Activities

 

Upcoming Talks

  • TBA

AGM

Subject to the resources available, activities may include:

  • Public lectures.
  • Blogs.
  • Specialist seminars, lecture series, and academic symposia.
  • Research projects.
  • Fellowships or scholarships.
  • Co-ordination and support for books, articles, and other publications.
  • Expert advice.
  • Promotion and co-ordination between national and overseas institutions and scholars.
  • Liaison with funders and supporters.

Past talks:

  • Annette Bainbridge, “Jane Deans, Rebel Gardener: Power and Politics and the Making of a Nineteenth-Century Colonial Garden”, Hamilton Gardens, 19 March 2026
  • Annette Giesecke, Talk and Tour: “The Medieval Cloister Garden: A Vision of Paradise” talk, and Guided, Behind-the Scenes-Tour of Hamilton Gardens’ Medieval Garden. Hamilton Gardens, 13 February 2026
  • Gail Pittaway, Meet Dr Carrot and Potato Pete: The legacy of the Victory Gardens, Hamilton Gardens, 11 September 2025
  • Peter Sergel, The Time Traveller’s Guide to the Hamilton Gardens. Hamilton Gardens, 11 August 2025
  • Annette Bainbridge, “Finding Mrs Mitchinson: The Life of a Forgotten Colonial Plantswoman”, Hamilton Gardens, 20 March 2025
  • Peter Shaw, Japan; An Autobiography. Hamilton Gardens, 13 November 2024
  • Peter Sergel, Hamilton Gardens is designed to tell the story of civilisation. Hamilton Gardens Pavilion, 2 May 2024, 5.15 pm
  • Annette Bainbridge, ‘The Soldiers and the Olive Tree: An ANZAC Story’. Chartwell Room, Hamilton Gardens, 21 March 2024
  • John Robson, The Botanical Result of James Cook’s three Voyages in the Pacific 1768 – 1780. Piwakawaka Room, Hamilton Gardens, 14 September 2023
  • James Beattie, An Empire of Plants? Chinese plants, Asian/European trade, and Aotearoa New Zealand, 1790s-1880s. Chartwell Room, Hamilton Gardens, 14 June 2023
  • Annette Giesecke, From Paradise to Pompeii: Near Eastern origins of the ancient Roman garden. Hamilton Gardens, 27 April 2023
  • Matt Morris, Common Ground: Garden Histories of Aotearoa, Hamilton Gardens, 24 November 2022
  • Annette Bainbridge, Cultivating Relationships: Colonial Women and their Married Life in the Garden, 1850-1914, Hamilton Gardens. 4 November, 2022
  • Zoë Heine, Community Gardens, Hamilton Gardens. 4 August 2021
  • James Beattie, Willow Pattern, Hamilton Gardens. 8 July 2021
  • Ian Duggan, The History of the Garden Gnome in New Zealand. Hamilton Gardens. 11 November 2020.
  • James Beattie, Chinese Market Gardening in Aotearoa New Zealand, 1870s-1950s. Hamilton Gardens. 7 October 2020.

 

Below is our President’s Report from April 2026, outlining our activities in the previous year:

The Garden History Research Foundation has consolidated its position as Aotearoa’s leading advocate for garden history. Our global prominence has increased, thanks to increased followers on social media, as well as the publiction of the first two titles in its Routledge Research on Gardens in History series. (see below for details.)

In particular I would highlight the joint talk and guided tour of the Medieval Garden which attracted over 100 people. Dr Annette Giesecke delivered a well-received talk, which was followed by a guided tour by Hamilton Gardens Director Lucy Ryan, and other members of staff including Dr Peter Sergel.

It is also with excitement that I note we have developed a podcasting series for 2026. The first podcast is an interview with leading garden historian Professor Karen Jones, University of Kent. We also look forward to the visit of Dr Pania Mu, a visiting garden expert from Heidelberg University, Germany, who hopes to give a public lecture when she is in New Zealand in late November/early December 2026.

For all their hard work over the last year, I thank Foundation committee members: Treasurer and Secretary A.Prof Ian Duggan, Dr Gail Pittaway, Dr Annette Bainbridge, Dr. Peter Sergel, Dr Annette Giesecke, Virginia Graham, Judy Holdsworth, and Stuart Read. Judy, Virginia and Gail have tirelessly helped to book, organise and run a series of public talks, always with enthusiasm. I also wish to thank the support provided to us by the Friends of Hamilton Gardens and would like to especially acknowledge Ian for his work in overseeing the blogs, including writing many himself, and in shepherding us to a new bank account.

17 September 2025-31 March 2026

  • Blog series:
    • During this time, we have published three original blogs on our website, on the topics of ‘Hamilton’s Garden Place Sundial’, ‘Alice’s Looking Glass Garden’ and ‘Mistletoe: the Christmas Parasite in New Zealand’: https://gardenhistoryresearchfoundation.com/blog-posts/
    • Please see Ian Duggan’s report for further details.
  • In all, we have achieved the following coverage (as of 31 March 2026):
  • Garden History Award
    • With the generous support of the Friends of Hamilton Gardens, we are delighted to offer the ‘Graduate Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Garden History’. The award is open to research students from any relevant discipline working on gardens in history, and enrolled at masters or doctoral level at a New Zealand tertiary institution. Currently we haven’t awarded it.
  • Journal
  • Book Series: Routledge Research on Gardens in History series includes two publications: Routledge Research on Gardens in History series
  • Garden History Lecture Series
    • We held the following lectures over the last year:
      • Annette Bainbridge, ‘ “Jane Deans, Rebel Gardener:” Power and Politics and the Making of a Nineteenth-Century Colonial Garden’, 19 March 2026.
      • Annette Giesecke, ‘The Medieveal Cloister Garden: A Vision of Paradise’, 13 February 2026.
      • Gail Pittaway, ‘Meet Dr Carrot and Potato Pete: The legacy of the Victory Gardens: An illustrated talk by Gail Pittaway for the Garden History Research Foundation’, 11 September 2025.
  • Friends of Hamilton Gardens
    • We continue to appreciate the help and support for the Foundation from the Friends of Hamilton Gardens.
  • Reporting period
    • As passed at last year’s AGM, to align our reporting period with the financial end of year reports (31 March) and the Charities reporting—and to avoid unecessary reporting—from 2026 we have changed the reporting period. This means that the 2026 report only covers 8 months of the year.

Looking to the year ahead, we plan to:

  • continue to expand our national and international outreach through blogs, publications, talks, social media posts, and advocacy, and the development of a podcast series.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any ideas or suggestions.

Professor James Beattie (jjbeattie40@gmail.com)

Chair, Garden History Research Foundation

 

Below is our President’s Report from September 2025, outlining our activities in the previous year:

The Garden History Research Foundation has consolidated its position as Aotearoa’s leading advocate for garden history. Our global prominence has increased, thanks to increased followers on social media, as well as the publiction of the first two titles in its Routledge Research on Gardens in History series. (see below for details.)

It is also with excitement that I note we plan to develop a podcasting series for 2026.

For all their hard work over the last year, I thank Foundation committee members: Treasurer and Secretary A.Prof Ian Duggan, Gail Pittaway, Annette Bainbridge, Dr. Peter Sergel, Dr Annette Giesecke, Virginia Graham, Judy Holdsworth, and Stuart Read. Judy, Virginia and Gail have tirelessly helped to book, organise and run a series of public talks, always with enthusiasm. I also wish to thank the support provided to us by the Friends of Hamilton Gardens and would like to especially acknowledge Ian for his work in overseeing the blogs, including writing many himself, and in shepherding us to a new bank account.

July 2024-July 2025 Activities

  • Blog series:
    • Over the last year, we have had 12 original blogs published on our website, on topics including on ship figureheads and statuary, battleships in gardens, Chinese gardens, plant symbolism, women garden designers, and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: https://gardenhistoryresearchfoundation.com/blog-posts/
    • Please see Ian Duggan’s report for further details.
  • In all, we have achieved the following coverage:
    • Website: 92 followers via WordPress websites and email alerts.
    • Bluesky: 85 followers (We closed Twitter)
    • Instagram: 246 followers.
    • Our members’ work has featured in the New Zealand Gardens (e.g., Peter Sergel).
  • Garden History Award
    • With the generous support of the Friends of Hamilton Gardens, we are delighted to offer the ‘Graduate Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Garden History’. The award is open to research students from any relevant discipline working on gardens in history, and enrolled at masters or doctoral level at a New Zealand tertiary institution. Currently we haven’t awarded it.
  • Garden History Lecture Series
    • We held the following lectures over the last year:
      • Annette Bainbridge, ‘Finding Mrs Mitchinson: The Life of a Forgotten Colonial Plantswoman’, 20 March 2025.
      • Peter Shaw, ‘Japan: An Autobiography’, 12 December 2024.
      • Peter Sergel, ‘The Time Traveller’s Guide to the Hamilton Garden’, 21 August 2025.
      • Gail Pittaway, ‘Meet Dr Carrot and Potato Pete: The legacy of the Victory Gardens: An illustrated talk by Gail Pittaway for the Garden History Research Foundation’, 11 September 2025.
  • Friends of Hamilton Gardens
    • We continue to appreciate the help and support for the Foundation from the Friends of Hamilton Gardens.
  • Reporting period
    • To align our reporting period with the financial end of year reports (31 March) and the Charities reporting—and to avoid unecessary reporting—from 2026 we are recommending aligning the reporting period with the financial end of year reporting.

Looking to the year ahead, we plan to:

  • continue to expand our national and international outreach through blogs, publications, talks, social media posts, and advocacy, and the development of a podcast series.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any ideas or suggestions.

Dr James Beattie (jjbeattie40@gmail.com)

Chair, Garden History Research Foundation

Below is our President’s Report from July 2024, outlining our activities in the previous year:

The Garden History Research Foundation has consolidated its position as Aotearoa’s leading advocate for garden history. Our global prominence has increased, thanks to increased followers on social media, as well as the upcoming launch of the first book in its Routledge series.

I am delighted with the attendance and talks we have had this year and would like to congratulate Peter Sergel for publication of his book, The Time Traveller’s Guide to Hamilton Gardens (2024), launched by the GHRF with the Friends of Hamilton Gardens. For all their hard work over the last year, I thank Foundation committee members: Treasurer and Secretary Ian Duggan, Gail Pittaway, Annette Bainbridge, Dr. Peter Sergel, Dr. Janet Sceats, Dr Annette Giesecke, Virginia Graham, and Judy Holdsworth. I also wish to thank the support provided to us by the Friends of Hamilton Gardens.

July 2023-June 2024 Activities

  • Blog series:
    • Over the last year, we have had 10 original blogs published on our website, on topics including topiary, Christchurch botanic garden, Ancient Egyptian gardens, and war and olive trees, with many gaining high numbers of national and international attention: https://gardenhistoryresearchfoundation.com/blog-posts/
    • Please see Ian Duggan’s report.
  • In all, we have achieved the following coverage:
    • Website: 3438 followers via WordPress websites and email alerts.
    • Instagram: 177 followers.
    • Our members’ work has featured in the New Zealand Gardens (e.g., Peter Sergel).
  • Garden History Award
    • With the generous support of the Friends of Hamilton Gardens, we are delighted to offer the ‘Graduate Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Garden History’. The award is open to research students from any relevant discipline working on gardens in history, and enrolled at masters or doctoral level at a New Zealand tertiary institution.
  • Book Series: Routledge Research on Gardens in History series announced: Routledge Research on Gardens in History series
    • The first two books will be published in 2024, on Buenos Aires’ gardens and cityscape; and temple gardens in Southern China.
  • Garden History Lecture Series
    • We held the following lectures over the last year:
      • Peter Sergel, Book Launch and ‘Hamilton Gardens and The Story of Civilisation’, 2 May 2024.
      • Annette Bainbridge, ‘The Soldiers and the Olive Tree: An ANZAC Story’, 21 March 2024.
      • John Robson, ‘The Botanical Result of James Cook’s three Voyages in the Pacific 1768 – 1780’, 14 September 2023.
      • James Beattie, ‘An Empire of Plants? Chinese plants, Asian/European trade, and Aotearoa New Zealand, 1790s-1880s’, 14 June 2023.
  • Friends of Hamilton Gardens
    • We continue to appreciate the help and support for the Foundation from the Friends of Hamilton Gardens.

Looking to the year ahead, we plan to:

  • continue to expand our national and international outreach through blogs, publications, talks, social media posts, and advocacy.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any ideas or suggestions.

Associate Professor James Beattie (james.beattie@vuw.ac.nz)

Chair, Garden History Research Foundation

Below is our President’s Report from June 2023, outlining our activities in the previous year:

The Garden History Research Foundation has consolidated its position as Aotearoa’s leading advocate for garden history. Our global prominence has increased, thanks to increased followers on social media, as well as the upcoming launch of the first book in its Routledge series.

The on-going impact of COVID has interrupted our public lecture series, but we have responded by launching a garden history video series. For all their hard work over the last year, I thank Foundation members past and present: Treasurer Ian Duggan, Gail Pittaway, Annette Bainbridge, Dr. Peter Sergel, Dr. Janet Sceats, Dr Annette Giesecke, Virginia Graham, Marilyn Yeoman, Judy Holdsworth and James Cassidy. I also wish to thank the support provided to us by the Friends of Hamilton Gardens.

July 2022-June 2023 Activities

  • Blog series:
    • Over the last year, we have had 12 original blogs published on our website, on topics including topiary, Christchurch botanic garden, Ancient Egyptian gardens, and war and olive trees, with many gaining high numbers of national and international attention: https://gardenhistoryresearchfoundation.com/blog-posts/
  • In all, we have achieved the following coverage:
    • Website: 74 followers via WordPress websites and email alerts.
    • Twitter: 616 followers (https://twitter.com/gardhistnz), , including the Linnaean Society of London and Heritage New Zealand.
    • Facebook: 161 followers (https://www.facebook.com/GardenHistoryResearch).
    • Instagram: 88 followers.
    • Our members’ work has featured in the New Zealand Gardener, as well as interviews with Radio NZ National (Ian Duggan).
  • Garden History Award
    • With the generous support of the Friends of Hamilton Gardens, we are delighted to offer the ‘Graduate Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Garden History’. The award is open to research students from any relevant discipline working on gardens in history, and enrolled at masters or doctoral level at a New Zealand tertiary institution.
  • Journal & Occasional Papers series
  • Garden History Video
    • Interviews with WINTEC students on journalism placement
      • Peter Sergel; James Beattie; Annette Bainbridge
  • Book Series: Routledge Research on Gardens in History series announced: Routledge Research on Gardens in History series
    • The first book will be published in 2023 or early 2024, on Buenos Aires’ gardens and cityscape.
  • Garden History Lecture Series
    • We held the following lectures over the last year:
      • Annette Bainbridge, Colonial women & gardening
      • Matthew Morris, Common Ground
      • Annette Giesecke, Gardens in Antiquity
      • James Beattie, Chinese plants in New Zealand
  • New Committee Members
    • We have three new committee members: Dr. Janet Sceats; Dr Annette Giesecke and Virginia Graham.
    • We thank the efforts of Foundation members Marilyn Yeoman and Secretary James Cassidy, who have both stepped down. Ian Duggan has taken over the role of minute-taking secretary.
  • Friends of Hamilton Gardens
    • We continue to appreciate the help and support for the Foundation from the Friends of Hamilton Gardens.

Looking to the year ahead, we plan to:

  • continue to expand our national and international outreach through blogs, publications, talks, social media posts, and advocacy.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any ideas or suggestions.

Associate Professor James Beattie (james.beattie@vuw.ac.nz)

Chair, Garden History Research Foundation

Below is our President’s Report from June 2022, outlining our activities in the previous year:

The Garden History Research Foundation has consolidated its position as Aotearoa’s leading advocate for garden history. Our global prominence has increased, thanks to increased followers on social media, as well as the upcoming launch of the first book in its Routledge series.

The on-going impact of COVID has curtailed our public lecture series, but we have responded by launching a garden history video series. For all their hard work over the last year, I thank Foundation members: Treasurer Ian Duggan, Gail Pittaway, Annette Bainbridge, Dr. Peter Sergel, Marilyn Yeoman, Judy Holdsworth and Secretary James Cassidy. I also want to thank the support provided to us by the Friends of Hamilton Gardens.

July 2021-June 2022 Activities

  • Blog series:
  • In all, we have achieved the following coverage:
  • Journal & Occasional Papers series
  • Book Series: Routledge Research on Gardens in History series announced: Routledge Research on Gardens in History series
    • The first book will be published in 2022, on Buenos Aires’ gardens and cityscape.
  • Garden History Lecture Series
    • COVID-19 lockdown has delayed the start of this series. We held the following lectures over the last year:
      • Zoë Heine, Community Gardens
      • James Beattie, Garden on a Plate
  • We are planning to hold the following public talks from August 2022 (dates TBC):
    • James Beattie, Willow Pattern on a Plate
    • Annette Bainbridge, Women & gardening
    • Matthew Morris, Common Ground
    • Ian Duggan, Garden Gnomes
  • Video channel:
    • Launched in Nov 2021, with ‘Japanese Internment, Garden-Making and Environment’
    • More videos will follow.
  • Passing of Foundation Committee Member
    • We note with sadness the passing of our Foundation committee member, Professor Emeritus Ian Pool.
  • Friends of Hamilton Gardens
    • We continue to appreciate the help and support for the Foundation from the Friends.

Looking to the year ahead, we plan to:

  • develop closer relations with WINTEC, through WINTEC’s journalism students interviewing on film people in garden history.
  • Seek sponsorship for a Garden History Public Lecture Series.
  • continue to expand our national and international outreach through blogs, publications, talks, social media posts, and advocacy.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any ideas or suggestions.

Associate Professor James Beattie (james.beattie@vuw.ac.nz)

Chair, Garden History Foundation

Below is our President’s Report from June 2020, outlining our activities in the previous year:

The Garden History Research Foundation has launched several new initiatives over the last year. For these, I thank the energy and hard work of Foundation members: Treasurer Ian Duggan, Gail Pittaway, Peter Sergel, and Marilyn Yeoman, as well as Secretary James Cassidy. I also want to thank the financial support provided to us by the Friends of Hamilton Gardens.

2020 Achievements

Looking to the year ahead, we plan to:

  • present a 2020 Graduate Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Garden History.
  • develop closer relations with the Australian Garden History Society, especially over research connections and the sharing of international speakers.
  • further a Garden History Public Lecture Series.
  • publish our first Occasional Papers
  • continue to expand our national and international outreach through blogs, publications, talks, social media posts, and advocacy.
  • open a donate page on our website.

James Beattie

Chair, Garden History Research Foundation