The Northern Ireland Heritage Gardens Committee was established in 1980 to prepare and publish an inventory of parks, gardens and demesnes of historic importance within Northern Ireland. Membership was subsequently expanded to broaden the expertise and to bring the committee into contact with other organisations concerned with the management and conservation of our plant and garden heritage.

In February 2015 the committee was restructured and the Northern Ireland Heritage Gardens Trust was formed. In Sept/Oct 2015 the NIHGT gained Charitable Status and is Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland - Reg No. NIC103014. Subsequently the Committee decided to formally change the name of the organisation to be known as The Northern Ireland Heritage Gardens Trust.

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The 2nd Annual Spring Lecture

was held on Tuesday 15th March 2022

'CASTLEWELLAN ARBORETUM - FINDINGS FROM NEW RESEARCH'

by MICHAEL LEAR

Castlewellan Forest Park is one of the best known, and most intact historic demesnes in Northern Ireland. How did generations of the Annesley family and then the Forest Service develop as a site in relation to the surrounding landscape? How did the Walled Garden come to hold one of the most important collections of trees and woody plants in all of Ireland? With the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, new primary research and condition surveys have been carried out to underpin a major project to protect and rejuvenate the demesne. Michael Lear of Lear Associates and formally Forest Service Curator of the National Arboretum at Castlewellan carried out this research between 2018 to late 2020 and will for the first time present findings and outline the restoration work needed in the Walled Garden, Rhododendron Wood and wider park.

 MICHAEL LEAR

Click here to watch a Recording of the Lecture

This was a free lecture.

However, your support for the work of the Nortern Ireland Heriatge Gardens Trust will be most apprecietaed. Please click on your preferred currency below.

Donate in £ Stirling

Donate in € EURO

 

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The 28th Annual Conference will be held from

Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th October 2022

 Further details later - Please save the date 

Sadly, the conference was also postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the Pandemic and Gov Restrictions.

We are pleased to advise that the conference will be now be held Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th October 2022

in the

National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin

an exciting program of speakers will address issues on the theme of 

"Planting for Tomorrow's World" - A global Perspective.

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE INFORMATION AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE DATE

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The Inaugural On-Line Lecture given by Seamus O'Brien - ‘To the Mountains of Myanmar – A Burmese Adventure’

was held on Tuesday 16th March 2021 and attracted an audience of circa 200

A recording is available using this LINK

 

 

 

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'Success' - The 2019 ANNUAL CONFERENCE has been declared a great Success 

The 27th Annual Conference was held from Thursday 3rd Oct to Saturday 5th October 2019 in Kilkenny Castle, Rep of Ireland.

Topic: "In Celebration of the ROSE" - the roll of the Rose in Garden Design, Art and Floristry.

The Committee wish to thank all of the Excellent Speakers, The OPW, Killkenny Castle, Woodstock Gardens and last but by no means least the ATTENDEES who contributed to making the Conference such a resounding Success.

Check out the FaceBook Pages for more images

Watch this space for details of the 2020 Conference. Even better - please subscribe to the Newsletter on the Home Page

        

 

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Ended 2019 ANNUAL CONFERENCE Ended

The 27th Annual Conference will be held from Thursday 3rd Oct to Saturday 5th October 2019

in Kilkenny Castle, Rep of Ireland.

Topic: "In Celebration of the ROSE" - the roll of the Rose in Garden Design, Art and Floristry

Program & Booking Form now available as printable download (see below)

Click Here for a printable version of the BOOKING FORM

 Click Here for the FLYER with PROGRAM and BOOKING FORM

ONLINE BOOKING IS NOW OPEN click her to go to BOOK TICKETS in £ or €

Click here to visit Expedia's list of Kilkenny Accommodation

 

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Rhododendron Workshop at Mount Stewart

21st April 2018

 

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Save the Date:

26th Annual Conference

Thursday 4th to Saturday 6th October 2018 in the City of Armagh

"Heritage Landscapes in the Urban Realm"

TO RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER TO BE KEPT INFORMED.

SIGN UP to our MAILING LIST ON THE THIS HOME PAGE.

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2017 Conference Flyer

Click here to CHECK OUT the SHORT VIDEO of the CONFERENCE

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTO ALBUM OF 25th CONFERENCE

Click here for Flyer

 

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Northern Ireland Heritage Gardens Trust and the Office of Public Works

The Conference took place on Fri 7th, Sat 8th & Sunday 9th. Oct 2016 with a Topic of

"Commemoration Gardens and Gardening"  in Dublin Castle

REPORTS

Click here for a downloadable pdf Report of the Conference

Click here for report on the David Lambert Presentation

Brochure - Click here for Downloadable version

Click here to view the Photo Album of the Conference

National War Memorial, Island Bridge, Dublin

KEEP YOURSELF INFORMED

Please Join our MAILING LIST - FILL IN THE SUBSCRIBE BOX TO THE RIGHT

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Brochure for the 2015 Conference is still available to Download - Click here to LINK to downloadable pdf

Click here to View the IMAGE GALLERY of the Conference

Almost 100 People enjoyed a series of lectures and garden visits on Friday 9th, Saturday 10th & Sunday 11 Oct 2015

the Topic of the conference was

"Architecture & Art in Historic Garden Design"

Click here for "A History of Hillsborough Castle Demesne by Terence Reeves-Smyth"

Click here for "The Flora of Hillsborough" by Terence Reeves-Smyth

NIHGC were pleased to run the conference in Association with the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society in the Historic Royal Palace - Hillsborough Castle

  The 2015 Conference was held in Association with UAHS

 

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NOW AVAILABLE for VIEWING

Photo Album of the 2014 CONFERENCE

BOTANY OF DESIRE - The Role of Nurseries in the Irish Garden & Beyond

took place from 10th - 12th October 2014 at National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin

Click here to download a Printable pdf of the Brouchure & Booking Form

Click here to go to the Photo Album

 

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See below for pics and reports on the 2013 CONFERENCE - 11th, 12th & 13th October

SOUTHERN GUESTS - PLANTS FROM THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE IN OUR GARDENS

Click here for a Report by Peter Stam for the GLDA Publication COMPASS

Click here to see Book No.1 Pics of the Conference

Click here to see Book No.2 Pics of the Conference

Click here to see Book No.3 Pics of the Conference

Click here to see Book No.4 Pics of the Conference

Click here for a Conference Report by Peter Stam of the GLDA

Guest Garden Writer or Author. Periodic Publication No.1

From time to time we will bring you the words of well known garden writers or authors.

The first in the series is by Seamus O'Brien, Head Gardener at Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens.

We are thrilled to offer extracts from his most recent publication"In the Footsteps of Augustine Henry and his Chinese plant collectors" by Seamus O Brien with Forward by Roy Lancaster OBE VMH is Published by the Antique Collectors Club Ltd www.antiquecollectorsclub.com RRP £40.00

Acknowledgements:

Our sincere thanks to Seamus O Brien for his on going committment to and interest in Horticural Heritage in Ireland. Seamus O'Brien manages Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens, an 18th Century Country Estate belonging to National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin.

Click here for more images