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We invite you one and all, to come and see our newly installed books of remembrance and bequests and to also join us at a commemorative event to celebrate their arrival on 21 March 2024.

To add a loved one’s name to our book of remembrance or to express an interest in attending the event contact your friendly Legacy Officer Carolyn Jones: [email protected]

Join us on Monday 2 October for a scone or piece of cake as part of our Macmillan Coffee morning.

Get together with friends and family, enjoy a sweet treat with a view of the gardens while we raise money for a fantastic cause.

Pre-booking required via the website

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/ness-gardens/whats-on/events/macmillancoffeemorning.html

Save the date! One month to go until our Halloween Trail, visit Ness Botanic Gardens this October Half term for a fun family trail! 🧙‍♀️🦉🦇

📷Sara Bishop

5 days to go!! The wind and the willows outdoor theatre

It's going to be a brilliant show, something for the whole family to enjoy 😁

Limited tickets available, please book early to avoid disappointment

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/ness-gardens/whats-on/summer,at,ness/outdoortheatrethewindinthewillows.html

📷 Quantum Theatre

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Obituary: Edwin Williams

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our much-loved friend and colleague, Edwin Williams. Edwin passed away at home on Monday 26th of June 2023 after a brief illness, surrounded by loved ones.

Edwin had worked at Ness Botanic Gardens in the role of Team Leader (Operations) for the last two years, bringing with him a wealth of experience from previous roles. In particular, his years working front of house in hotels gave Ed an exemplary focus on customer service and combined with his natural charm and genuine interest in people, this experience made Ed a firm favourite with staff, volunteers, visitors and Members alike. Ed was always ready with welcoming smile and a warm word for anyone who crossed his path.

More than a colleague, Ed fitted into the Ness team from his very first day, always ready with a witty comment or an astute observation. Colleagues may recall his good-natured grumpiness and neatness (We promise we’ll keep the mess room tidy, Ed!)

Outside of work, Edwin loved spending time with his husband Andrew, his daughter Holly and her husband Alex. A keen fundraiser, Edwin and Andrew raised over £180,000 for various charities during their time together.

A proud Welshman, English was Ed’s second language and some colleagues may remember with warmth Ed’s ability to move between the two languages and his pleasure at sharing his knowledge of Wales and its language.

Edwin enjoyed social occasions - especially if a vodka and coke was on offer - and would have friends and colleagues howling with laughter at a well-timed comment. We’ll all miss that sense of humour and perfect comic timing.

We’ll miss Ed so much and our thoughts are very much with Andrew, Holly and Alex at this time.

Edwin’s funeral was held on Wednesday 12 of July 2023 at Flintshire Memorial Park and Crematorium, followed by a celebration of Ed’s life at Ness Botanic Gardens. A testament to how many lives Ed had touched, it was standing room only at the funeral and many guests repaired to Ness to celebrate Ed’s life and reminisce about time spent with him.

The family asked that, instead of flowers, donations be made to MacMillan https://www.macmillan.org.uk/donate/how-to-donate and Marie Curie https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/donate who provide such support to Edwin and his family.

Download a free gifts in Wills guide By including a gift to Marie Curie in your Will, you'll help us plan for future work, and help more people and their families with terminal Illness.

Sunday 30 April 2023 2.30pm - 4pm
Free Anniversity Lecture, booking required.

Join botanist Dr Hugh McAllister to discover the time sequence of how plants were chosen and planted at Ness, concentrating on those introduced to cultivation through Ness which everyone can grow in their own gardens.

To book your free place visit the link below.
https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/ness-gardens/whats-on/events/anniversitylecturefromnesstoourowngardens.html

Ness was established 125 years ago by plantsman Arthur K. Bulley to trial and introduce the wealth of plants that were being encountered abroad, eventually sponsoring plant hunting expeditions and setting up the nursery Bees Seeds Ltd. This passion for plants and sharing them with wider audiences has been an enduring legacy that has continued through the last 75 years at Ness in its role as a university botanic garden.

Dr Hugh McAllister has spent his career at Ness studying groups of plants to understand their evolution and geographical distribution. His research has led to new understanding of several plant groups, the introduction of new plants, and has provided Ness with scientifically important collections of plants. He was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal by the RHS in 2012 for ‘an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the science and practice of horticulture’.

Fancy a treat over Easter?

The Botanic Kitchen is offering gorgeous treats for all!