Welcome to the Birkbeck Garden History Group web site. The group is interested in studying garden history through lectures, garden visits and exhibitions and in encouraging others to become interested in the subject of garden history. Click on the links along the top of the page to find out more about the BGHG and our activities. Click ‘Follow’ at the bottom of this page on the right to receive alerts when new items are posted.
This autumn, as part of the 2017-2018 lecture series, Professor Malcolm Andrews of the University of Kent will look at English Landscape: a sequence of three talks exploring how the distinctive personality of English landscape scenery evolved and was promoted by writers and artists.
All three lectures will take place at the Museum of London starting at 1.00pm.
Wednesday 25th October: English Landscape: The Picturesque
Wednesday, 1st November: English Landscape: Constable and Clare
Wednesday 8 November 2017: English Landscape: Samuel Palmer and the Pastoral
See Outside Events for fuller details
Visit Outside Events for the full programme of six early evening lectures or download the flyer IHR Autumn Programme 2017
will open on Thursday, 7th September, 2017 at RHS Lindley Library, 80 Vincent Square, LONDON, SW1P 2PE.
Open weekdays 10.00 – 17.00 the exhibition will run until Friday, 10th November
To find out more about Codlings, Costards and Biffins visit Outside Events
For more information about all these items visit Outside Events
RHS Wisley have expressed opposition to plans currently being finalised by Highways England to improve the M25 Junction 10 interchange and widen the A3. Although the RHS support in principle improvements to this road junction they believe it could equally well be achieved without the destruction of 500 trees and loss of 10,000 sq. metres of Wisley Gardens.
In their submission RHS Wisley state that current plans would not only result in the elimination of irreplaceable historic trees that are over 100 years old, potentially including five trees that are identified as threatened and endangered in cultivation by Plant Heritage’s Threatened Plants Project, but would also destroy the habitats of a wide range of wildlife and the beauty of the garden.. Excellent specimens of giant redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum) would also be at risk.
For further information about road improvement plans and to learn how you can support RHS Wisley in their opposition visit https://www.rhs.org.uk/Wisley-under-threat-from-A3-plans
This Autumn Strawberry Hill house will be offering a course on the Arts and Crafts Garden. The talks, held in the historic rooms of the house will run weekly on a Thursday morning from 10.00-1.00 for 6 weeks (including half term) from Thursday 28th September to 9th November. Cost £125.00.
See our Other Garden History Courses page for further details
New books by Piet Oudolf and Dan Pearson have been added to the Garden History Publications page
Details of the London Parks & Gardens Trust Winter Lecture series can be found on the Outside Events page
An international garden history conference, organised by The Gardens Trust, will take place in Sheffield this coming autumn. For full details and booking visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/new-research-on-chinese-gardens-two-day-international-conference-tickets-31580628510
Books
A new book – on public parks – has been added to the Garden History Publications page.
27th July to 11th August 2017 10.00am – 5.00pm (except August 3rd closing at 12.30pm), at The Mall Galleries.
A collaboration between The Royal Parks, the Office of Public Works and the Hearsum Collection the exhibition will reveal how parks have gradually evolved to meet ever changing needs. http://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/parks-our-shared-heritage
A further course has been added to our Other Garden History Courses page. The course will run on six Friday afternoons from 15th September to 20th October. Only 12 places are available so early booking is advised. The course will be led by leading expert on Victorian Gardens Dr Brent Elliott.
Nine new courses have been added to our Other Garden History Courses page. Although not taking place until autumn 2017 or in 2018 all are now open for booking.
A new exhibition is now open at RHS Lindley Library. Entitled Gardeners’ World at 50 the exhibition will run until 18th August. Tracing the history of this long-running TV programme the exhibition explores the programme’s influence on the development of gardening over the past 50 years. For more information visit https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/viewevent?EFID=412&ESRC=CMS
Wednesday, 19th July at 11.00am. Painshill
Long-standing volunteer and guide, Bill Tomlins, will explore the ideas that promoted the new naturalistic style of gardening that emerged during the eighteenth century. He will compare this to earlier gardening styles and the influence from prose, poetry and art that were then reflected in the landscape at Painshill.
This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about Painshill and the influences that surrounded the creation of this historic landscape.
The Lecture is free but ADVANCED BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL http://www.painshill.co.uk/the-18th-century-english-landscape-garden-as-a-work-of-art__trashed/
Also more information is now available about the Painshill September conference posted in our April Update The Temple in the Garden which will explore Italy and the English Landscape Garden. http://www.painshill.co.uk/conference/
