2026 Snowdrop Gala

John Massey is a nurseryman, plant breeder, plant collector and above all a passionate gardener. John acquired Ashwood in 1967 and with no formal training and with encouragement from his grandfather he became the driving force at Ashwood which is renowned for its specialities. These include hellebores, cyclamen, hepaticas, lewesia, dwarf conifers, salvias, and hydrangeas. In 2025 a planted trial of over 100 Hardy Chrysanthemums was established.

The garden at Ashwood was begun after a visit to the late Princess Greta Sturdza’s sensational garden, Le Vasterivial , with his great friend Veronica Cross. Other important influences were Percy Picton and Christopher Lloyd.

Honours

• 2008 – MBE for services to charity
• 2010 – RHS Victoria Medal of Honour
• 2014 – Kath Dryden Award (for work on Hepaticas)
• 2022 – “My World of Hepaticas” (with Tomoo Mabuchi)

John’s lecture “My Garden in Winter”
John will look at some of his favourite plants for creating winter interest, including cyclamen, hellebores, polypodiums and witch hazels. Also, the pruning techniques of ‘Transparency Pruning' trying to turn every shrub, conifer, and tree into a sculpture, but at the same time being respectful of the plants natural habit.

Callum Halstead is Head Gardener at Cambo Garden, Scotland. As well as looking after Cambo’s National Collection of snowdrops, Callum is responsible for the maintenance and ongoing development of Cambo’s woodland plantings. 

Callum has drawn inspiration from Dan Pearson’s multi-layered woodland plantings as well as Sarah Price’s approach to naturalistic planting and her use of colour in the garden. Callum’s current garden hero is John Little.

Callum studied at Edinburgh Royal Botanics gaining the Elizabeth Hess Scholarship which funded a year-long work placement at Tresco Abbey. Beryl Mc Naughton (Macs Plant Nursery) was a big influence in his interest in snowdrops and the first snowdrop he bought was Galanthus ‘Merlin’ and the most recent Galanthus ‘Dryad Gold Charm’

Callum’s Lecture ‘Life after Snowdrops - celebrating the snowdrop at Cambo and knowing how to move on’ 

Cambo, known for its N. American prairie and substantial Oudolf- inspired plantings, is also home to a National Collection of snowdrops. These can be seen in various parts of the garden for nearly 6 months of the year. Callum has cared for the collection since 2021 and has worked to improve the winter garden in which the snowdrops sit in this lecture. Callum will discuss Cambo’s snowdrops and showcase some of the collections top performers. Using designs recently replanted section of the garden he will also discuss his approach to designing beds that afford the snowdrops their moment in the spotlight while also offering year-round seasonal interest after their blooms have faded.