Floral tribute celebrating 150 years at Ness Botanic Gardens

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Beginnings and Beyond is the title of a weekend being staged by Wirral NAFAS groups at Ness Botanic Gardens in honour of Arthur Kilpin Bulley.

In 1898 this Liverpool cotton broker founded Ness Gardens by building his house on a gorse-covered sandstone outcrop.

He incorporated surrounding fields into what has now become one of the country’s leading botanic gardens. On his behalf, pioneering plant collectors, including George Forrest, scoured the temperate regions of the Far East for alpine and hardy plants which could be cultivated on Wirral soil.

After his death, the gardens, surrounding farmland, cottages and Mickwell Brow, the main house, were bequeathed to the University of Liverpool by his daughter Lois Bulley, in 1948.

Today Ness Botanic Gardens is an award-winning visitor attraction which impresses both botany experts and admirers of pretty flowers.

The event, from Friday May 20th to Sunday May 22nd has been
arranged by the Neston and Heswall branches of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS).

Pat Wood, president of Neston Flower Society said: ‘Arthur Kilpin Bulley was an impressive man. He was the man behind Bees Seeds, which some people will remember. He also gave Thurstaston Hill to the community.

His philosophy was to share. He had a Victorian ethic of public service and in opening the garden he hoped that the joy of gardening would spread.’
During the weekend there will be mini-demonstrations in the Lecture Theatre with readings by June Lancelyn Green and friends.

Please note, normal garden admission prices apply. 

www.liv.ac.uk/nessgardens,

0151 353 0123

About Arthur

Arthur Kilpin Bulley was generous. Villagers were invited to help themselves to bags of fruit and vegetables left around the village.

Seeds which George Forrest sent back to Ness from the Far East were germinated at Bees Ltd at Sealand. The nursery produced bulbs, hedging plants, trees, shrubs, roses and herbaceous plants.

Penny packets of seeds were produced for the poorer classes without land so they could grow flowers in pots or window boxes.

 ‘Why buy seeds in 3d packets when a penny packet will satisfy your needs?’ This was Bees famous slogan.

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