August 2013: Conversazione

Report from our Executive Secretary

What a wonderful day was so kindly provided by Lawrence and Elizabeth Banks for the Linnean Society Fellows’ Conversazione! Following yummy cakes and coffee on arrival, we had an informative lecture from Andrew Allott FLS, entitled ‘An Eye to the Land’, which provided fascinating insights into the geology and ecology of the Welsh Marches. A delicious buffet luncheon preceded a personally guided tour around the stunning grounds of Hergest Croft Gardens, which extend to over 70 acres with over 5,000 rare trees and shrubs collected from the Far East and elsewhere – a gardening tradition created by four generations of the Banks family over the last 115 years. Small groups also had the opportunity to visit the family archive. The day concluded with a visit to the Banks’ delightful home, Ridgebourne, to see their truly superb art collection.

Hergest Croft Gardens lies in the heart of the Welsh Mountains. It is open to the public, to visit the website please click here.