Calendar of events for The Lancashire and Northwest Cottage Garden

'Mountain Plants for Lowland Gardens' by Peter Cunnington at Haskayne Village Hall, 109 School Lane, Haskayne, L39 7JE Members £1 50, non members £2.00 Refreshments & Raffle. Plant Sales Table. Peter was Curator of Ness Botanic Gardens until his retirement in 2002. With a wide knowledge of horticulture, he specialised in alpine flora. He has travelled widely to view these plants in the wild, leading many successful trips and expeditions. His talk is specifically an Alpine talk but he will include some familiar cottage garden plants, many of which have their origins in the mountains.

'A History of Barnsdale' (1979 to present day) by Nick Hamilton at Haskayne Village Hall, 109 School Lane, Haskayne, L39 7JE Members £5.00, non members £6.00 Refreshments & Raffle. Plant Sales Table. Nick is the son of Geoff Hamilton, presenter of Gardeners World for 17 years and he now runs Barnsdale with his wife Sue. Geoff started with Gardeners World in 1979 and moved to Barnsdale in 1983. Two years later Gardeners World was well established in its new home with Georff's down to earth style making him a hit with the viewers. It was here that he continued to present the show, developing the individual garden designs, experimenting with plants, themes and ideas to inspire the nation to get outside and have ago. It was here that he earned the reputation of being the 'Peoples' Gardener' and this spirit lives on today at Barnsdale Gardens. THIS IS AN ALL TICKET EVENT. Tickets will be available at our evening meetings and also by post. Please apply to Peter Curl, 79 Crabtree Lane, Burscough, Lancashire, L40 ORW enclosing a stamped self addressed envelope. Cheques should be made payable to 'CGS Lanes & NW Area Group'. Tickets will be available to members and their guests up to our November meeting and then will go on general sale. GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY,

'British Garden Orchids' by Jeff Hutchings. at Haskayne Village Hall, 109 School Lane, Haskayne, L39 7JE Members £1.50, non members £2.00 Refreshments & Raffle. Plant Sales Table. Geoff is the owner of Laneside Alpine & Hardy Orchid Nursery in Garstang and has one of the largest selections of hardy orchids from around the Northern hemisphere including many British natives.

'Kew Gardens' by Paul Cook, curator of Ness Gardens at Haskayne Village Hall, 109 School Lane, Haskayne, L39 7JE Members £1.50, non members £2.00 Refreshments & Raffle. Plant Sales Table.

Our Plant Sale will be held at Lydiate Parish Hall, 288 Southport Road, Lydiate, L31 4EQ on Saturday 8th May from 11.00am until 3.00pm. Admission £1.00 (under 16's free).

We will start the afternoon with the AGM followed by Strawberries and Cream or Scone & Jam. This will be followed by a talk and slide show by Diane Cox, who is a Blue Badge Guide, on the history of Sefton Park and the restoration of the Palm House.

Troy is head gardener at Bodnant Gardens and recently took part in an interesting TV programme following it through the seasons and also showing how they were trying to develop it as a year round garden. He began his career at Bodnant as a student in 1990 and after working at Sissinghurst as a senior gardener he moved on to The Courts as Head Gardener and with the RHS as curator at Hyde Hall. He returned to his first love, Bodnant, in Spring 2006.

A talk and slide show by National Cottage Garden members Janet & Martin Blow of `Special Perennials', Hankelow, Cheshire. Janet and Martin who hold the national plant collection of Helenium with over 100 varieties on display in their garden in Cheshire, will be giving a talk on late colour in the garden.

A talk and slide show by Jane Allison, who has a cottage Garden Nursery in Stanthorne, Middlewich, Cheshire, where she grows a varied selection of herbaceous perennials. Her nursery is open by appointment and visitors are welcomed with a cup of tea and a chat about their requirements. Jane is a garden designer, and many of her plants end up in client's gardens as well as at plant fairs throughout Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire & Derbyshire. She taught English Literature and Theatre Studies for many years, before leaving to pursue a second career in horticulture. Giving talks to garden societies is a breath of fresh air to her after years at the chalk face!