Kevin Reid Ness Gardens
Ness Gardens is well known to Club members and it was interesting to hear a brief history and a review current situation from the Director, Kevin Reid.
The Garden was created in 1898 by Mr A K Bully, a Liverpool cotton merchant. With collection of plants from China, by Mr G Forrest, and the subsequent link to Bees Seeds, Ness Gardens it became a major botanic garden. Now it is the home of the National Collections of Sorbus and Betula, some of which are of considerable rarity.
In 1948, on the death of Mr Bully his daughter presented the Gardens to the University of Liverpool. Today the Gardens offer no degree courses and depend on the University, paying visitors, plant sales and other activities for income; however it is running at a loss. With the present financial constraints on University funding the Gardens have been set the target of