Latest Company News

Garden visit to Northern Cyprus

Each year the Company makes a number of visits to outstanding gardens in the UK and abroad. The Master sets out his or her programme which will include one-day events, long weekends and week-long excursions to explore and learn from the horticultural and design expertise of fellow gardeners. 

A group of 35 Company members returned on May 1st from a week's exploration of gardens in Northern Cyprus where they were inspired by splendidly colourful planting, often on steep inclines, and by the dedication and ingenuity of gardeners working with plenty of sunshine but limited water for irrigation.

The Past Master's Resolution

One of the Company's delightful traditions is the presentation each year by the current Master to his or her predecessor of what is a known as a Resolution. This magnificent document, which takes the form of a large and colourfully illuminated scroll, is created by our own heraldic artist Dr. John Lancaster and it records the highlights of the Immediate Past Master's year.

This year's presentation to Daniel Caspi was held at the Spring Court meeting at Carpenters' Hall at the beginning of April. His Resolution summed up a very full year which included a garden tour of the Holy Land, the Company's "Mad About Meadows" float in the Lord Mayor's Show, visits to the Floriade and Keukenhof festivals in Holland, and the Company's participation in the Queen's jubilee celebrations.

The Guildhall Library showcases the Gardeners' Company

The Guildhall Library is staging a special exhibition about the Gardeners' Company, the second in a series on the City's livery companies. It will bring together a host of material about the Company, both past and present, in the form of documents, images and objects. Among them will be the unique Rose Necklace made from the enamel 'connectors' which originally separated the pairs of Masters’ shields on the Chain of Office. The Court decided in 1924 that the Chain of Office needed to be re-designed and repaired. As part of this exercise, the rose links were removed to form what is now a charming necklace.

Company archivist Cindy Peck has organised the exhibition on three themes. The first presents an overview of the history of the Company. The second features treasures from the Company's  horticultural library featuring luminaries such as Thomas Fairchild and John Tradescant Junior. The third showcases the Company today and includes the Master's robes and other regalia. It focuses on the Company’s  work in education and horticultural training and other charitable activity. The ceremonial silver Spade will also be on view.

The exhibition continues until 26th July and entry is free.