Formed in 1980, the NIHGT is committed to preserving the integrity of our Historic Parks, Gardens and Demesnes, throughout Ireland, for future generations.
Hundreds of historically significant public and private landscapes across Ireland face constant threats from neglect and lack of public awareness of their importance, as well as factors such as climate change, inappropriate maintenance, funding problems etc.
Each year we host a conference to raise awareness of these issues and provide a forum to discuss solutions with like minded garden history enthusiasts and those with expert knowlege of historic design, horticulture, architecture, garden engineering and other relevant subjects.
Our spring lecture series focuses on a specific aspect of Ireland's garden history, e,g, the development/re-development of a particular property, or, more technical subjects such as threats to historically planted trees. These lectures are delivered by acknowledged specialists and allow our members and associates to benefit from their expereince.
.jpg "Conference 2013 Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Co Down. Southern Guests - Plants from Southern Hemisphere in Our Gardens - Visit to Mount Stewart Gardens")
.jpg "Conference 2013 Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Co Down. Southern Guests - Visit to Mount Stewart Gardens. L-R Octavia Tulloch, Mike Nelhams, Michael Lear, Dick Fulcher, Reg Maxwell")
.jpg "Conference 2013 Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Co Down. Southern Guests - Plants from Southern Hemisphere in Our Gardens - Visit to Clandeboye Estate Gardens")
.jpg "Conference 2013 Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Co Down. Southern Guests - Plants from Southern Hemisphere in Our Gardens - Visit to Clandeboye Estate Gardens. L-R Reg Maxwell (Committee), Michael Lear (Committee & Speaker), Mike Nelhams (Tresco)")
NIHGT Lecture of the Year 2025 - Planting Ideas in the Urban Forest
Mark Johnston will speak of his 50 years as an independent scholar in the greenspace industry. He is the author of 'Street Trees in Britain , A History' 2022, among other works. He will reference the detail covered in his recently published book.
2025 NIHGT Annual Conference - The World of Bulbs
The 31st annual Conference of the Northern Ireland Heritage Gardens Trust will be held in the Waterville Hotel, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, on 2-4th October 2025 on the theme of: The World of Bulbs: Their history, propagation and use in the garden throughout the year.
Papers will look at the history of commercial bulb and tuber breeding in Ireland from the 19 th century; how bulb nurseries propagate their varieties and how they produce their stock commercially; historic bulb varieties; bulbs in art; bulbs in the wild; how bulbs were planted in gardens from the 17 th century onwards.