Lindley Learn - A History of Women in Horticulture with Fiona Davison

Join Fiona Davison for our new study afternoon, shedding light on some of the lesser-known, pioneering women of horticulture.

From teachers and authors, to broadcasters and artists, we will look at the women who shaped gardening preserved within the collections of the RHS Lindley Library.

This session will be made up of a lecture by Fiona, followed by a tour of the RHS Lindley Library's unique collections.

The tour will feature a range of library archives, photographs, books and botanical artwork, which help tell the stories of women in horticulture.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions throughout this session. There will be regular breaks, and light refreshments will be served.

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Speaker

Fiona Davison - Fiona has been Head of Libraries and Exhibitions at the RHS since 2012. She has published two books on garden history: Hidden Horticulturists: the working-class gardeners who shaped Britain’s gardens (Atlantic Books, 2019) and An Almost Impossible Thing: The radical lives of Britain's pioneer women gardeners (Little Toller, 2023).

RHS Lindley Library - Our beautiful library in central London holds world-renowned collections of rare and modern books, botanical art, photography and archives. Discover more about our library on the RHS website.

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Event Details

Tickets for this event are limited and must be purchased in advance. Tickets are £25 for RHS members and students, and £30 for non-members. The ticket cost supports the RHS Lindley Library.

The session will begin at 1:30pm, with doors opening at 1.15pm. This event will take place between the Library and the Council Chamber.

Please note that due to the nature of the Edwardian building, it is necessary for participants of the event to be able to independently manage stairs.

RHS Libraries events explore unexpected perspectives on horticulture with a unique selection of collections tours, talks, workshops and conversations. Discover our programme of online and in person events on EventBrite.

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Contact

For any questions, including accessibility enquiries, please email library@rhs.org.uk

Discover more about the RHS Lindley Library via our website, social media and new Digital Collections.

The image in the banner is an unmounted slide of Waterperry students in the cucumber house, taken by teacher and photographer Valerie Finnis, c.1950-c.1970. Valerie Finnis / RHS Lindley Collections. Find more inspiration with the RHS Digital Collections.