Association of Gardens Trusts: AGM
The Association of Gardens Trusts held its AGM and business meeting at Lincoln this year. Jean Marcus atended the event on behalf of Cornwall Gardens Trust, and her report is below:
A Weekend in Lincoln – AGT Annual Conference 2009
During the first weekend in September, I attended the annual conference of the AGT hosted by Lincolnshire Gardens Trust. It was a wonderful, action-packed programme successfully put together by Steffie Shields and her team.
Just under 100 Trust members from all over the country enjoyed lectures by John Harris and David Robinson OBE. John is Curator Emeritus of the Drawings Collection of the Royal Institute of British Architects and is an historian of architecture, gardens and architectural drawings and the author of more than 25 books and catalogues including Design of the English Country House (1985) and No Voice from the Hall, the first volume of his memoirs published in 1998. He spoke of his experiences whilst making a survey of Lincolnshire country houses for Pevsner in 1959.
David Robinson, a geographer and retired University of Nottingham Resident Tutor is also a former editor of Lincolnshire Life and The Lincolnshire Poacher and author of 22 books on Lincolnshire landscapes, places and people. He is a Life President of the Joseph Banks Society and spoke with authority and humour on the life of Joseph Banks, one of Lincolnshire’s famous sons.
Another famous son is, of course, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who was born in the Somersby Rectory 100 years ago this year. In his early twenties he became infatuated with Rosa Baring who was living at nearby Harrington Hall. As a suitor, he was considered socially inferior and his attentions were discouraged. Luckily, we were able to visit Harrington Hall Garden thought to feature in Tennyson’s poem Maud where we met a Tennyson look-alike (a member of LGT) strolling around the garden – very life-like and quite creepy.
Other visits included Doddington Hall where some members of the group became less focussed on the magnificent gardens and more interested in having their photos taken with ‘The Hairy Bikers’ who were filming a cookery programme on the front lawn. I confess to holding back from this temptation but I did pose by one of their famous bikes!
On the final day we were privileged to be able to approach the folly which is Harlaxton Manor down the impressive rarely-used main carriage drive, to be entertained by stories of the garden being flooded at Aubourn Hall and a family member canoeing across the garden to a relative’s home nearby, and to enjoy a good tea at Easton Walled Gardens.
Thank you Lincolnshire for a great conference weekend.
NEXT YEAR the Conference moves to the Isle of Wight and takes place over the weekend of 1-3 October. Visits will include Osborne, Northcourt (a 15-acre EH registered garden surrounding a Jacobean manor house owned by John Harrison, former Treasurer of AGT and organiser of the IofW conference, where some lucky members will be able to stay), and Ventnor Botanic Gardens. Also on the agenda is Mottistone Manor – an NT property featuring a new garden around a C16 manor, Woodlands Vale – a Victorian coastal property designed by Samuel Teulon, Lake House – a walled garden restoration and Carisbrooke Castle to see the Princess Beatrice garden designed by Chris Beardshaw in 2009 for EH.
This has the potential to be a very interesting weekend.
John Harrison would like to know well in advance if you are thinking of going (no commitment at this stage) so that he can estimate how much accommodation to secure.
More information from John Harrison 01983 740415 or email [email protected]. These weekends are most enjoyable and everyone is very friendly. So maybe see you there?
Jean Marcus