
- This event has passed.
PGG AGM 2023
September 23, 2023 – September 24, 2023
£20 – £70


(left)The Mercure Shrewsbury Albrighton Hall Hotel, (centre) Hodnet Hall Gardens, (right) Dingle Gardens
Book Online or send payment by cheque made payable to ‘The Professional Gardeners’ Guild’ to Gareth Manning, 79 Boscobel Drive, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 3DU.
The committee are pleased to announce that this year’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 23rd September at the Mercure Shrewsbury Albrighton Hall Hotel.
The Mercure Shrewsbury Albrighton Hall Hotel and Spa, just 4 miles from Shrewsbury centre, is a beautiful 18th century manor house nestled in 15 acres of grounds with an ornamental lake.
AGM
The AGM will take place in the Lakeside Suite starting with tea/coffee at 10.00am and the business of the meeting commencing at 10.30am. Following a light buffet lunch there will then be the opportunity to join a tour of Hodnet Hall.
Hodnet Hall Gardens
Hodnet Hall Gardens present a dynamic canvas of rare and native species that have been planted over centuries. Discover the secrets of the gardens, including the 17th century dovecot and Tithe Barn, historic restaurant, waterfalls and walkways. These gardens have existed in some form or another for many hundreds of years. Their design today reflects the changing shape and fortunes of Hodnet Hall – three different dwellings have existed within the grounds in the past millennium. What you see today represents a tapestry of human endeavour, beginning with the construction of a Norman castle in the 12th century, whose residual earthworks can be seen behind the visitors’ car park.
Dinner & Ron Nettles memorial lecture
In the evening there will be the AGM Dinner followed by the Ron Nettles memorial lecture which this year will be given by Steven Desmond. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, Fellow of the Linnean Society and a Professional Associate of the Royal Horticultural Society, Steven specialises in the conservation of historic gardens. He also works as a writer and lecturer. As well as contributing to Country Life and other journals, he is the author of Gardens of the Italian Lakes (2016).
Dingle Gardens
On Sunday morning we will visit the spectacular Dingle gardens in Shrewsbury’s Quarry Park. A centrepiece to the park, The Dingle was a former stone quarry, but is now a landscaped sunken garden. Between 1324 and 1588 it was known as the Wet or Water Quarry because it was liable to flood. It was quarried for both stone and clay. A project to clear out the Dingle and then plant it was funded by the Shropshire Horticultural Society, with the ornamental gardens opened in 1879, featuring many flower beds and borders, with ponds and fountains. Although there are still formal planted beds, in recent years the planting scheme has become more naturalistic in style, reflecting modern tastes. They are undoubtedly a spectacular example of traditional formal bedding displays.
Tour of Shrewsbury
Following the tour of the gardens we will embark on a tour of Shrewsbury itself with the town’s famous town crier Martin Wood as our guide.
Programme:
Saturday
10.00am Meet at the Mercure Shrewsbury Albrighton Hall Hotel, tea, coffee and biscuits on arrival.
10.30am AGM
1.00pm Lunch (finger buffet)
2.30pm Visit to Hodnet Hall Gardens
6.45pm Pre dinner drinks reception
7.15pm Dinner followed by the Ron Nettles Memorial Lecture.
Sunday
10.30am Visit Dingle Gardens followed by a guided tour of Shrewsbury Town.
Cost:
There are four options:
The full Monty: £70.00 a head which includes tea/coffee on arrival before the AGM, a sandwich buffet lunch, guided tour of Hodnet Hall gardens, a three course dinner with tea/coffee served after, the Ron Nettles memorial lecture, a tour of the Dingle Gardens in Shrewsbury’s Quarry Park on Sunday morning followed by a tour of historic Shrewsbury with Martin Wood the Town Crier. NB. This does not include accommodation which you will have to arrange separately.
The half Monty: £65.00 a head which consists of the AGM day only with tea/coffee on arrival, AGM, buffet lunch, tour of Hodnet Hall gardens, three course dinner followed by the Ron Nettles memorial lecture.
The little Monty: £20.00 a head. Tea/coffee on arrival, AGM, buffet lunch, tour of Hodnet Hall gardens.
The Baby Monty: There is no charge to attend the AGM and leave afterwards before lunch. Tea/coffee will be available on arrival. Please let me know if you are choosing this option so I have a record of numbers – Email: organiser-southern1@pgg.org.uk.
Address & Directions:
Addresss: The Mercure Shrewsbury Albrighton Hall Hotel and Spa, Ellesmere Road,
Albrighton
, Shrewsbury,
Shropshire SY4 3AG
(if using Sat Nav, use postcode SY4 3HP).
Phone: +44 (0)1939 291000
Directions: Via the M6, exit at Junction 10a and get onto the M54. Continue for approx. 30 min until you reach a roundabout. Take the second exit from this roundabout onto the A49. Take the second exit at the next three roundabouts and the fourth exit from the the one after that. Head towards Wem on the A528. The hotel is 1 mile further along on the left opposite a small church.
Booking:
Book Online or send payment by cheque made payable to ‘The Professional Gardeners’ Guild’ to Gareth Manning, 79 Boscobel Drive, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 3DU.
Leave a Reply