Name: AGS Young Person's Activity Weekend 2026 - Alpine Garden Society
SKU: 2026-activity
Price: 200.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

This year the Activity Weekend will take place from 16th-19th April 2026.

Booking deadline 23rd March 2026.

Accommodation will be at Kettlewell Hostel, and the nearest train station is Skipton.

The event will cost £200 for non-members, £170 for members. This includes accommodation for three nights at Kettlewell Hostel including half board (breakfast and dinner) . The entry fee to Ingleborough Estate is included.

Participants must cover their own travel and insurance costs.

Amateurs, students or professionals may apply if they are aged 18-35 or if they are within their first five years of their horticultural career.

We will try to co-ordinate attendees to enable car sharing for those that do not have a vehicle.

Thursday 16th April 2026 – Arrival Day

There are various walks in the area around the hostel which you can undertake, depending on your arrival time. Most of the walks are circular and very scenic, with views of the dales and river. There are two nice pubs in the village and a hotel with a bar.

Friday 17th April 2026 – Visit to RHS Harlow Carr

10 – 11 am – Talk by Anne Wright on breeding, selecting and chipping of bulbs. Anne is a highly successful breeder and exhibitor of Galanthus and Narcissus.

12 pm Talk by Tim Roberts on building rock gardens. Tim laid the new rock garden stone at Harlow Carr.

Afternoon: Visit to Cliff Bank Nursery, a relatively new nursery, run by Ben Preston and Laura Kennedy. Ben was previously head gardener at the well renowned York Gate Garden.

Saturday 18th April 2026 – Visit to the Ingleborough Estate

Ingleborough was the home of legendary botanist and writer Reginald Farrer.

The rhododendron collection is currently being restored and Trevor Nicholson, the head gardener of Harewood House, will give a talk about this. We will then walk around the site where the rhododendrons are growing.

In the afternoon Paul Cook will lead a botanising trip. We have a few options: to explore the Long Scar at Ingleborough for Primula farinosa (including a white form), or perhaps look for Saxifraga oppositifolia at Pen-y-ghent. We will assess this depending on season and weather conditions at the time.

Sun 19th April 2026 – Visit to Aysgarth Rock Garden.

Aysgarth is a listed garden built from limestone and was constructed by James Backhouse in the Edwardian era. It is now in private hands but run by volunteers.

If we have time we will try to add another field visit.

We aim to finish the weekend around 2pm.

Please select your menu preferences from the options below, and let us know of any dietary requirements.

Kettlewell Hostel, Whernside House, Far Lane, Kettlewell, Skipton, BD23 5QU. Kettlewell Hostel Website