Our Speakers
Patrick Wildgust, curator of Shandy Hall in Coxwold
Shandy Hall is the former home of the author, Laurence Sterne who wrote The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy which was first published in 1760. Patrick started his talk speaking about Laurence and the art of storytelling. Tristram Shandy was written in nine volumes which can be read in order but can also be ready out of order as each is a complete story.
Whilst watching a number of ghost moths one evening, Patrick became interested in the moths around the grounds of Shandy Hall and organised his first moth event in 2005 with an exhibition. At this exhibition he had borrowed a number of Victorian age exhibits from the Yorkshire Museum in York. This initial exhibition has led to many moth events and a lot of research into the moths in the local area.
Patrick demonstrated how to recreate the moth catching box he uses at Shandy Hall. Once identified the moths he catches are released back into the gardens. Every year a student from the University of Pennsylvania joins the team at Shandy Hall to help with the research into moths. Over the years since the moth project began, the team so far have identified over 500 species of moth.
To find out more about Shandy Hall visit their website www.laurencesternetrust.org.uk or visit their Facebook page Laurence Sterne Trust at Shandy Hall
John Killingbeck
John has had 50 years in professional horticulture, was a lecturer at Bishop Burton College, is an advisor to Askham Bryan Arboretum - and has an enthusiasm for, and encyclopaedic knowledge of trees.
Ancient and Exotic Trees
A time travelling talk by John Killingbeck
Going back through the ancient history of trees
- when and why did they first evolve and what did the earliest forests
look like?
How did they change through time and what were the major
steps that took place?
How long ago did trees that are familiar to us
today first appear and what is their history to date?
This talk will feature many hands on live specimens for people to examine and
absolutely no "death by PowerPoint"!
Doug Stewart
Doug’s horticultural career stated when at the tender age of 13 he won the contract to supply the village shop with freshly grown vegetables.
After training as a professional horticulturist Doug has worked in roles as diverse as cucumber and tomato lecturer, pumpkin producer, plant propagator, interior landscaper and garden designer.
After over 20 years working in horticultural education, where he was Head of Horticulture at one of the UK’s leading land-based colleges Doug is now enjoying the freedom of working for himself.
To keep out of mischief Doug also presents a two-hour gardening phone in on BBC Radio Humberside – “The Great Outdoors” is one of the most popular local radio programmes in the region.
Doug has been widely published and has contributed to both radio and television programmes.
In his free time he enjoys striding across hill and dale (well at the start of the day that is – in truth, at the end of the day there is a lot more waddling than striding!) has traveled widely and enjoys plants, his beloved Mac computer and red wine in almost equal measure.
Peter Williams of Weathervane House
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Peter was formerly principal lecturer at York St. John University, he is an ecologist, plant physiologist, soil scientist, statistician and gardener.
Links:
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The significance of the decline in world bee populations and why do our pears sometimes lack seeds?
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Gill Tomkinson
Nestling between the Yorkshire Wolds and The Banks of the River Humber, Lavender Blue can be found in the Rural Hamlet of Broomfleet in The East Riding of Yorkshire.
The constantly evolving and increasing range of Lavendula (Lavenders) and Dianthus (Pinks) plants are grown and tended by Gill Tomkinson. Now having firmly established the business which first was formed in 1982 by the opening of a Florist business by the name of Delft Florists.
Gill graduated from the Welsh College Of Horticulture in 1982 following a two year course. After gaining a City and Guilds and a Diploma in floristry and plant production, Gill went on to set up a successful floristry business which she ran for eight years before she began working in the horticultural trade as a producer for reputable nurseries both in Yorkshire and Oxfordshire.
Neil Timm of The Fern Nursery
Neil began his gardening life at The Isle Of Ely College, Wisbech, and has worked in a number of gardens in Lincolnshire and beyond, including over twenty years as a landscape gardener and garden designer.
He runs The Fern Nursery a family run nursery in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
Gail Summerfield MSc Dip Hort [RHS]
Gail trained as a botanist and plant physiologist before working in retailing as a training officer. She started Westshores in 1985, and seventeen years ago took a post as a part-time lecturer at Bishop Burton College. She now manages a private course, "Better Gardening" at the village hall in Winterton. Theory modifies and is modified by the practical experience of running a nursery and she is a well informed, interesting speaker.
