The Percy Picton Memorial Lecture

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At our next meeting on Monday 6th October at 7pm we are delighted to welcome back Chris Beardshaw, who will deliver the 2025 Percy Picton Memorial Lecture.

In ‘Painting with Plants’ Chris talks you through the evolution of the English Garden style, in particular the development of the herbaceous border, from the earliest incarnations through to 21st century examples.  He describes the key exponents of the style, the design approaches, and lessons behind the artistry so that you feel empowered to combine plants and create your own stunning border.

Chris Beardshaw is an acclaimed garden designer, broadcaster, and lecturer. He is renowned not only for his award-winning landscapes, but also for his ability to inspire and inform audiences through storytelling, insight, and deep horticultural knowledge.

Photo: Jayne Lloyd

Many will know Chris from his long broadcasting career and numerous gold medal winning gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show. He also dispenses wisdom on BBC Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time where he regularly faces a live audience of gardening enthusiasts.

Veterans of the WCHS will remember that in 2014 Chris kept members entertained with his account of the creation of the Chelsea Flower Show 2012 Gold Medal winning Furzey Charitable Trust Garden … together with a few stories from his book “100 Plants That Almost Changed The World”.

Reception 7pm at Colwall Village Hall.

For this talk pre-bought tickets are needed; if you haven’t bought yours yet, they are still available from Old Court Nurseries at £16.00, including wine and nibbles. Proceeds go to the Percy Picton Memorial Fund, which provides grants to horticultural students.

For members who are kind enough to be contributing to the nibbles for the reception, could you please try to bring bite sized snacks, for example mini sausage rolls or cheese straws/biscuits, and not crisps or dips.

The Ernest Ballard Aster Competition also takes place at the October meeting. Members are encouraged to bring a vase of Michaelmas Daisies, preferably mixed varieties. One entry per person.