Issue 63 September 2018 AGS news Newsletter of the Alpine Garden Society Orchid expert Phillip Cribb will talk about cypripediums at the AGS Conference A weekend packed with advice from alpine experts t promises to be a thoroughly its own grounds just five minutes walk Ienjoyable and rewarding weekend! from the cultural attractions of the The AGS Annual Conference will feature historic Shakespeare town. a line-up of speakers who have a This year’s E.B. Anderson Memorial wealth of expertise and experience Lecture, which forms part of the AGM of growing alpines and exploring their and is free to all members, will be given natural habitats. by orchid expert Phillip Cribb from the The AGM and Conference will take Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. His area place on the weekend of November of interest extends much further than 17 and 18 at the four-star Macdonald orchids, however, and he will talk about Alveston Manor Hotel and Spa in woodlanders and shade-loving plants. Stratford-upon-Avon, which is set in Continued on page 2 www.alpinegardensociety.net AGS CONFERENCE 2018 A superb line-up of expert speakers Continued from page 1 He will give another lecture during the conference, returning to his core subject with a talk entitled: Proud Margarets & Bardolph’s nose: where are those slippers? Conference speakers will also include Sarah Carlton from St Andrews Botanic Garden; former Kew horticulturist Katie Price talking about exploring the mountainous German-Austrian border; David Morris on the joint AGS/RSPB conservation project to rejuvenate a mountain meadow in the Lake District; and nurseryman Steve Furness on trough planting. Colin Crosbie, former curator of RHS Wisley, will Katie Price (above) also talk about woodland plants, while Tommy worked in the woodland Tonsberg will visit the Conference from his native and alpine sections at the Dr Steve Furness (above) runs Tommy Tonsberg (abobe) runs a Norway to tell us how he grows alpines and Royal Botanic Gardens, The Alpine Plant Centre at Calver, nursery and open garden near Oslo. He woodland plants there. There will also be the Kew. She has travelled Derbyshire. He has single-handedly is Editor-in-Chief of Hagedrom, Norway’s opportunity to pick up some bargains, including widely and will share her constructed one of the most impressive newest gardening magazine, and is a cypripediums, at the Conference auction. experiences of exploring rock gardens in Britain. garden writer and photographer. To book a place for the Conference please call for alpine plants in valleys the AGS Centre (details on page 6) or fill in the and glaciers in Germany A highlight of the weekend will be the conference dinner on Conference booking form on the back page of this and Austria along the the Saturday evening, followed by an auction of superb plants. issue of AGS News. Bavaria-Tyrol border. Four-star accommodation and dining in Shakespeare’s country acdonald Alveston Manor Hotel is one of the finestf­­­ our-star hotels in MWarwickshire, offering great luxury accommodation in one of the most beautiful and historic parts of England. Set in the very heart of Shakespeare country, and in close proximity to beautiful Cotswold villages, the historic Alveston Manor Hotel is set in its own grounds just five minutes walk from all the cultural attractions of Stratford-upon-Avon. If offers an award-winning restaurant, attractive gardens and a luxurious spa. 2 3 AGS CONFERENCE 2018 PROGRAMME NOTICEBOARD There will be members’ plant sales and nurseries attending – everyone is welcome to bring plants to sell AGS Snowdrop Day BOOK NOW SATURDAY, November 17 Saturday, February 2, 2019 AGM – OPEN TO ALL AGS MEMBERS 10am Registration, coffee and plant sales. Admission is by advance ticket only 10.30am Annual General Meeting and presentation of Society Awards 12 noon Presentation of Show Awards At Ford Hall, Lilleshall National Conferencing Centre, 12.45pm Lunch Newport, Shropshire TF10 9AT. Ample parking. 2pm E. B. Anderson Memorial Lecture: Phillip Cribb – Woodlanders Tickets for lectures, plant sales, tea and coffee, and shade-loving plants 3pm Close of AGM two-course lunch: CONFERENCE – OPEN ONLY TO DELEGATES AGS members £35, non-members £45 3.00-3.30pm Conference registration Tickets can be obtained from the AGS Centre. 3.30pm Opening remarks and lecture: David Morris – Mardale: Recreating a Tickets are restricted to AGS members until October 31, 2018. mountain meadow in the Lake District 4.35pm Short presentation: Sarah Carlton – St Andrews Botanic Garden PROGRAMME 5pm Tea 5.20pm Lecture: Colin Crosbie – Shady woodlanders! 9.00 Registration, plant sales & coffee 6.15pm End of session 11.00 Welcome by AGS President Christopher Bailes 7.45pm Conference Dinner followed by plant auction (including a range of 11.05 Richard Hobbs – Plants and People: an A to Z cypripediums and other choice items) 12.00 Jim Almond – Snowdrops: the Theme is Green SUNDAY, November 18 13.00 Plant sales and hot two-course buffet lunch 09.30am Registration 10am Lecture: Tommy Tonsberg – Growing alpines and woodland plants 14.30 Anne Wright – Making more Snowdrops in Norway 15.25 Snowdrop question & answer session with the panel of speakers 11am Coffee 15.45 Coffee 11.30pm Lecture: Katie Price – Flowers of the Alps: the Bavaria-Tyrol border 12.30pm Lunch 16.00 Event closes 1.45pm Lecture: Steve Furness – Everything you ever wanted to know about Nurseries attending include: Monksilver, Glen Chantry, troughs and daren’t ask Woodchippings, Jim Almond, Matt Bishop and Edulis Nursery 2.45pm Lecture: Phillip Cribb – Proud Margarets & Bardolph’s nose: where are those slippers? There will also be an AGS stand with a selection of 3.30pm Closing remarks followed by tea gardening books and merchandise for sale. 3.50pm Conference closes Use the booking form on the back page. This event is always a sell-out so Book on the AGS website. book now to be sure of your place BOOK NOW! Or call the AGS Centre on 01386 554790. 4 5 NOTICEBOARD AGS shows ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Saturday, November 17, 2018 and plant sales The Annual General Meeting of the Alpine Garden Society will take place on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at the Macdonald Alveston Manor Hotel, Clopton Bridge, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 7HP. AGENDA 1. To receive and confirm the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting held on November AGS Centre, Avon Bank, Pershore, 11, 2017. 2. To receive the report of the Board of Trustees. Worcestershire, WR10 3JP, UK 3. To receive the Honorary Treasurer’s report and accounts. Phone: +44(0)1386 554790 4. To elect a Treasurer and Officers to serve for the ensuing year (see Note 1 below). Email: 5. To elect two Trustees to serve for four years (see Note 2 below). 6. To appoint Auditors for the ensuing year. [email protected] 7. Any Other Items of Business if previously notified. Registered charity No. 207478 8. Presentation of the Society’s Awards. Annual subscriptions: Notes on the election of Officers and members of the Trustee Board: 1. Officers retire annually and are eligible for re-election as per rule 7.1.3.1 of the Constitution. The Single (UK and Ireland) £36* following Officers are eligible for reappointment and are prepared to continue to serve the AGS: Family (two at same address) £39* Sept 29: Loughborough Autumn Show Director of Seed Exchange (Mrs Diane Clement), Director of Shows (Mr Martin Rogerson), Treasurer Junior (under 18/student) £15 (Professor John Galloway). Overseas single £38 October 6: Newcastle Show 2. In accordance with rule 7.1.4, two Trustees retire annually and are not eligible for re-election for one year. Overseas family £40 October 13: Harlow Carr Show LUNCH TICKETS: ADVANCE BOOKING ESSENTIAL * £3 deduction for direct debit Full details for each show are in the subscribers A two-course hot and cold buffet lunch (main course and dessert) will be available in the AGS Shows Handbook, on the AGS hotel’s restaurant, including vegetarian options. The cost is £18.95 per person. Lunch AGS CENTRE website and in the shows calendar bookings MUST be made in advance through the AGS Centre (address on opposite page) that was sent to UK members in by Friday, October 19. Pre-booked lunch vouchers will be available from the AGS book sales OPENING HOURS December last year. stand on the day. Morning coffee is provided free of charge. Normal opening hours are Monday Plant sales: A members’ plant sales table will be available. to Friday, 9am to 5pm, but if you plan to visit please call first to check AGS Autumn Car parking: The hotel has ample car parking. that the Centre will be open. The TRUSTEE NOMINATION AGS garden is open every day. Bulb Day Mr Jonathan Webster (Devon). Proposed by Prof. John Good, seconded by Jim McGregor. Jon has worked in horticulture since leaving school following his passion of plants and © Alpine Garden Society 2018 September 23, 2018 gardens. His training started at Ventnor Botanic Garden on the Isle of Wight and then Send items for the December 2018 continued at Cambridge University Botanic Garden as a sandwich year placement while issue of AGS News to Jackie Cooper EVENT FULLY studying at Merrist Wood College. Following this Jon started work at RHS Wisley, first in the at the address above or email team managing Battleston Hill, the ericaceous plant collection, and then moved to the Plant [email protected]. BOOKED Trials and worked there for nine years. He subsequently moved to RHS Rosemoor where he has been for the past 13 years and is currently the garden’s Curator. The deadline is October 31, 2018.