Events and activities
Our events and activities organised exclusively for members include monthly walks, regular organised coach trips, and a series of talks and lectures. Find out details of upcoming events below.
Walks
Enjoy our free monthly members' walks highlighting the plants and wildlife of Ness Botanic Gardens.
Each walk is limited to 1 people, members only, aged 16 or above.
Dates and times
The next walk is taking place on Saturday 3rd May 2025. The focus for this walk will be on the national collection of alders (Alnus).
The walks starts at 11am, meeting in the Visitor Centre, and will last 60-90 minutes. Please bring your membership card with you to enter the gardens.
Book your place on a members walk
Places are free but must be booked in advance.
Coach trips
We're offering a number of organised coach trips exclusively to our members.
The places are usually limited to one coach, with approximately 40-45 seats. Each member can bring a guest or double memberships can bring two guests.
Book your place on a members coach trip
Thursday 22 May 2025
- Destination: Dorothy Clive Garden, Market Drayton
- Details: Home to a number of notable plant collections, this 'garden for all seasons' is set on a hillside and features a quarry, waterfall, rose walk, woodland, alpine scree and more
- Price: £35 members, £40 guest.
Thursday 26 June 2025
- Destination: RHS Harlow Carr, Harrogate
- Details: With many garden styles across 58 acres, Harlow Carr has so much to explore. The trip includes an introduction by Paul Cook who some of you will know as the previous curator for Ness
- Price: £40 members, £45 guests.
Thursday 14 August 2025
- Destination: Southport Flower Show
- Details: Incredible flowers! Incredible food! Incredible fun! The UK's biggest independent flower show offers something for everyone, including demonstrations, expert advice, stunning displays, live entertainment, delicious food and more
- Price: £40 members, £45 guests.
Thursday 25 September 2025
- Destination: Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens, Anglesey
- Details: Situated on the edge of the Menai Straight Plas Cadnant the 'hidden gardens' have been undergoing a 30+ year restoration to present them in their pre-WWI glory
- Price: £30 members, £35 guests.
Talks and lectures
Join us and enjoy our lectures and talks highlighting the plants and wildlife of Ness Botanic Gardens and related subjects of interest.
All members lectures take place in the lecture theatre and start at 2pm. Booking is limited to member + guest (double memberships can bring 2 guests).
Book your place on a members talk
Wednesday 14 May 2025
Dr Raj Whitlock: How will climate change alter our grasslands, and why does it matter?
Sunday 18 May 2025
Steph Dolben: Work carried out by University of Liverpool Hedgehog Friendly Campus Group, and more generally about hedgehogs.
Wednesday 11 June 2025
Dr Freddie Draper: Research about environmental change and use of drones to help map trees at Ness.
Sunday 22 June 2025
Dr Gina Muskett: Trees in antiquity - their mythology, symbolism and use in Ancient Greek and Roman society.
Saturday 12 July 2025
Indy Rana: The Tender Shoots gardening club.
Saturday 27 September 2025
Simon Seligman: The evolution of Chatsworth’s Garden and park.
Wednesday 8 October 2025
Nick Lightfoot: The new Ness Botanic Garden collection policy.
Saturday 18 October 2025
Timothy Walker: What have plants ever done for us?
Wednesday 5 November 2025
Sarah Moody: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Gardening the World.