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 16 people, members only, aged 16 or above.
Dates and times
The next walk is taking place on Saturday 5 April 2025. The focus for this walk will be on rhododendrons.
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.
| Venue | Date | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
Dorothy Clive Garden, Market Drayton |
Thursday 22 May 2025 |
Member £35/Guest £40 |
Home to a number of noteable plant collections, this 'garden for all seasons' is set on a hillside and features a quarry, waterfall, rose walk, woodland, alpine scree and more. |
RHS Harlow Carr, Harrogate |
Thursday 26 June 2025 | Member £40/Guest £45 |
With many garden styles across 58 acres Harlow Carr has so much to explore. The trip includesan introduction by Paul Cook who some of you will know as the previous curator for Ness Gardens. |
Southport Flower Show |
Thursday 14 August 2025 | Member £40/Guest £45 |
Incredible flowers! Incredible food! Incredible fun! The Uk's biggest independenmt flower show offers something for everyone including demonstrations, expert advice, stunning displays, live entertainment, delicious food and more. |
Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens, Anglesey |
Thursday 25 September 2025 | Member £30/Guest £35 |
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. |
Book your place on a members coach trip
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).
| Speaker | Subject | Date |
|---|---|---|
Dr Raj Whitlock |
How will climate change alter our grasslands, and why does it matter?’ | Wednesday 14 May |
Steph Dolben |
Work carried out by University of Liverpool Hedgehog Friendly Campus Group, and more generally about hedgehogs | Sunday 18 May |
Dr Freddie Draper |
Research about environmental change and use of drones to help map trees at Ness | Wednesday 11 June |
Dr Gina Muskett |
Trees in antiquity - their mythology, symbolism and use in Ancient Greek and Roman society | Sunday 22 June |
Indy Rana |
The Tender Shoots gardening club | Saturday 12 July |
Simon Seligman |
The evolution of Chatsworth’s Garden and park | Saturday 27 September |
Nick Lightfoot |
The new Ness Botanic Garden collection policy | Wednesday 8 October |
Timothy Walker |
What have plants ever done for us? | Saturday 18 October |
Sarah Moody |
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Gardening the World | Wednesday 5 November |
Book your place on a members talk