TALK: The World of Roses
2026-02-11 19:45 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | The Barbour Institute – Billiard Room, High Street, Tattenhall, Cheshire, CH3, United Kingdom
Michael Marriott

Rosie Irving has not been well and will not now be able to give the talk to us on 11 Feb. We may be able to get her at a later date and will keep you posted.

However all is not lost as her partner Michael Marriot has stepped in and agreed to speak to us instead. His talk will be ‘The World of Roses’, so we can look forward, I hope, to some lovely pictures and a wealth of information about that most quintessential English flower. Though given the title, I’m hoping we get to hear about some of the lesser-known species/ varieties as well. We’ll find out! New flyer attached in case you want to circulate it and here’s some info from his website:

Michael Marriott is one of the world’s leading rosarians. He is also well-known for his rose garden design and his common sense approach to looking after roses. He was an integral part of David Austin Roses for 35 years and has intimate knowledge of all of the 200 plus English Roses bred and introduced by David Austin Roses. His enthusiasm is infectious and his knowledge of roses is encyclopaedic, especially for the species roses, the old roses, the climbers and ramblers, the best modern roses and of course David Austin’s English Roses. He is particularly enthusiastic about the very varied fragrances to be found in roses having worked side-by-side with famed “rose nose” Robert Calkin.

As a garden designer, he is known for dense romantic beds whether purely roses or mixed in with perennials. He has designed many rose gardens and borders around the world of varying sizes, both public and private. Public gardens include the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Queen Mary’s Rose Garden in Regent’s Park, Hampton Court Palace, Wynyard Hall, Trentham Gardens and the David Austin garden near Osaka in Japan.

TALK: Water Gardening
2026-03-11 19:45 - 21:00
James Allison of Water Garden Solutions

James Allison has over thirty years expertise in aquatics. His passion for ponds and water gardens began in his youth, and led to qualifications in Biology (B.Sc. Hons) and Applied Hydrobiology (M.Sc.).
Managing one of the UK’s leading aquatic retailers gave James further hands-on skills in water garden equipment, plants and fish.

TALK: Vegetables
2026-04-08 19:45 - 21:00
Howard trained at local Agricultural colleges before going on to Edinburgh Botanic Garden, he then worked for 20 years as a Horticultural Training Officer and also as researcher and presenter on Central TV’s Gardening Time.
Today he writes, run gardening clubs, and runs gardening holidays around the world among other things.
He was closely associated with Ashwood Nurseries, and this access to John Massey’s garden has embellished his knowledge with a wealth of horticultural excellence that is incorporated into many presentations.

TALK: Daylilies
2026-05-13 19:45 - 21:00
Speaker to be confirmed from New Hope Daylilies

New Hope Daylilies are extremely proud to be a British daylily nursery, nestled in the beautiful South Shropshire Hills. Owners and great friends, Liz Colebrook and Fiona Pidduck took over over running this long established horticultural business from the legendary, self confessed ‘daylily missionary’ Mark Zenick in 2022.
You can visit their nursery on their open weekends in June & July when the daylilies are at their best – see website for details (link on button at bottom of page)
