September 13th, marks International Legacy Giving Day. A day when across the world gifts in Wills are celebrated, and we give thanks to our supporters who have continued their stories through lasting legacies. As Legacy Officer at the University of Liverpool it is my honour to shine the spotlight on legacy gifts and how our amazing legacy supporters have made marvellous things happen at Ness Botanic Gardens.
Since April 2019, I have been privileged to oversee the management of legacy gifts given to Ness Botanic Gardens. I love my job, and I am always inspired by our legacy community and the heartwarming motivations that are behind their acts of kindness. During my time as legacy officer, I’ve discovered many interesting stories about the impact our patrons have had and I'd love to share some with you today.
Thanks to the generosity of former Ness Member Pamela Kessel, we were able to commission Hilton Studio to design and hand-make two bespoke commemorative books. Members and visitors can view these beautiful books which are on display in the Visitor Centre. The books contain the names of those who have been fondly remembered in the gardens, and the names of those who have remembered the gardens in their Will.
Legacy gifts from Robert Allen Lomas and Eileen Lewis have enabled the purchase of four mobility scooters which visitors can use free-of-charge. These vehicles have given those who have been restricted by mobility issues a new lease of life when visiting the gardens.
Mr Lomas along with Freda Ferguson and Barbara Shuttleworth have enabled the construction of the new ‘Roundhouse’ within the gardens. This special place will be used by Little Acorns and Ness Explorers Kids Club. Other developments funded by these big-hearted supporters will include future sustainability projects which will see the development of the composting area within the gardens, providing more space, dedicated bays, interpretation, and a public viewing area.
Margaret Christine Morley has funded a project which is crucial to the curation of the garden’s collections by enabling the purchase of botanic garden plant labels. These labels provide key information including plant names, common names, distribution, and provenance. All data recorded will link to our plant database.
Valued Ness volunteer, Nancy Rothwell's legacy has contributed to helping others grow through adult education at Ness. Her gift has enabled public access to behind-the-scenes areas in the gardens and helped to enhance and expand our teaching programme.
Keen gardener Inger Eagle, enabled improvements to the Mediterranean bed at Ness. It was thought fitting to use her gift in this special way, as her son and daughter shared how their mother often took inspiration from flora at Ness in caring for her own garden: “one of her joys in life was seeing her daffodils and pink camellias flowering each spring”.
After making sure those closest to you are taken care of, remembering us in your Will is an extraordinary way to celebrate your life, while supporting Ness Botanic Gardens. Your lasting legacy will make a significant impact at Ness by preserving unique plants from around the globe, supporting world-leading research in partnership with its custodian, the University of Liverpool, and inspire future generations.
If you are interested in continuing your story at Ness Botanic Gardens, I’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with me: Carolyn Jones, your friendly legacy officer - by email: carolyn.jones@liverpool.ac.uk or telephone: 0151 795 1067.