On 12th November, Duncan Verity introduced our speaker Martin Walker, who described a lifetime in gardening.
On leaving school Martin joined Leeds City Council parks department as an apprentice gardener. In a long and distinguished career he worked at all the civic parks and gardens in and around Leeds before retiring as a senior manager. He is still involved in the horticultural world including acting as a judge in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition.
He presented a slide show featuring a variety of the gardens he had worked in or designed including Golden Acre Park (where he started his career), Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall and mentioned the sponsored roundabout scheme which was initiated in Leeds.
Towards the end of his time with Leeds City Council he became involved in presenting displays for the Chelsea Flower Show and he explained the reasoning used by the judges in assessing the exhibits before awarding medals. We saw Leeds’ efforts over the years which culminated in the award of two gold medals.
After a short Gardeners Question Time Paddy Tyler proposed a vote of thanks complimenting Martin on the delightful gardens around Leeds which his work has provided for everyone.