TGS01

2025 SUMMER VISIT: THE DOROTHY CLIVE GARDEN - Guided Tour
2025-06-17 10:00 (Europe/London) | The Dorothy Clive Garden, Willoughbridge, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 4E
Following on from the inspiring talk we had in February on the ‘Year Round Garden’ from Kathryn Robey, Curator Director of the Dorothy Clive garden, we have arranged a visit to see the gardens first hand.
The visit will cost £11 per person, which covers garden entry.
In addition, we have arranged a guided tour of the gardens from a member of the Dorothy Clive staff, the cost of which is being paid from our Society funds.
There are limited spaces on the guided tour and we need to give details of numbers attending by the beginning of June, therefore there is a deadline for booking tickets of Monday 2nd June. Places will not be reserved without payment.
Tickets
To buy a ticket, please do a bank transfer to our usual account, details below, and send an email to the society e-mail address (see banner at top of website) confirming the following:

how many tickets you want;
the name(s) of the people they are for; and
how many cars your party will be bringing. If you’ll be sharing transport with someone else who is going to book their ticket separately, please just make it clear what’s happening between all of you.

Tattenhall Gardening Society
Account 70882720
Sort code 20-25-69

Gift Aid
The gardens can claim back tax under the Gift Aid scheme on the cost of your ticket. If you are a UK taxpayer, we will have a sheet available for you to sign (if you’re eligible and you wish to). We’ll circulate it after we’ve arrived and before the guided tour.

Transport
This is a self-drive visit and car-sharing is encouraged. We have to let the gardens know how many cars will be arriving, so please let us know your car-share arrangements when you book your ticket. We should aim to be at the gardens by 10.00 & the tour is booked for 10.30, to allow you time to ‘use the facilities’ if you wish, in case of holdups on the way and so we can pass round the Gift Aid form.

If you do not have transport, please let us know asap so we can make arrangements for you.

Catering
We have not booked coffee, lunch or group use of the pavilion. There is a cafe which offers tea & cake, light lunches, etc, or you can BYO – or go to Bridgemere, see below.

Later on
After the tour you are free to enjoy the DC gardens at your leisure (they close at 17.00) or you may want to travel on to Bridgemere Gardens which is about 15 minutes away and more or less on the way home. Anyone who is a RHS member can get into the show gardens for free – but only the first named person if it’s a joint membership. Don’t forget to take your card. For RHS 2nd members or non-members it’s £8. No charge for the garden centre, obviously. I think by the time of our visit they should have 8 ex-Chelsea show gardens to see as they’re installing another one in May, plus about another 7 or 8 other show gardens they’ve installed previously.

PLANT SALE
2025-05-17 10:30 - 12:00 | The Barbour Institute – The Millfield, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3 9PX, United Kingdom
On the Millfield next to the Barbour Institute.
Come and bag yourself some plant bargains, plus there’s always the chance of acquiring some rarity you’ve been after for ages. Plus growing advice, of course!
Donations of plants are gratefully accepted, so please can we ask for your generosity once again in potting up spare bits of plants or seedlings?
Please bring plant donations to the Millfield from 9.30am onwards. The earlier the better as we will need time to sort and price donations before the opening time. Labels with the plant name and variety are always appreciated.
The sales area will be taped off until the official start time of 10.30am.
You are very welcome to look around before the Sale opens but we won’t be reserving plants or doing advance sales – this is to ensure everyone who turns up at the official opening time of 10.30am has a fair chance of being able to bag their selections.
Profits from the Plant Sale help to pay for the Village Show

TALK: THE ENGLISH & GARDENING - AN OBSESSION
2025-05-14 19:45 - 21:00 | The Barbour Institute – Billiard Room, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3, United Kingdom
DANNY WELLS

In the upstairs room at the Barbour Institute (the Billiard Room)
Our speaker is Danny Wells who has always had a love of history.
This talk will focus on the social history of the English and their gardening obsession.

EUPHORBIAS
2025-03-12 19:45 - 21:00 | The Barbour Institute – Billiard Room, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3, United Kingdom
Don Whitton, National Collection Holder

Don is a retired schoolteacher with a passion for hardy herbaceous perennial plants in general and Euphorbias in particular. He is actively involved in 4 national garden charities – the Hardy Plant Society, Royal Horticultural Society, Plant Heritage and the National Gardens Scheme.
Don will tell us all we need to know about this very popular genus.

YEAR ROUND GARDEN
2025-02-12 19:45 - 21:00 | The Barbour Institute – Billiard Room, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3, United Kingdom
Zdenek Valkoun, Head Gardener, Dorothy Clive Garden

TALK: BUGS, SLUGS, SPOTS AND ROTS
2024-11-13 19:30 - 21:00 | Community Room, St.Alban’s Church, Tattenhall, St Alban's Church, Chester Road, Tattenhall, CH3 9QE, United Kingdom
John Scrace, Expert Plant Pathologist

PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF VENUE TO THE COMMUNITY ROOM AT ST.ALBANS CHURCH, TATTENHALL (What3Words ///catching.country.elsewhere) AND EARLIER TIME OF 7.30pm

This talk takes a look at some of the more common and damaging garden pests and diseases and how they can be managed.
Items covered include lily beetle, vine weevil, potato & tomato blight, horse chestnut tree problems, honey fungus and slugs & snails.

John is a Diagnostic Plant Pathologist and works with the RHS diagnosing the causes of member’s plant problems from their plant samples and online enquiries

He also carries out research into potential new diseases and lectures on plant health to students studying for the RHS Diploma in Horticultural Practice.

TALK: THE (APPLE) TREES AND THE BEES
2024-10-09 19:45 - 21:00 | The Barbour Institute – Billiard Room, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3, United Kingdom
James Ellson is a writer, smallholder, and bee keeper.
He will be talking about the symbiotic relationships between honeybees, apple trees and humans.
For more further information about James and his smallholding in the Peak District please see his website https://jamesellson.com/

NGS OPEN DAY
2024-05-10 10:00 - 17:30 | Bolesworth Castle, Tattenhall, CH3 9JJ
Bolesworth Castle Gardens open for NGS 10 & 11 May

Mrs Barbour has asked us to publicise the NGS Open Days at the Castle 10 & 11 May.

As you know, this is in aid of the various charities supported by the NGS. If the weather’s good, there should be a lovely show of rhododendrons (pic below) plus there are refreshments.

The Rock Walk, which stretches for half a mile above the castle, offers stunning views across the Welsh Hills and Liverpool. Originally planted by Anthony Barbour in 1986, the collection has since been expanded with many new camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, and other spring plants.

New paths have been created, and original stone features have been restored. The visit will take you up the Bridge Walk before climbing up to The Rock Walk, continuing through the castle gardens, and rounding the lake.

A single loop will see you reach 10,000 steps!

Children aged 12 and above are welcome, as are well-behaved dogs on leads (please pick up after them). Please note we regret this garden is not accessible to wheelchairs or buggies.

The Lost Barn Coffee Roasters will be onsite, selling soup, tea, coffee, and cake.

Further information (including directions) at https://bolesworth.com/national-garden-scheme/
What3Words address: ///standing.proved.emotional

TALK: EDIBLE LANDSCAPES
2024-04-10 19:45 - 21:00 | The Barbour Institute – Billiard Room, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3, United Kingdom
Richard Smedley

In the upstairs room at the BI (the Billiard Room).

Our speaker is Richard Smedley who trained at Kew and worked at the former Ryton Organic Gardens (now Garden Organic).
He will be speaking on the subject of ‘Edible Landscapes’. And – hurrah! – he lives in East Cheshire so he’ll know all about our grey skies, soggy gardens, etc when passing on growing tips.

2024-02-14 19:45 - 20:45 | Cheshire
ONLINE TALK
Peat Free Growing: understanding peat-free compost ingredients and how to use peat-free products.

It’s time to swot up on the peat-free basics, peat compost is being banned for use by amateur gardeners at the end of this year.
Join us for the first talk of 2024 and learn how to use peat-free alternatives. Whether you’re just starting out or want to refine your growing practices – Garden Organic’s Anton Rosenfeld will offer practical advice and techniques in this online Zoom talk.
The talk is free to members and the link for the meeting will be e-mailed to members in time for the talk.

The fee for Non-Members is £3 – please contact Tattenhall Gardening Society at our e-mail address (on the talk poster poster & displayed on the website heading) to arrange payment and the link will be sent to you.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Anton Rosenfeld: Garden Organic Research Manager
Anton has been with Garden Organic for more than 20 years. His work has included projects with commercial field-scale growers to small-scale community gardens and allotments. He has worked as a grower, run many training courses, and regularly writes for gardening magazines, including our Garden Organics own Organic Way members’ magazine. He has a passion for soils, composting and growing veg from a wide range of cultures.

Village Show 2023
2023-09-03 09:00 - 16:00 | The Barbour Institute – Main Hall, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3 9PX, United Kingdom
The doors open at 9am, and exhibitors are invited to lodge their entry forms by 11.30am at the latest and have their exhibits staged by 12 noon.

The hall and exhibit rooms will be closed at noon to allow judging to take place.

The doors will re-open at 2.30pm when exhibitors can discover their fate and the public can view all the exhibits.

Prize giving will take place in the hall at approximately 3.00pm, exhibitors can collect their exhibits after the prize giving ceremony has finished.
All exhibits to be collected by 4.00pm.

No cost to enter exhibits, a £1 entry fee to view exhibits (free for kids)

SUMMER VISIT 2 - Garden Visit Crewe Hill, Crewe-by-Farndon
2023-07-28 14:30 | Cheshire
TGS have arranged a private view of the garden at Crewe Hill in Crewe-by-Farndon, part of the Barnston Estate
Crewe Hill has been a family home since the late 18th century and underwent a major garden restoration project in the 1980s. Having travelled the world in the course of work, Michael and Inger returned to Cheshire in 1983 and started to create a garden that would reflect their travels and love of unusual trees and shrubs.
We hope to have an introductory talk by the head gardener but this is still tbc. Start time is 14.30.
Cost will be £5 per person (whether member or not).
Payment in advance only, please pay via bank transfer to the TGS account then confirm the numbers and names attending to the TGS email address(see top of page). An e-mail has been sent to members with the bank details but non-members can contact our e-mail address for details.
Please share transport if possible. More detailed directions will be sent on to attendees nearer the time.

OPEN GARDEN & ART STUDIO - MINTOPIA & LOUISA BOYD
2023-07-15 10:00 - 16:00 | Mintopia, Fullersmoor Cottage, Brown Knowl, Cheshire, CH3 9JY, United Kingdom
Si Poole is the holder of one of the National Plant Collections of Mint and has previously given us a fascinating talk on his mint collection (May 2022).
Si will be opening his garden in conjunction with an Open Art Studio for Louisa Boyd on Saturday 15th July – this is a fabulous opportunity to see a lovely garden, expand your mint collection and see some amazing artwork inspired by our beautiful local countryside.
Louisa’s Art studio will also be open on Sunday 16th July 10am-4pm BUT THE GARDEN IS NOT OPEN ON THIS DAY
DIRECTIONS
Fullersmoor Cottage, Brown Knowl, CH3 what3words///captive.jolly.shook
Access is via Sherrington Lane, third drive on the right as you turn to Brown Knowl by The Sandstone Pub (CH3 9JH what3words ///rectangular.phantom.conforms). Look for an ‘Open Studio’ sign and a circular arch on the driveway.
If you are coming by car, you are welcome to park on the pub car park.

SUMMER VISIT 1 - Lisa Borghesi & Chester Zoo Nature Reserve with Chloe Aldridge
2023-07-14 17:30 - 21:00 | Cheshire Market Gardens, Mannings Lane, Chester, Cheshire, CH2 4ET, United Kingdom
This is a joint trip to visit two sites to the northern outskirts of Chester.

Transport is not provided and participants need to make their own way to the sites – car sharing is encouraged (there is limited parking at Cheshire Market Gardens).

We will be meeting at Cheshire Market Gardens on Mannings Lane at 17.30 to see the ‘no-dig’ garden of Lisa Borghesi who came to speak to us last October.

https://www.cheshiremarketgardens.com/ https://www.instagram.com/cheshiremarketgardens/?hl=en-gb

At approximately 18.30 we will move onto the Chester Zoo Nature Reserve, where you can choose to follow the guided tour of the reserve with Chloe Aldridge (also a previous TGS speaker on several occasions) or follow your own path. The car park closes at 21.00 so we will need to leave before then!

Pre-booking IN ADVANCE only please (ASAP now). Please pay via bank transfer to the Tattenhall Gardening Society account then email the society email address confirming the number & names of attendees. Any queries to the TGS email address (detailed on page header).

CHESHIRE MARKET GARDENS
What3Words: poet.sketch.community

Google point: 53°12’41.6″N 2°51’37.3″W

https://goo.gl/maps/wvw3Wt6gUsViR6D78

CHESTER ZOO NATURE RESERVE
what3words: push.banana.seated
Google point: 53°13’42.6″N 2°53’10.7″W
https://goo.gl/maps/g6k5311nXC9L7Yws8

NGS Garden: Tattenhall Hall
2023-06-04 14:00 - 17:30 | Tattenhall Hall, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3 9PX, United Kingdom
Local Garden in Tattenhall Village open for the National Garden Scheme.
Plant enthusiasts’ garden around Jacobean house (not open). 4½ acres, wildflower meadows, interesting trees, large pond, stream, walled garden, colour themed borders, succession planting, spinney walk with shade plants, yew terrace overlooking meadow, views to hills. Glasshouse and vegetable garden. Wildlife friendly, sometimes untidy garden, interest year-round, continuing to develop.

https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/20864/tattenhall-hall

Plant Sale
2023-05-13 10:30 - 12:00 | The Barbour Institute – The Millfield, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3 9PX, United Kingdom
Plant Sale

On the Millfield next to the Barbour Institute.
Come and bag yourself some plant bargains, plus there’s always the chance of acquiring some rarity you’ve been after for ages. Plus growing advice , of course!
Donations of plants are gratefully accepted, so please can we ask for your generosity once again in potting up spare bits of plants or seedlings?
If you have anything to drop off, please can you bring it to the Millfield between 9.00-10.30? The earlier the better as we will need time to sort and price donations before the opening time. Labels with the plant name and variety are always appreciated.
This year we are going to tape off the sales area until 10.30am, so although you’re very welcome to look around before the Sale opens we won’t be reserving plants or doing advance sales. This is so that everyone who turns up on time has a fair chance of being able to bag their selections.
Profits from the Plant Sale help to pay for the Village Show

WALK: Foraging for Herbs and Well Being - an evening walk around Tattenhall
2023-05-10 18:30 | The Barbour Institute, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3 9PX, United Kingdom
Barbara Wilkinson (DBTh MURHP)

Barbara will take us on an early evening foraging hunt around the village for plants and herbs that can benefit our well being.
Meet in front of the Barbour Institute at the earlier time of 6.30pm, we will return to the Barbour for herby teas and a short talk.
Please come suitably dressed for whatever the weather decides to throw at us – suitable clothes and footwear – the walk will go ahead come rain or shine.
Also bring your own bag to collect your foraged goodies.

Barbara Wilkinson is a Consultant Medical Herbalist and a trustee of the Herb Society.

TALK: Flower Design - Inspired by Landscape
2023-04-12 19:45 - 21:00 | The Barbour Institute – Main Hall, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3 9PX, United Kingdom
Lucy Hunter

April’s talk will be a demonstration by Lucy Hunter of how she makes her exquisite flower arrangements. Although ‘flower arrangements’ doesn’t really do either Lucy or the arrangements any justice as there’s so much more to it than flowers in a vase. You can find out more on her website https://www.lucyhunter.co.uk/ or on instagram https://www.instagram.com/lucytheflowerhunter/?hl=en

Village Show
2022-09-04 14:30 - 16:00 | The Barbour Institute – Main Hall, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3 9PX, United Kingdom
The doors open at 9am, and exhibitors are invited to lodge their entry forms by 11.30am at the latest and have their exhibits staged by 12 noon.
The hall and exhibit rooms will be closed at noon to allow judging to take place.
The doors will re-open at 2.30pm when exhibitors can discover their fate and the public can view all the exhibits.
Prize giving will take place in the hall at approximately 3.00pm, after which exhibitors can collect their exhibits. All exhibits to be collected by 4.00pm.
No cost to enter exhibits, a £1 entry fee to view exhibits (free for kids)
