Max Walters Memorial Lecture: The Centenary of the National Garden Scheme

George Plumptre is giving the 2026 Max Walters memorial lecture at The William Collyn Centre on Saturday 21 November, with the talk focusing on the centenary of the National Garden Scheme. It's presented by Plant Heritage's Cambridge group, and Plumptre will be looking back at the NGS's progress as it approaches its hundredth year, which the charity plans to celebrate in 2027.

Plumptre is a well-known garden writer and the former chief executive of the National Garden Scheme, which he led for fifteen years before retiring in 2025. During his time there, he introduced new outreach initiatives like gardening for health. Before that, he spent forty years as gardening correspondent for The Times and Country Life, and has published widely on garden history, cricket and horse racing. The Royal Horticultural Society recognised his work with the Carew Pole Award in 2022 and the Elizabeth Medal of Honour in 2024, and he continues to write for the Garden Collective.

Given his history with the NGS, he's speaking from the inside on this one. The lecture comes at a particular moment for the charity, as it's just a year away from its centenary, and Plumptre's talk will reflect on the progress it's made over those decades. If you've followed his writing or the work of the NGS, it's a good chance to hear the story from someone who ran the place.

Doors open at 2pm at The William Collyn Centre, Wellbrook Way, Girton, Cambridge, CB3 0GP, and the lecture starts at 2.30pm. Tickets are £12 for Plant Heritage members and horticultural students, and £17 for visitors, and they're available in advance only.