home

Update on Merger of Avon Gardens Trust and Gloucestershire Landscape & Gardens Trust

It seems a long time since we voted to join our two trusts, and the Merger Steering Committee felt that the membership should be kept up to date with our progress! The name of the new trust is Avon and Gloucestershire Gardens Trust. We are amalgamating our two constitutions using the Charities Commission guidelines and are also our Charitable Objectives,  focusing on the preservation and enhancement of all garden and landscaped land in Avon and …

Read more

Merger of the Avon Gardens Trust and the Gloucestershire Gardens & Landscape Trust

The Avon Gardens Trust (AGT) and Gloucestershire Gardens & Landscape Trust (GGLT) have decided to merge. The reasons for the merger are varied, but both County Garden Trusts have similar problems: dwindling membership with an ageing cohort of members; difficulty in finding volunteers to become trustees or to take on the administrative jobs; and low and falling attendances at meetings and lectures. The Committees of both organisations consider that a merger will bring a greater …

Read more

Sydney Gardens Book

The Friends of Sydney Gardens in Bath have released a new book on the history of the Gardens. The topics covered are:- Welcome Sydney Gardens Book Fundraising Supper Box Renovation Project The Reservoir Renovation Project Georgian Garden Why Sydney? History Activities in Sydney Gardens The Amazing Trees of Sydney Gardens Our Netflix ‘Hope is Everything’ Bench Roasted Lemon Café Visit Contact us NEW Sydney Gardens Book available to buy for £20 ​The fabulous cover of …

Read more

Events at Caisson House

Avon Gardens Trust have been fortunate in visiting the wonderful gardens at Caisson House in Coombe Hay near Bath. Amanda and Phil Honey hold various events in the year that may be of interest. By using this link to the website you can discover an activity or visit that may suit you.

Grant to St Mungo’s Trust

We recently donated £500 to St Mungo’s for their horticultural programme. a letter of thanks is below. Dear Kay A huge thank you from St Mungo’s We want to thank you for generously donating £500 to support our vital services at St Mungo’s. Your donations are helping to fund St Mungo’s Putting Down Roots (PDR) project, our horticultural programme to support our client’s recovery. Our PDR team run a number of programmes across the South …

Read more

William Champion’s Garden Website

Statue of Neptune at William Champion garden at Warmley

William Champion’s Garden in Warmley, South Gloucestershire, was created by the 18th century industrialist and Quaker William Champion. It is designated Grade II on the UK Parks & Gardens Register (at risk) and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, together with Champion’s brass mill, which houses Kingswood Heritage Museum, and his original pin factory, known as the Clock Tower. It is owned by South Gloucestershire Council. A Friends group was established in 2020 with Kay Ross …

Read more

AGT Book Library

Following a query on donations of Garden History Books, Avon Gardens Trust have created a loan library based at the Create Centre in Bristol Books may be borrowed by prior arrangement for any length of time. The aim is to develop this library in order that researchers and interested parties may browse books that would normally be an expensive purchase – or out of print. A full list of publications available can be viewed AGT Book …

Read more

Clifton & Hotwells Open Gardens

Clifton & Hotwells Open Gardens 10th Anniversary  8th & 9th June 2024. Visitors will again have access to more than 20 communal gardens & squares which are mostly private, with a variety of refreshments and entertainment. There are a mixture of formal gardens, woodland & wild gardens. There will be talks, conducted tours, a tree trail, and singing with local choirs. Tickets £8 from Eventbrite, or £7 on the day https://www.gssg-bristol.com

Garden History Research Day

In Conjunction with neighbouring County Gardens Trusts, we are holding a Garden History Research Day on Tuesday 23rd April 2024 at the History Centre, Chippenham This day is free and open to any of our members who would like to learn how to research garden history with Avon Gardens Trust. No experience is necessary. We will have a number of speakers as well as being shown documents from the archives. We are sharing the Research …

Read more

Appeal – Hanging Gardens at Crews Hole, Bristol

A wood in the heart of Bristol is up for sale with the prospect of development. Part of the woodland was once a formal garden and there is a historic bathhouse abutting the property but not part of it. This historic woodland was featured in early AGT Journals with articles by James Russell on the ‘Hanging Gardens of Crews Hole’ and the associated Bath House. The woodland in front of the Bath House, including the garden …

Read more