PGG AGM 2025

Book Online NB. The closing date for bookings is Monday 9th September.
Contact Joe Whitehead for more information organiser-northern1@pgg.org.uk.

The committee is delighted to announce that this year’s Annual General Meeting will be hosted at one of England’s finest Elizabethan estates, Burghley House on Saturday 27th of September.

Burghley house was completed in 1587 and constructed by one of the most powerful men of the time, William Cecil. Burghley house is set in amongst 1800 acres of ancient park land and extensive Capability Brown landscapes, 46 acres of beautiful and diverse gardens waiting to be explored. Housed within Burghley’s grand and regal state rooms is one of the finest collections of 1700 century treasures to be found anywhere in Europe.

“Bursting with life, Burghley gardens feature imaginative planting, sculpture and surprises sure to delight.
Discover horticulture, sculpture and sensational seasonal colour as you stroll through the undulating landscape of our Sculpture Garden, Capability Brown’s lost gardens. Then step into a world of classical civilisation, astrology and astronomy in the highly entertaining Garden of Surprises. A sensory delight with the unexpected at every turn. Finally take a gentle stroll around the lake through the south gardens to arrive at formal rose gardens and neatly clipped yew topiary, and deep herbaceous borders that surround the south, west and north of this most grand of houses.”

Read more about Burghley

Programme:

Saturday 27th September AGM 2025

The day will start with refreshments and our AGM meeting, then time to grab lunch at one of several eating options or bring a picknick and find a pretty spot. After lunch we will explore the extensive gardens guided by Burghley’s head gardener and members of the gardens team, all of whom are PGG members. We will finish the day with refreshments in the old kitchen and a private guided tour of Burghley’s spectacular state rooms and all their hidden treasures.
Following on as day turns into evening, time to freshen up and make our way to Burghley Park Golf club for a fine 3 course dinner, we will be joined for the evening by Nick Hamilton owner and curator of the gardens at Barnsdale, a true national treasure. Nick will also be our speaker for the evening, delivering a highly entertaining and engaging talk entitled ‘Barnsdale After Geoff’.

10.00am for a 10.30am start (finish 12.30) – AGM meeting Meet at the main Brew house entrance (see website for all travel and on-site map and details, burghley.co.uk).

12.30-1.30pm – Lunch (see Burghley’s website for all onsite eating options).

1.30pm – Afternoon gardens guided tour (meet at the gardens entrance).

4.30pm – Meet at the houses entrance for refreshments in the old Kitchen and private tour of the state rooms.

Evening dinner and speaker
7.00pm -11.00pm – Arrive at the Burghley Park Golf Club (www.burghleyparkgolfclub.co.uk) for 7pm for dinner at 7.30pm. Situated with in Burghley Park. The bar will be open until 11.00pm.

Sunday the 28th September – Grimsthorpe Castle Gardens

Visit to Grimsthorpe Castle Gardens, and a guided tour by Head Gardener and PGG member Jim Handley.

Beautifully managed by Grimsthorpes Head Gardener Jim Handley and his expert gardens team, the inspiring gardens at Grimsthorpe are a delight and a wonderful place to explore.

“Gardens surround the Castle on three sides. To the South lies a formal lawn with topiary squares beyond. These contain small ornamental pools. Further from the Castle the garden becomes a semi-wild woodland garden, filled with spring bulbs. If you venture beyond this you will reach the walled garden where an exhibition of lettering art is on show. To the West of the Castle a long herbaceous border provides colour during the summer months. The neatly trimmed yew hedge is cut low enough to give spectacular views to the lake.
On the East of the Castle a formal rose parterre is lined with small box hedges. Beyond it lies a walled kitchen garden. This ornamental fruit and vegetable garden is a haven of tranquility on a quiet summer afternoon. It contains apple and pear espaliers and a collection of Quince and Medlar trees”

grimsthorpe.co.uk

Meet 10.30am for refreshments, from The March Hare tea trailer situated at the visitors entrance. We will head off for our guided tour with head gardener Jim at 11.00am.
Finish 1.30pm.

Cost:

There are four options for the AGM:

The Full Spade
£62.00 per head – Includes the AGM (free access), guided tour of Burghley House and Gardens on the Saturday afternoon, a three-course dinner with a glass of wine at Burghley Park Golf Club followed by tea/coffee, the Ron Nettle Memorial Lecture, guided tour of Grimsthorpe Castle Gardens on the Sunday.

The Half Spade
£50.00 per head – Consists of the AGM day only: AGM (free access), guided tour of Burghley House and Gardens on the Saturday afternoon, a three-course dinner with a glass of wine at Burghley Park Golf Club followed by tea/coffee, and the Ron Nettle Memorial Lecture.

The Trowel
£21.00 – Includes the AGM (free access) and guided tour of Burghley House and Gardens on the Saturday afternoon.

The Diblet
There is no charge to attend the AGM and leave afterwards. Booking is essential for numbers – please contact Joe Whitehead.

Grimsthorpe Castle Gardens on Sunday
£12.00 – This is included in the Full Spade cost but if you would like to add it to any of the other options the cost for the visit is £12.00.

NB. None of the options include accommodation which you will have to arrange separately.

Address:

Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 3JY. Burghley house is very easily accessible by train, or road and conveniently situated with in walking distance of the stunning Georgian town of Stamford which has many accommodation options and lots to explore – www.visitlincolnshire.com/destinations/stamford/

Grimsthorpe Bourne, PE10 0LY.

Booking:

Book Online NB. The closing date for bookings is Monday 9th September.
Contact Joe Whitehead for more information organiser-northern1@pgg.org.uk.