. Email [email protected]

University of Liverpool, Ness Botanic Gardens Tel 0151 795 6300Website: www.liverpool.ac.uk/ness-gardens Email: [email protected]

Editor’s welcomeAs we emerge from a chill and very wet winter, it is good to welcome you to this spring issue of The Gentian. We have had an excellent display of snowdrops at Ness, followed by the crocus lawn (see front cover) and now the spring shrubs are bursting into flower – a really good time to take a walk around the gardens. If you wander further afield you will find our new laboratory building down by the global warming tanks; a short article (page 6) explains the significance of the structure. There have also been developments in the Upper Garden and Jess, our WilderNess technician, explains the conversion from overflow carpark to a wildflower meadow (page 8).

We also bring you an informative article about the Cheshire Gardens Trust – an eye-opener on an organisation serving a most important role in publicising gardens, great and small, across our communities which may be threatened by development – do search their website and access their newsletter.

As the season moves on, Ness brings a full and varied programme of events and new this year is the Ness Flower & Vegetable Show to be held in August – start planning your entries now! We also host the local group shows of the Alpine Garden Society and the Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group. Do come along, take part and get involved. Ness is a great place to be!

Fiona HarrisonEditor

Spring 2020

POSTPONED UNTIL 2021

2 The Gentian Spring 2020 3

In the Gardens Mike Roberts, HBGTP traineeFrom the Director’s Chair Matthew Clough

Dear Members,

You may not be aware that Ness is a member of the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme. Run by VisitEngland the scheme involves an annual detailed review of the visitor experience and a report with recommendations. Zoë and her team work hard throughout the year to implement improvements, one area of recent focus has been improving information for café users. We currently have a VAQAS score of 87% and are still working on those extra changes which will improve services and get us to our 90% target. You can find out more about the scheme at https://www.visitenglandassessmentservices.com/our-schemes/visitor-attractions/

We are preparing to open the new building installed on the Brian Moss Mesocosm site. This interesting project was a happy co-incidence of two University research

programmes (see page 6). You can find out more about the research on this technology at https://www.trada.co.uk/news/liverpool-university-school-of-engineering/

Finally, we are very aware that the new entry gates do not perform well for visitors using paper tickets. We are going to be upgrading the gates shortly with readers which should overcome this problem and make the entry process much smoother. As members you can use your card to gain access to the Gardens via the side gate during the permitted out-of-hours periods.

We look forward to welcoming you all to the gardens across the spring and summer months. Keep checking our website and social media feeds, which will provide useful information about upcoming events.

Matthew CloughDirector, Ness Botanic Gardens

MY name is Mike and I am currently the HBGTP trainee on site at Ness. HBGTP stands for Historic and Botanic Gardens Training Programme, and is a scheme set up by English Heritage to address the perceived skills shortage in the horticultural industry. The scheme aims to ensure that a new generation of gardeners is equipped with the horticultural knowledge to keep historic and botanic gardens looking great, and their collections maintained to a high standard.

My journey towards horticulture wasn’t exactly straightforward. I’d had a few office jobs after university, but I usually found myself staring out of the window wishing I was outside! I found myself at a bit of a loose end, but I had a vague idea that I would like to become more acquainted with the natural world. This led me to volunteering at the National Wildflower Centre in Liverpool. The centre has sadly since closed down, but my time there was a revelation. I fell in love with plants and wanted to learn as much as I could. Volunteering at Liverpool Museum’s herbarium followed, as did studying for the RHS Level 2 under Andy Lambie here at Ness. It was during my time working as a community gardener

in Toxteth, Liverpool that I gained a place on the HBGTP programme, shadowing Ness’s gardeners for a whole year and essentially learning how to be a horticulturalist.

It has been a very immersive experience so far, and I am having a fantastic time. The gardening team have been great – both generous with their knowledge and very patient (so far, they have twice had to send rescue parties to tow me out of

muddy patches!) Vehicular mishaps aside, my time here has been invaluable. I have driven tractors, been trained on a wide array of essential horticultural tools and carried out an audit of the ferns growing at Ness, all with spring and summer still to come. Every week, Head Gardener

Phil sets me at least 10 plants per week that I am to identify, mandatory for all trainees, providing me with a good working knowledge which will put me in good stead when I start applying for gardening jobs.

I will be at Ness until September 2020, so please do say ‘Hello’ if you see me trying not to jack-knife a trailer somewhere in the garden!

Ness Flower & Vegetable Show! 15th August 2020

Get growing and get creating! Come and join us this August for some horticultural and creative fun! Exciting prizes to be won.

More details to follow on our website but for now, get the date in your diaries and start thinking which categories you would like to enter!Categories include: Fruit and Vegetables, Baking and Preserves, Flowers and Plants, Children’s Crafts, Photography & Handicraft.

Free to enter for Members of

Ness Botanic Gardens and Ness volunteers.

Or call: 0151 795 6300Visit: liverpool.ac.uk/ness-gardens/whats-on

(small charge for non-members)

Falling in love with plants is what has brought me to Ness

Spring 2020 54 The Gentian

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SOME members of the Ness Education team, Rose and Becky, were fortunate to be able to attend sessions at the 2019 BGEN conference (Botanic Gardens Education Network) held at Kew Gardens. Each year this event brings together a diverse range of plant educators to develop new skills and share good practice.

In 2019 the theme was to encourage ways of communicating to our audiences the UN Sustainable Development Goals ‘a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all’. Follow this link for more information: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300

Highlights included a tour of the Millennium

Seed Bank at Wakehurst - seeing the substantial vaults and meeting the scientists working their way through collecting, preparing, verifying and banking seeds (and training other countries’ in-situ scientists) from all regions of the world. Of a huge number of plants which are edible, only a handful make up most of our diet. Kew, science-rich and rigorous with data, can tackle threats to plants by encouraging the use of novel and biodiverse foods for the future.

Kew’s director noted that botanic gardens must be seen to have contemporary

relevance in helping address global challenges, ‘Properly informed public make better decisions’, and need to be evidentially sound (i.e. a trusted source of information). Global food security solutions need to be informed by what we should be eating against what we are actually eating.

My personal highlight was the visit to Kew’s Fungarium. Its curator, Lee Davies, was most inspirational, and I am a total fungi convert! Fungi are Jekyll and Hyde characters, being the most constructive/destructive organisms on earth. More closely related to animals, fungi are being found to affect every part of life from the inner workings of plants and the potential for solutions in medicine, breaking down waste, growth in deserts/areas of high salinity. We have merely scraped the surface of naming the huge numbers of fungi in every particle of soil etc.

To round off the conference we were introduced to the ‘Chef’s Manifesto’. Using gastronomy to promote more diverse food systems, chefs throughout the world are signing up to ‘Food forever’, being advocates of inclusion of new ingredients on menus and speaking about issues. The Chefs’ coordinator stated ‘the choice of a wide range of plants’ genetic traits can help us adapt to changing climate ensuring farmers’ livelihoods and promoting better nutrition’.

With three meals a day, we have three food decisions; our choice connects us across

cultures, inspires conversations and brings people together. Food is a powerful way of spreading ideas, its messages leading to public action: eat less meat to prevent global temperature rises above 1.5ºC; nose-to-tail menus; wise-up on waste. Chefs set food trends and showcase ingredients. The focus is on plant-based, local and seasonal, using ingredients grown respecting the environment. So far193 countries have signed up to tackle food system challenges – undernutrition, food waste, soil degradation.

We came away from the event reinvigorated. Making friends and sharing tips with other educators, these sessions are vital in demonstrating that no problem is insurmountable. Each organisation has challenges but shared knowledge is key.

Global challenges: ‘Securing our Future’ at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Becky Ford

Discovering the changes we all need to make to ensure there will be enough on our plates

Scientists working at the Millennium Seed Bank - Wakehurst

Interpretation panel at Millennium Seedbank - Wakehurst


Research Dr Stew Plaistow and Dr Dan Bradley The Plant hunters: Reginald Farrer (1880-1920) Nick Lightfoot

SUPPORTING research projects that focus on conserving plant and animal biodiversity is a key strategic objective for Ness. The Brian Moss Aquatic Mesocosm Facility is one of Europe’s largest, most technologically advanced facilities for investigating environmental impacts on freshwaters. The facility has undergone extensive renovation thanks to a £1.3m Natural Environment Research Council grant awarded to Dr Stew Plaistow from the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Integrative Biology. But the facility lacked a laboratory space for processing samples on site. So when Dr Dan Bradley from the School of Engineering approached Matthew Clough, Director of Ness Botanic Gardens, to ask if they could build a prototype adhesive-free timber building at Ness, Matthew realised the potential to link two ‘green’ projects.

The construction industry needs innovative alternatives to steel and concrete to meet demanding targets for reducing its environmental impact, Timber construction offers huge savings in cost, weight and carbon emissions. Timber is also one of the very few industrial materials that can be 100% sustainable.

The Adhesive-Free Timber Buildings (AFTB) project with lead investigator Dr Zhongwei Guan, is supported by a €4.8M European Regional Development Agency grant awarded to partners from England, Ireland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. The aim of the project was to develop a 100%-timber building system, characterise its structural properties, and demonstrate its utility for the construction industry.

The AFTB system uses beams, panels and connections bonded with densified wooden dowels, replacing the glue that is conventionally used. A heated hydraulic press compresses cheap, sustainably-harvested timber. This generates a product that is stronger than tropical hardwoods and performs as well as steel for many construction applications. The project has produced three ‘demonstrator’ structures using the technology in Epinal,

France; Dresden, Germany and here at Ness. The Ness structure is the only one designed to be used as a functional workspace and is the first building in the world to be constructed using this compressed wood technology!

Demonstrators are critically important in the construction industry; they reassure potential end-users that the technology is safe and acceptable to building regulators. Local businesses, SticX Ltd and Cunliffe’s Architects worked with the University to design and deliver

the structure. It will be used primarily as a research and teaching laboratory. The building will also generate research data as sensors measure structural performance over time.

For more information on the timber project please see www.nweurope.eu/AFTB or Twitter @AFTBuildings

In the second of a short series of articles on the plant hunters with links to Ness, Nick Lightfoot (Garden & Collections Manager) explores the career of Reginald Farrer.

Early LifeReginald Farrer was an energetic and colourful character who grew up in a well-to-do family at Ingleborough Hall in Yorkshire. Interested in alpine plants from an early age, he travelled extensively in the Alps, dispatching plants back to the nursery he set up near Ingleborough – Craven Nursery. Travels further afield included to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), where he converted to Buddhism.

My Rock GardenFarrer was a leading figure in Edwardian alpine gardening and wrote tirelessly. He also wrote well, and his most popular book, My Rock Garden (1907), turned him into a celebrity. For example, of the Gentian he writes ‘no flowers of the rock garden give me more pleasure and more pain than the Gentians; pleasure when they do well, pain when they, so much more frequently, do ill’ and ‘if a Gentian is cross, cross it will stay’!

Farrer and BulleyAs detailed in Brenda McLean’s book A Pioneering Plantsman, Reginald Farrer and Arthur Bulley had a fragile relationship. Bulley part-funded Farrer’s collecting trips to China and north-east Burma in 1914/15 and 1919/20, but Bulley and Farrer bargained hard and payments sometimes arrived late. On other occasions their relationship was more amicable. Bulley visited Ingleborough, and in May 1917 Farrer visited Ness – Farrer writing letters on Ness-headed notepaper from the desk in the drawing room in Mickwell Brow.

Luminous lovelinessFarrer introduced a number of plants that remain popular today. These include Viburnum farerri, described by Farrer with typical exuberance as ‘the most glorious of shrubs’ and by Bean*, with more circumspection, as ‘the best midwinter blossoming shrub introduced since the advent of

Hamamelis mollis’ – together with V. grandiflorum, introduced by Cooper it is one of the parents of the V. x bodnantense cultivars. At Ness we have a number of V. farerri planted, for example in the Specimen Area.

Perhaps the plant most associated with Farrer is Gentiana farreri. Farrer thought it a ‘marvel of luminous loveliness’ and I think most of our visitors would agree – at Ness it is planted in one of the stone troughs outside the Alpine House, where it is looked after in partnership with volunteers from the Wirral and West Cheshire branch of the Alpine Garden Society.

References

J. T. Aitkin ‘Reginald Farrer, the man and his heritage’ in the Quarterly Bulletin of the Alpine Garden Society, Volume 60, No. 3, 1992

Reginald Farrer, My Rock Garden (London: Edward Arnold, 1920-6th Impression)

Brenda McLean, A pioneering plantsman: A K Bulley and the great plant hunters (London: The Stationery Office, 1997)*Trees and Shrubs Online (https://treesandshrubsonline…org/)

A most unusual building... Farrer’s ‘marvel of luminous loveliness’Ilex linii berries

New garden-office at the Brian Moss Aquatic mesocosm facility. Photo Dr Stew Plaistow

Diagram showing the assembly of the innovative all-timber connection system


A New Meadow for Ness Jessica Mehers, Garden Technician for the WilderNess Area

SOME of you may have noticed that in the past three years we have not regularly mown the main patch of grass in the Upper Garden. This area boasts the finest views in the garden, but it was previously cut throughout the growing season so that it could be used for additional car parking during events. However, as it was so rarely used for parking (and as we have places in other fields available for our busiest days), we decided that the space could be better used.

Meadows are a rare natural habitat, created by fires and grazing by large herbivores. Many more exist as man-made habitat of actively

managed grasslands, with the most species-rich receiving little fertiliser. Such meadows are full of flowers and insects and were common before the Second World War throughout lowland Britain, but in the past 75 years, over 95% of our meadows have been lost. Increased agricultural

productivity through ploughing, drainage, fertiliser and herbicide application, and early cutting for silage means that species-poor rye grass-dominated fields have replaced the traditional species-rich meadows. These changes in farming practices alongside a lack of public awareness and protection have resulted in the loss of 7.5 million acres of meadow in less than a century. Meadows and other species-rich grasslands now cover less

than 1% of the UK. Thus, all new meadows that can be created are helpful to restoring habitats.

Our original meadow was created in the Lower Garden back in 2008. It was made by deep ploughing to 90cm. This exposed the infertile subsoil which was then sown with native meadow flowers. If it had not been ploughed the upper layer of soil would have been too nutrient-rich for the wildflowers to establish. Low fertility helps wildflowers grow by reducing the vigour of grasses and unwanted weeds that would otherwise out-compete the flowers. Unlike the very fertile clay loam of the Lower Garden, the soil at the top of the Upper Garden is thin, sandy and low in nutrients and therefore just perfect for native meadow plants. So, as we naturally have ideal growing conditions in the Upper Garden, we decided to create a new ‘Upper’ Meadow to complement our existing ‘Lower’ Meadow.

Meadows not only look very pretty, they also support a huge range of wildlife. As well as native wildflowers and grasses they are important habitats for fungi, bees, flies, beetles, spiders, moths, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, bats and birds and here at Ness we are aiming to make the garden as wildlife friendly as possible. Our Lower Meadow now contains over 75 different native plant species. The number has increased from the 23 species originally sown through a mix of natural colonisation and help from our wildlife volunteer group. They have sown and planted new species over the years, adding greatly to the diversity of the meadow. The volunteers have also

monitored the progress of the meadow by regular wildlife recording. Easily recognised plants to look out for include Cowslip, Oxeye Daisy, Knapweed and Yellow Rattle. Many interesting invertebrates are found in the Lower Meadow too nowadays. It is great for all sorts of pollinators and it is an especially important habitat for butterflies and moths, including Wall Brown and the Five

Spot Burnet Moth. We are also very lucky to have Harvest Mice in the garden (we regularly find their woven grass nests) and have visiting Barn Owls and other raptors that hunt in the long grass.

We started our new meadow creation process

back in 2017... we didn’t cut the grass! At least not until the end of the summer. The long grass attracted a lot of invertebrates and it was great for butterfly net practice during our Mini BioBlitz that year. But, management by mowing or grazing is essential to the balance and diversity in meadow grassland. Without management stronger grasses and more competitive weed species take over and eventually a meadow will turn into scrub then woodland. So, all meadows are cut at some point through the summer. The resulting hay is left to dry on the meadow which allows seeds to drop. Once it is dried it is removed and used to feed livestock through the winter. Removing the hay decreases the fertility of the soil. Often meadows are used for grazing animals in autumn which helps flower diversity by reducing grass vigour even more, but sadly stock grazing is not always practical! As we don’t have

any sheep or cattle our meadows have been mown and then disced. Discing is where a tractor drags thin blades through the upper surface of the soil to disturb the grass roots.

To further increase the number of native species in the Upper Meadow we have transferred fresh cut hay from the Lower Meadow and spread it about, in order to encourage seed dispersion. We also sowed a native wildflower meadow mix designed for sandy soils and this included seeds for assorted flowers including Yarrow, Wild Carrot, Birdsfoot Trefoil and Clover as well as native grasses such as Crested Dogstail and Smaller Cat’s-tail.

There are encouraging signs of greater diversity in our new meadow already. Last year we had lots of new Yellow Rattle growing. This is a wonderful plant for meadows as it is semi-parasitic on grasses and it helps other wildflowers to get a foothold by reducing the competition from the vigorous grasses. As time goes by we

will keep monitoring the meadow and hopefully more and more native species will establish themselves there.

We are most grateful to all the volunteers who have helped create the new meadow and we hope it continues to provide a wildlife haven over the years to come. Please do go up to see it!

Turning the hay in the Upper Meadow.

Small Copper Butterfly. Photo Barbara Allen

Cowslips in the Lower Meadow

An occasional car park takes on a beautiful diverse new life

Site of the original Ness

Meadow

Site of the new Ness Meadow


The Botanic Kitchen

NEW faces at Ness Paul Mellor- Cross and Danny Yates have a

discerning - and hungry - audience to please. Paul is the Botanic Kitchen’s new General Manager, while Danny is filling the role of Sous Chef. As they have accepted the challenge of satisfying appetites sharpened by 64 acres of exercise in all weathers, we find out more about their plans...

PAUL MELLOR-CROSS, (LEFT) WAS FIRST UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT’S GLARE:

Tell us a bit about your professional background

“I have over 20 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, starting as a Kitchen Porter at my local pub. I quickly developed a passion for great food and great service, worked my way up the ranks in kitchens, and went on to front-of-house management before running my own gastro-pub for a number of years. Most recently I have worked in business and industry contract catering, where I delivered food service for over 1,000 people each day.”

Who is your food hero?

“Keith Floyd, without a doubt. I love his rustic cooking style. And something about his authenticity and

eccentricity really appeals to me...make what you will of that!”

What attracted you to your new role at the Botanic Kitchen?

“I’m a passionate foodie and love seeing people enjoy fantastic food and service. The beautiful gardens at Ness provide so many opportunities; from serving home-grown, freshly picked produce in the café, to using the show-stopping gardens as a venue for weddings and other special events.”

DANNY YATES, SOUS CHEF (RIGHT):

Tell us a bit about yourself

“I began17 years ago, when I trained as a chef at the Mere Golf Club in Knutsford. For most of my career I have worked in prestigious golf clubs, hotels and restaurants delivering daily service and catering for large weddings and events. After working in Australia for a year, I moved back to the UK and worked in business and industry contract catering, where I was responsible

for delivering catering services for companies such as Amazon and AO.com.”

Who is your food hero?

“I would have to say Rick Stein. I love his passion for good food and travel, and his series ‘Seafood Odyssey’ inspired me at a young age to experiment with different cuisines. In fact, it was largely what drove me to move to Australia for a year, so I could experience working in a location famous for its amazing seafood and fusion cuisine.”

What attracted you to the Botanic Kitchen?

“The variety of the role is fantastic. I’m really looking forward to working with quality, locally sourced produce and being able to exercise lots of flair and creativity when

planning and delivering menus for weddings and events.”

• For reservations or to find out more, contact Paul Mellor-Cross on 0151 353 1573 or email [email protected]

• To find out more about Ness weddings and events, call 0151 795 6313 or email [email protected]

• Follow us on Instagram @nessbotanickitchen

Meet the men whose job it is to put

Rolan

The Botanic Kitchen has two new team members. As we welcome the start of spring, we find out more about the people who will be tickling our tastebuds

A FOND farewell to Susannah, who headed up the Botanic Kitchen for several years. We wish her well with the next stage of her career with Baxter Storey.

Delicious Pancetta & Parmesan SconesTHIS modern twist on the traditional cheese scone is a great way to use up leftover pancetta and has fast become the Botanic Kitchen’s favourite scone variety.

Ingredients:

200g self-raising flour; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 80g butter, cubed; 150ml milk;1 egg; 1 tbs olive oil; 100g Pancetta, diced; zest of 1/2 a lemon; 40g grated Parmesan

Method:

• Pre-heat your oven to 180ºC / Gas Mk 4

• Combine the flour and baking powder in a large mixing bowl then rub in butter until the mixture has a breadcrumb-like texture.

• Cook the pancetta in a dry frying pan until browned but not crispy, and set aside.

• Mix the egg, milk and oil in a jug then slowly add the egg mix to the bowl, mixing until the dough has a sticky consistency.

• Add the parmesan and pancetta and give it a really good mix.

• Lightly grease a muffin tray, spoon the mixture in evenly and flatten the tops down.

• Bake for around 20-25 mins.

Chefs’ tips

Stick a wooden skewer in the centre of it to check whether they are ready. If it comes out clean they are done. Want to step it up a notch? Top your scones with cream cheese, a slice of pancetta grilled until crisp, and some fresh chives.

a smile on our plates

Danny watches as Head Chef, Phil Milnes adds the finishing touches


THE RHS Rhododendron, Camellia & Magnolia Group, North West England & North Wales Branch is holding its annual Rhododendron Show on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 May 2020 in the Bulley Room at Ness Botanic Gardens.At this time of year, a wander round your garden will reveal lots of swelling buds on your Rhododendrons, Camellias and Magnolias, full of eastern (and sometimes western) promise. The majority flower in April and May, just in time for our annual show. Exhibits are welcomed from anyone - you do not have to be a member of any of the various groups, all you need is a fine specimen, which speaks for itself. If you don’t know what variety or species you have it does not matter, someone at the show will know which group to put it in.

The two main considerations are that the flower should be fully out and have as little weather

damage as possible – the latter is sometimes difficult to arrange. All the vases are provided and there is no charge either to exhibit or just to have a look at the beauty of the flowers.

Setting up will be from 9.30-11am on Saturday 2 May, judging from 11am to noon, after which all visitors are welcome. On Sunday 3 May the show will be open from 10am to 3.30pm.

We will be delighted to see you in the Bulley Room and even more delighted if you bring an exhibit or two (or even three). You might be surprised at how many novices win prizes!

Any queries, call Ted on 0151 353 1193.

THERE has been a great deal of hedgehog-related activity over the last few months, and the biggest news is that the University of Liverpool was awarded Bronze Accreditation in the national Hedgehog Friendly Campus scheme, one of 23 UK universities to achieve the accolade. The award recognises the hard work involved in raising awareness and improving the local environment for our prickly pals. The project comprises staff, students and volunteers from across the university and the certificate is now on display in the Visitor Centre at Ness. Work will now begin on planning the work necessary to achieve the Silver Accreditation in 2020-2021.

As part of the project, Ness hosted a Hedgehog Weekend in January, which included a range of events including a family-focussed Helping Hedgehogs workshop, a First Aid for

Hedgehogs session, a workshop looking at how to build a simple hedgehog feeder and children’s crafts. Wirral Animal Sanctuary joined us across the weekend dispensing hedgehog advice and on Sunday afternoon the Members Lecture was taken by Hugh Warwick, who spoke eloquently (and entertainingly!) to a full-to-bursting Lecture Theatre audience about the plight of the hedgehog and what we can do to help them. Please do keep a look out for more events over the coming months.

As hedgehogs rouse from their hibernation, now is an excellent time to get your garden ready for our prickly pals. Placing food and water out for them, ensuring your garden has ‘Hedgehog Highways’ and leaving a wild area in your garden are all invaluable to hedgehogs.

To get involved in the project or to find out more, contact the University of Liverpool’s Hedgehog Champion, Zoë Chapman by emailing [email protected]. We are also on Twitter @HogLiv.

Wirral Animal Sanctuary can be found online and across social media platforms: https://wirralanimalsanctuary.co.uk/wildlife

Rhododendron Society Show

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Hedgehogs Zoë Chapman, University of Liverpool Hedgehog Champion

Have a welcome waiting for hedgehogs as they wake from winter sleep

Pic: Stuart Robinson


Cheshire Gardens Trust Ed Bennis, Chairman

An organisation which is low in profile - but high on actionTHERE is a good chance that you have not heard of the Cheshire Gardens Trust, although it has been around for 15 years and has around 160 members. While it was one of the last county garden trusts to be established (there is one in every county of England), it is amazingly active and has been recognised for its high quality work from the national association, The Gardens Trust.

So what does it do, and what has it achieved? Most members see the visits and talks as their main reason for joining. These take you into many gardens that are not always easily accessible and tours with the owners and gardeners give a ‘behind the scenes’ view. Visits usually run from April to September, while talks run through the winter. Have a look at our website under Events and you will get a better idea. We cover the historic county of Cheshire, including the whole of the Wirral; but we also have had garden visits to Belgium, Germany, Portugal and Sweden!

Another side of The Trust is about researching

and recording information on Cheshire’s historic designed parks and gardens. This is a key activity as The Trust wishes to conserve the best and most important parks and gardens. The research is important in that it provides the information to challenge proposals that might affect the county’s gardens in an inappropriate way. This has led members to be involved in pre-planning applications, and to respond to planning applications and Local Neighbourhood Plans. There are constant proposals to Historic England’s (formerly English Heritage) list of protected

parks and gardens, some good and some not so good. The Trust has had a good level of success in persuading some owners to modify their proposals, or to raise objections to planning applications. Sometimes the authorities even listen to us! We work closely with The Gardens Trust on protected properties; however, a study in the 1990s identified in excess of 400 potential parks and gardens of historic value in Cheshire and very few are protected.

Developing from our members’ research and interest, there have been publications on the landscape gardener Edward Kemp and the Caldwell Nurseries. Kemp was the director of works for Birkenhead Park in the mid-1800s where he eventually lived and set up his office. While he did many gardens and parks he is also known for his book How to Lay Out a Garden which was popular here and in the United States. The Caldwell Nurseries were based in Knutsford for over 200 years and left a set of account ledgers which have been digitised by volunteers. This has resulted in many exhibitions and a publication. Our interest in Caldwell also led The Trust to design and build a major show

garden at RHS Tatton which was awarded a silver medal.

Our most recent venture is a joint undertaking with Ness Botanic Gardens. For the first time last year, we offered a travel bursary for students and staff at Ness. Two bursaries were awarded and articles by the winners appeared in The Gentian and Cheshire Gardens Trust newsletter. Emma Rhodes gave a brilliant presentation on her visits to Heligan and the Eden Project. We are looking forward to this year’s applications after such a successful start.

Cheshire Gardens Trust is a registered charity and has no paid employees so all funds, mostly raised from membership fees and visits, go to support the work of The Trust: protecting, conserving, researching, and promoting the parks and gardens of the county, both new and old. Check out the website www.cheshire-gardens-trust.org.uk

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Saturday 21 March 2020 10.30am for 11am

Talk by Simon Gulliver on John Claudius Loudon & Jane Webb, The Hall at Marthall, Sandlebridge

Lane, Marthall, Knutsford, WA16 7SB.

Wednesday 22 April, 5-8.30pm

Buffet, AGM and talk by Margie Hoffnung from The Gardens Trust, Worleston Village Hall, Main Road, Worleston, Nantwich, CW5 6DN (between Middlewich and Nantwich).

Tuesday 22 May 2-4pm

Visit to Manley Knoll, Manley, Cheshire, WA6 9DX (south of Frodsham), an arts and crafts garden with a quarry and rhododendrons.

Thursday 4 June 2-4pm Visit to Tattenhall Hall, High Street Tattenhall, CH3 9PX, (South of Chester) a wonderful summer garden.

RHS Tatton Show 2012 CGT Garden

Cholmondelely Castle Gardens Sofiero Castle, near Malmo

Dibleys Nurseries


Coach Trips Kate Hotson

MAY 2019, the start of our annual coach trip programme. Our first adventure took us to Birmingham, visiting Castle Bromwich Hall and Gardens with an afternoon visit to Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

We found Castle Bromwich Hall and Gardens at the end of an extremely narrow cul-de-sac, we were all unsure of what lay before us but how pleasantly surprised we were. Greeted by a team of volunteers we were guided into the tearoom for refreshments and an

introduction to our garden guides. After exploring the beautiful gardens and watching the planes soar over our heads we continued to Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The gardens were a hive of activity which featured a music concert on the lawn, meandering school groups and Primark the company designing and planting borders. The Glass Houses were stunning with tropical plants, palms, tree ferns, citrus plants and an

extensive collection of exotic Cacti.

Our next trip took place in June, once again our journey took us to Birmingham where we visited the NEC for BBC Gardeners World and an audience with Monty Don. Huge displays of fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants of all descriptions greeted us and we were given inside knowledge by every stall holder and grower that we met. Lots of plants and garden niceties were purchased whilst Monty provided us with witty stories, telling us all about his life with Nigel

and Nelly at Longmeadow, allowing us to rest our tired feet. The BBC Good Food Show was taking place next door and we were able to sample every type of food available including scrumptious cakes, cheese and of course the obligatory gin! Definitely making the journey home that much quieter whilst we all snoozed away.

Our July visit was to Newby Hall in Yorkshire, designed by Christopher Wren. The long sweeping driveway led to a stunning Hall, the most beautiful herbaceous borders bursting with scents and colours, an outstanding Salvia collection, a miniature train, Gyles Brandreth’s teddy bear exhibition, the best adventure playground that we have ever seen – the accompanying Ness staff loved it! Added to this an excellent sculpture exhibition with ornate pieces dotted around the gardens. The tour of the Hall was led by an extremely knowledgeable guide who answered our questions with passionate expertise, taking time to explain and acknowledge questions that they must hear day in, day out.

Before leaving, we had time to explore the plant sales area finding many rare and hidden treasures. Newby proved to be one of the most outstanding venues of this year’s programme and we will definitely return to this “Garden for all Seasons”.

August took us to Shrewsbury Flower Show, the heavens opened during our journey albeit the first wet day of our trips! Shrewsbury offered something

for everyone, shopping, plants, trees, fabulous floral displays, show gardens, food halls, craft marquees, even a military band! The sun shone and we had another fantastic day. Once again, the coaches were full of

lots of goodies purchased during the show.

The trip in September was to a Ness favourite, RHS Harlow Carr. Full of seasonal colour, Herbaceous borders full of late flowering Echinacea, Rudbeckia and an array of grasses. A wonderful day out during any season but especially spectacular during the autumn. Betty’s Tearoom looked after us and the cake was to die for.

Our final trip of 2019 was our Christmas extravaganza to Chatsworth, a crisp, cold day with glorious winter sunshine framing the magnificent Cascade, Emperor Fountain and endless gardens. The house bedecked with

decorations in the theme of “around the world in 80 days” with a multitude of glittering Christmas trees made even the most cynical visitor feel like a child again. Our largest trip of the programme allowed over 160 of our Members to enjoy everything that Chatsworth could possibly offer. The vast

festive market proved popular and perfect for that last-minute gift.

We would like to thank you all for supporting the coach trip programme and do hope that you have all enjoyed our visits as much as we have. Over 500 of you booked places on our trips and we were only able to accommodate these numbers due to the support of the Ness Botanic Garden team who chaperoned each and every trip. Special thanks must be made to Brenda Marshall for her help and advice and for passing on the baton, and also to Judith Wheat for her continued support and for keeping us organised and on time.

We look forward to welcoming you on board our 2020 programme, enclosed with this issue of The Gentian.

Wonderful gardens and stunning displays

Newby Hall Teddy bear’s picnic, Phil Kay

Newby Hall borders, Phil Kay

Shrewsbury show – Tomatoes! Sara Bishop

Delphinium cupid at BBC Gardener’s World, Phil Kay

Grand Hall Chatsworth, Sara Bishop

18 The Gentian Spring 2020 19Pic: WikiCommons

What’s On at Ness www.liverpool.ac.uk/ness-gardensMembers’ News

Sunday 22 March, 10am-5pmMother’s Day at Ness Mother’s Day can be a joyous day honouring and celebrating motherhood but it can also be a difficult time for some. This year at Ness we are seeking to recognise this by welcoming any type of mum to enjoy free entry to the Gardens. This may be dads who take on both roles, those who have lost children or even siblings who have taken on the role of ‘mum’. Normal garden admission applies and all ‘mums’ go free.

Wednesday 25 MarchInternational Waffle DayLove waffles? So do we! With bacon and maple syrup, fruit, ice cream…. the list is endless. Come and enjoy some in the Botanic Kitchen Café on this day only.

Sunday 29 March 2.30-4pmLecture: Life Before the Lens with Iolo Williams. In this fascinating talk Iolo Williams tells us about his experiences working for the RSPB. From the farmer who held an egg collector over a 40-foot cliff, to an oyster catcher that briefly held up Prince Charles’ train. Iolo tells us not only about the wildlife and the threats they face, but also some of the great characters he has met on his journey. £15.50 (£13.50 Members). Book tickets on our website in advance to avoid disappointment.

Saturday 4 April 1-3pm.The Important Plants of NessMembers are invited to join our botanist Tim Baxter for an exclusive tour of some of the important plants that live at Ness. Members only – Free. Book via our website.

Sunday 5 April 2.30–4pmBurton from the Estate to Market Gardens to Garden Centres. Lecture by Ed Hilditch. Burton has a disproportionate number of garden centres and nurseries at present for a place of its size, why and how did this happen? Free admission.

Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April & 13 & 14 June 10am-4.30pmWoodcarving for Beginners This practical two-day weekend is designed for complete beginners with no previous woodcarving experience. Students will learn the basic skills needed to carve wood with hand tools. £150 (£135 Members). Please contact Carol White [email protected] or call 07930 332 227.

Saturday 4-Sunday 19 AprilFamily Easter Trail - The Cracking Egg MysteryFollow the trail to crack the code (not the eggs – haha!) to collect your sweet treat. Suitable for families with children aged 2–12 years old. Trail takes about 40 minutes. £1 per trail with your normal garden admission. 10am – 5pm.

Tuesday 7, Wednesday 8, Wednesday 15 April and Thursday 16 April 1-3pmVegetable Sowing for FamiliesA wonderful way to get children interested in gardening and the fascinating world of plants. Sow some vegetable seeds to take away (including growing instructions). Free drop-in activity with your normal garden admission.

Thursday 9, 16, 23 April and 7 MayNordic Walking (poles provided) Intermediate 9.30-11am; Beginners 11am-12.30pm. Members £32, non-members £40 - 4 week sessions. New to Nordic Walking? See panel overleaf. Book via our website.

11–19 April 10.00am-4.30pmWirral Potters Spring ShowJoin Wirral Potters for their annual pottery display at Ness with opportunities to purchase unique and beautiful pieces.

12 April - Easter Sunday from 12 noon Carvery Dinner at Botanic Kitchen caféSkip the endless food preparation and washing up. Treat the whole family.

Gift Membership thanksThank you to all Members who purchased a Christmas Gifted Membership! Anyone who purchased a Membership as a Christmas gift received a Ness Gardens 2020 Calendar which we hope you are now enjoying! We also hope our new Members are enjoying the fantastic benefits your membership includes.

E-NewsletterAre you receiving the monthly e-newsletter? If not, email [email protected] and put ‘newsletter sign up’ in the subject line (as well as your membership number) and we will add you to our monthly mailout. The newsletter fills in the gaps between issues of the Gentian, keeping you updated on upcoming events, what’s going on in the Gardens, updates on the membership scheme and Member only offers. We try to keep it concise and to the point so it doesn’t fill up your in box and you can unsubscribe at any time!

Coach Trips Programme 2020The Coach Trip Programme for 2020 and booking form is enclosed in this edition of The Gentian. The trips we organised in 2019 were very successful - we hope you will be inspired to join us on one (or more) of the planned trips. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

Seed ListIn consultation with our Botanist, we will unfortunately not be offering free seed this year due to a shortage in seed. We hope to be able to offer this again next year.

Evening Access to the GardensMembers will be able to gain exclusive access to the Gardens during the evening again (until

dusk) from 1 March by scanning a membership card at the side gate in the car park. Please remember to take your membership card with you!

Photographic Competition 2020 THE 2020 competition is now open and will run until Friday 18 December 2020.

Prizes: Adult Winner of the NBG Photographic Competition - £100; Young Winner £40. Also free annual membership of the Friends of Ness for category winners.

There are five categories for adults - Plants, Landscape, Wildlife, Abstract and Outdoor Spaces. There are also categories for Young Photographer (11-16 years) and Children’s Photographer (10 & under).

Photographers of all ages can also enter the Social Media category: just post your picture via Ness’s Twitter, Instagram or Facebook accounts, using the hashtag #NBGphotocomp. The image can be related to the categories - Plants, Landscape, Wildlife and Abstract. A monthly winner will be selected and then be fed into the competition judging.

For more information see the What’s On section of our website.

MEMBERS OPEN FORUM Come and join us for the opportunity to

learn about our plans and feedback on yourexperience as a member.

11th June 2020 | 6pm - 8pm

Forums will be held in the Hulme Room, Visitor Centre,Ness Botanic Gardens. Refreshments will be provided.

What’s On at Ness www.liverpool.ac.uk/ness-gardens

Friday 17 AprilAlpine Garden Society Local Group Show

Saturday 25 April 10am-5pm National Gardening Scheme Open Day Half your admission ticket will go to the National Garden Scheme. This is the 10th year we have opened as part of the National Garden Scheme, raising funds for the charities like Macmillan Cancer Support. Normal garden admission applies.

Saturday 2 May 11am-1pmSpring at Ness Join us on a walk and talk around the Garden in spring, discover some of our favourite seasonal highlights, and get some expert plant advice too. £7.70 (£5.50 Members). Book via our website.

Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 May 12noon-4pm.Rhododendrons, Camellias and Magnolia ShowCome and learn more about these fantastic plants and quiz the experts from the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group. Free admission to show. Normal garden admission applies.

Bank Holiday Friday 8 MayAlpine Garden Society AGM and local garden visit.

Enjoy a Bank Holiday family BBQ laid on by the Botanic Kitchen café in the Gardens.

Thursday 21 May 6-8pmGardens & Designed Landscapes of Wirral. Lecture by Nick Lightfoot, Garden Manager, discussing some of the great private gardens including Thornton Manor and Ness Gardens as well as the famous Birkenhead Park. To book go to www.liverpool.ac.uk/continuing-education/enrolment-info/

Saturday 23 May-Sunday 31 MayFamily Wildlife WeekWildlife Trail – Keep those little feet going ‘round the next corner’ with our wildlife spotting trail. Takes about 40 minutes. Suitable for children 4-12 years old. Free with your normal garden admission.

Sunday 24 May 1-5.30pmCaldy Open Gardens 2020Enjoy 15 gardens and join in the fun; live music, tombola, children’s activities, plant stalls, raffle (supported by Ness Botanic Gardens), teas, BBQ. In support of Koala North West. Tickets £8 on the day; £6.50 in advance. See www.caldyopengardens.org.uk for information.

Tuesday 26 May 11am-3.30pmBird Ringing Demonstrations in the Spinney Wood. Meet our knowledgeable bird ringers who will amaze you with their expertise. If you are lucky you may even meet a bird or two as well! Free with normal garden admission.

Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 May 1-3pmHalf-term Family Crafts – wildlife crafty puppets. Drop in and design a little Ness creature to befriend and take home. Suitable for children 3- 12 years old. Free with your normal garden admission.

Sunday 21 June 10am-5pm. Father’s Day Father’s Day can be a joyous day honouring and celebrating fatherhood but it can also be a difficult time for some people too. This year Ness is welcoming any type of dad to enjoy free entry to the gardens. This may be mums who take on both roles, those who have lost children, grandads or even siblings who have taken on the role of ‘dad’. All ‘dads’ go free.

Sunday 21 JuneAlpine Garden Society Alpines for All Plant Fair

Sunday 19 July Outdoor Theatre : Alice in Wonderland Multi award winning Imaginarium Theatre present this classic tale. See website for booking.

22, 23, 29, 30 July 1-3pm Summer Holiday activities Come along for some family fun! See our website for details.

Wednesday 5 August 2020 10am – 4pmDate for your diary – Family Fun Day Garden admission applies, Members go free and can bring up to three free children per card. See our website for more details.

RHS Level 2 & 3 CoursesIdeal for passionate gardeners wishing to learn more, as a route to employment in professional horticulture or to develop an existing career. There are no formal entry requirements just an enthusiasm for plants and gardening. Both courses are part-time, taught over eight units.

Next available start dates: Level 2 Tuesday 28 or Thursday 30 May (1-3.30pm). £60 Members (£65 non-Members) per unit.Level 3 Wednesday 29 April (1-4pm). £70 Members (£75 non-Members) per unit.For more details and how to enrol, please contact Andy Lambie [email protected]


INTRODUCING NORDIC WALKING...

WITH 64 acres of ever-changing garden vistas, a stunning view across the Dee to North Wales, Ness provides a perfect place to Nordic Walk.Why not come and join one of our groups? There are sessions for complete beginners and for those who have done some Nordic walking already. (See page 19 for dates).So what is Nordic Walking? To answer the question, we need to go back to the 1930s, when Finnish cross-country skiers began to use their poles for summer training. This was a way to keep fit when there was no snow on the ground. In the 1960s, the concept was developed further by a PE teacher in Helsinki who promoted walking with ski poles as a physical activity in its own right. Later, the International Nordic Walking Association was established to promote the teaching of the sport, and nowadays people worldwide Nordic Walk on a weekly basis. Based on the natural movements of walking, Nordic Walking is an activity accessible to anyone: if you can walk, you can Nordic Walk. It’s an exercise for everybody from the fit, conditioned athlete who may want to progress from walking to running with poles, to those who simply want a means of keeping fit through slower paced strolls in the fresh air. Done correctly, whatever your pace, it provides a very effective form of exercise.The health benefits of Nordic walking are widely documented. It is a full-body work out that uses almost all skeletal muscles. Using the upper body increases the demand on the cardio-vascular system, so it provides a good training effect even on flat terrain. It can even allow the same intensity as running without the high impact. Calorie expenditure is increased, so it is great for weight loss. At the same time, it improves posture, balance and core strength and as it is an outdoor activity it greatly enhances mood. Done with a group, it is a sociable and fun way of keeping fit.

Pic: WikiCommons

POSTPONED UNTIL 2021

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