This talk and all our lectures are FREE for Friends of the Botanical Gardens to attend. Members of the public are also welcome to join us on payment of £5 at the door on the day. Live talks are held in the Education Centre in the grounds of the Botanical Gardens - easily accessed via the Thompson Road Entrance.

In this talk, Dr Michael Klemperer will focus on the context and evolution of the Brodsworth site including the gradual restoration of certain key elements, leading to its current position and trajectory as one of the most unique and original Victorian Gardens in the country.

In addition he will discuss why accurate restoration and interpretation is important for English Heritage and the complexities involved in that approach particularly in relation to changing fashions in horticulture.

Michael was a student at Pershore and the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew where he completed the Kew Diploma; he has also studied Archaeology and Landscape Architecture at Sheffield University, gaining an MA in Landscape Archaeology and a PhD in the same discipline.

He worked for Sheffield Archaeology Department for a period of two years, then worked for Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council on the restoration of the Richard Woods Landscape (and setting up of a garden team) at Cusworth Hall. He then became Estate Manager at Wentworth Castle where he was part of the team that completed the restoration of the gardens, parkland, and Conservatory.

Michael joined English Heritage as Senior Gardens Advisor (North and Midlands) 9 years ago and has worked on a series of Garden restorations including Brodsworth, Boscobel, Stokesay, Belsay, Mount Grace and Wrest Park.

Brodsworth Hall website

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