News from Avon Gardens Trust

The latest news and updates from AGT.

Heritage Open days – William Champion’s Garden at Warmley

Statue of Neptune at William Champion garden at Warmley

Kingswood Heritage Museum, Tower Lane, Warmley, Bristol, Bristol, BS30 8XT The remarkable surviving Grade II 18th century garden of brassworker William Champion with a giant statue of Neptune and astonishing hidden grotto with a central pool surrounded by 6 grotesque faces with gaping jaws opening into subterranean tunnels. The remarkable and rare surviving Grade II designated 18th century garden of the industrialist William Champion is hidden behind his brass mill (now Kingswood Museum) and pin …

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Organic Gardening

As part of the Soil Associations Organic September, Yeo Valley are hosting a number of inspiring and influential speakers in their meadow yurt. Topics to get your pulse racing include: Charles Dowding asks To Dig or Not to Dig? Anton Rosenfeld, Garden Organic supported by North Somerset talks all things compost. Chris Smith, Pennard Plants. Talks pests and diseases and how to get your own back the nature friendly way. Fiona Haser Bizony, Electric Daisy Flower Farm.  Thanks …

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November lecture with Laura Mayer

Speaker Laura Mayer

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Laura Mayer will present a lecture at the Bath Royal Scientific and Literary Institution, Queen Square, Bath. BA1 2HN. on Saturday 26th November 2022 at 2.30pm ‘Verdure is the most Perfect Refreshment’ – Jane Austen & the English Landscape Garden Landscape – whether real or imagined – nature, & her characters’ response to these inform each & every one of Jane Austen’s novels. Justly famous for her sharp …

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Prof. Timothy Mowl

We are delighted that Professor Timothy Mowl is to give a lecture at our AGM on 29th October to be held at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, Queen Square, Bath. BA1 2HN Muddy Wellies and Dusty Archives – Towards the Real Garden History Tim will talk of his personal garden history journey both in terms of gardens visited and discoveries made, but also the practice of garden history through archival research. The lecture …

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Grant for Filton Avenue School, Bristol

Filton School Project

The past two years have made us all realise how important outdoor spaces and gardens are to us for our mental wellbeing.  So, when the Small Grants Committee of the Trust received an application from the Special Educational Needs Coordinator at Filton Avenue Primary School asking for financial help so they could create a sensory garden and a herb garden for their sensory and autistic pupils, the Trust wanted to help. There is already a …

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A Garden History PhD Course

PhD in Garden History

A new Garden History PhD programme, created in association with the Gardens Trust, has been launched by Buckingham University. The course will be led by Adrian Tinniswood and David Marsh of the Gardens Trust, and is now open for applications. More information to follow as the course develops.

Gardens Trust launches Community Grant scheme

The Gardens Trust has launched a new grant scheme for volunteer projects that support historic designed landscapes. The Gardens Trust Community Grant is for up to £2,500. It is intended to help seed-fund volunteer projects for any activity related to historic designed landscapes, such as a restoration plan, Friends group set-up costs, research project or volunteer training scheme. Any volunteer group can apply, and the application process has been kept as simple as possible. The …

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Nature’s Favourite Child: Thomas Robins and The Art of the Georgian Garden

AGT Talk on 5 May 2022 with Dr Cathryn Spence Avon Gardens Trust are delighted to welcome eminent local historian Dr Cathryn Spence to relaunch our live talks in 2022. Her recent publication of Nature’s Favourite Child: Thomas Robins and the Art of the Georgian Garden is a much anticipated tour de force of the Bath based artist, whose beautiful, intriguing drawings and paintings provide an invaluable testament for 18th century gardens and landscapes, including several in …

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