Events

John is Supervisor of the Alpine Department at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and is Vice-Chairman of the Scottish Rock Garden Club.  He has participated in many expeditions, including to China, Iran, Georgia and the "Stans". He has lectured and led tours in several countries.  Recently his travels have been concentrated on central Asia.

Gavin and his family own Macplants, are supporters of The Caley and are well-known as exhibitors and stallholders at Scottish Horticultural shows. This year, Macplants exhibit at Gardening Scotland won a Premier Gold Medal. Gavin's talk will cover the cultivation of Meconopsis and the story of the gentians bred by his father Ian, an expert in the genus.  It was he who created Gentiana 'The Caley'.

This is a joint meeting with the SES Plant Heritage Group. Caroline and husband Andrew run the Rossie Estate in Fife.  She is a member of the Quaker Backhouse family who, over a period of 100 years, through three generations of Backhouses, created a National Collection of daffodils.  The collection and cultivation had a huge impact on the growing and preservation of these important and rare species.  It has commercial significance - Britain supplies 90% of the world's daffodil needs.

This meeting starts at 7pm prompt.

Emma is the Manager of IUCN UK Peatland Programme, based at the Scottish Wildlife Trust.  She previously worked as a wetland ecologist, predominantly in Scotland, and has made a study of blanket bog habitats. The use of large quantities of peat in horticulture has long been a matter for controversy.  Emma will provide up-to-date information on the subject.