John Grimshaw, Director of the Yorkshire Arboretum,  will give an illustrated talk titled ‘A Plantsman’s Paradise’, about the Garden in Ray Wood, an area of the Arboretum on the main Castle Howard site.

In 2010 Ray Wood was overgrown but since then staff and volunteers from the Arboretum have worked hard to bring it back to its former glory as one of the is one of the finest woodland gardens in the north of England.

As many of you know John is the experienced and highly respected Director of the Yorkshire Arboretum where, since 2012, he has led many innovative and important developments. He has a botany degree and a Doctorate from Oxford, is author of a major book on trees and is a member of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Advisory Group on Nomenclature and Taxonomy. It’s very good to say he was awarded a much deserved MBE in the New Year’s Honours List,  for services to Tree Health and Plant Conservation.

He’s a very knowledgeable and accomplished speaker and this is a great way to start our gardening year.

As ever please bring along any of your friends and neighbours as guests or possible new members, they’ll be very welcome