Resting in the heart of Windsor Great Park, The Savill Garden is a 35-acre haven of ornamental gardens, woodlands and seasonal displays. The garden was commissioned by George V and created by Sir Eric Savill in 1932. The Savill Garden is Grade I listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
The Savill Garden consists of distinctive interconnecting gardens including the Hidden Gardens, Spring Wood, the Summer Gardens, the New Zealand Garden, Summer Wood, The Glades, Autumn Wood and the Winter Beds. Renowned for its mix of native and exotic species with many of its plants brought back by generations of plant hunters, The Savill Garden joins together design, colour and texture to inspire all.
We are delighted that John Anderson will be giving us a talk at Savill Gardens about these famous Gardens. He is a highly respected horticulturist whose career began with training at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. His expertise and dedication led to senior roles as Head Gardener at Mount Usher Gardens in Ireland, Inverewe Gardens in Scotland, and Exbury Gardens in Hampshire. John’s contributions to horticulture have been recognised with the prestigious RHS Veitch Memorial Medal, awarded for advancing the science, art and practice of horticulture.
Beyond his leadership roles, John is deeply involved in the wider horticultural community. He serves on the RHS Woody Plant Committee, contributes to national arboreta advisory groups, and acts as a trustee for several organisations including TROBI, the National Oak Collection and the Royal Windsor Flower Show. A passionate plantsman, he travels extensively to China, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and Europe amongst other places to see plants in their natural habitats and lectures internationally on topics ranging from alpine plants to global plant exploration.
In 2016, John became Keeper of the Gardens at Windsor Great Park, where he oversees The Savill Garden, Valley Gardens and the private gardens at Frogmore House. His responsibilities include managing ten National Collections and hundreds of Champion Trees. He plays a key role in major treescape renovations and sustainability initiatives across the Royal Estate.
Following John’s talk, we will be led by expert tour leaders highlighting various parts of the garden and seasonal areas of interest.
Refreshments on arrival followed by John’s talk and then a guided tour of approximately 1-1.5 hours. Estimated finish time of 12.30pm.
SGT Members only: £24pp (includes free parking and refreshments upon arrival).
Crown Estate & SGT Members: £9pp (includes parking and refreshments).
Lunch, at your own cost, is available at the Savill Garden Kitchen or the Garden’s cafe. The Visitor Centre also has a well-stocked shop and plant centre. Sensible shoes are advisable to walk on grassed areas and paths. The garden is fully accessible.
*Please note this will be a joint event with Berkshire Gardens Trust.
Maximum number: 25 people