The Cornwall Garden Society’s (CGS) January lectures will be delivered by Tony Russell, who is widely regarded as one of Britain’s leading authorities on trees and shrubs.

Tony was Head Forester of Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire – one of the finest collections of trees and shrubs in the temperate world – between 1989 and 2003.

His areas of responsibility included the development and management of the Arboretum; conservation of its many rare and endangered species, and interpretation of the collection as well as its environmental importance to others.

By 1999, he had increased annual visitor numbers from 140,000 to 300,000, resulting in the Arboretum becoming the third most visited garden in the UK at that time (after Kew Gardens and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Garden, Wisley). In 2000, the UK Government awarded National Status to Westonbirt in recognition of this achievement.

Westonbirt: The National Arboretum will be his topic on Tuesday, January 14 at 7.30pm at The Alverton in Truro whilst Gardening with Trees in the 21st century will be his focus on Wednesday, January 15 at 2.30pm at the Penventon Park Hotel in Redruth.

These lectures are free for CGS members. Non-members are welcome to attend and donations are gratefully received.

A local nursery will offer high quality plants for sale and refreshments will be available.

The CGS is a charity that exists to encourage and improve the science, art and practice of horticulture in all its branches; share knowledge about gardening and Cornwall’s rich garden heritage, and conserve the county’s natural environment. The Society is affiliated to the RHS and its Patron is HRH The Prince of Wales.

For further information about the CGS, please visit www.cornwallgardensociety.org.uk, follow @CwllGardenSoc on Twitter and Instagram, or like www.facebook.com/cornwallgardensociety