Rivers 300 year Celebration Articles

A selection of articles written by RHSO members to celebrate the 300 anniversary of the Rivers Nursery.

Click on the titles or pictures to read.

	Sequoia giganteum, the specimens in Sawbridgeworth help to preserve these giants! Written by Elizabeth Waugh. Published on December 1, 2025. Elizabeth Waugh in December writes of the ultimate Christmas tree, a conifer that has the potential to grow larger than any other tree on earth. Specimens of this tree grow widely in the Sawbridgeworth area.
	The Audley End Connection Written by Elizabeth Waugh. Published on November 13, 2025. There has been a longstanding connection between Rivers Nursey and Audley End House, dating back to Lord Braybrooke and Thomas Rivers in the 19th Centuary. This has continued with successive Rivers Nursery Volunteer Groups. Elizabeth Waugh writes about this story, then the RHSO visit to Audley End as part of the 300 Year celebration.
	Orchards and the Environment Written by Elizabeth Waugh. Published on November 1, 2025. Eric Buckmaster, former Environment Cabinet Minister on Hertfordshire County Council and long term RHSO volunteer, in interviewed by Elizabeth Waugh about his council role and how the Rivers Orchard fits into the council's environmental thinking.
	Rivers Nursery Orchard: Inspiration and Example Written by Susan Clark. Published on October 1, 2025. Susan Clark was, with Diana Richards, the cofounder of the Rivers Orchard restoration project in the 1990s. Her account shows how she was able to bring in standards of procedure and county resources to supplement and the enthusiasm of the Sawbridgeworth volunteers. She then shows how the Rivers Nursery orchard has inspired other places to set up their own community orchards such as her local Braughing Community Orchard which is proudly described in detail in the Braughing Parish Council information about the village.
	My Favourite Rivers Orchard Fruit Written by RHSO volunteers. Published on September 1, 2025. My Favourite Rivers Orchard Fruit - 6 Orchard Volunteers choose. 6 people, six opinions - What’s your favourite?
	Volunteer stories: Elisabeth Crafer and pruning. Written by Elizabeth Waugh. Published on August 1, 2025. The story of the Rivers Heritage Orchard is also the story of the volunteers who have developed it over time. One such is Elisabeth Crafer. Never a Sawbridgeworth resident, she came to the recently discovered Orchard sometime in the early 2000s.
	Thomas Rivers and Charles Darwin: Cartes de Visite in the Lindley Library Written by Elizabeth Waugh. Published on July 1, 2025. One of the interesting features of the Lindley Library of the Royal Horticultural Society is their Cartes de Visite. This collection is described as ‘an unrivalled source of otherwise unobtainable portraits of nurserymen, garden designers, professional gardeners, botanists’ … and others in the field. Among the 700 is one for Thomas Rivers, 1798-1877, the most successful of the Rivers Nursery directors. Charles Darwin, with whom Thomas Rivers corresponded with is also in the collection.
	Artist and Expatriate: Elizabeth Rivers, 1903 – 1964 Written by Miriam O'Neal. Published on June 1, 2025. Elizabeth, or Betty, was the sister of Thomas Hall Rivers, the last Thomas in the great succession of family directors of the Rivers Nursery. In her lifetime her art work attracted considerable attention - she exhibited and published volumes of prints and a book about her life in Ireland, A Stranger in Aran.
	Rivers Orchard - a Sanctuary for Wildlife Written by Charmaine Cooper. Published on May 1, 2025. Charmaine Cooper, who wrote the Wildlife Diaries for the main RHSO site up to 2018, writes about the changing flora and fauna on the Rivers site and how maintenance of the site helps with the biodiversity.
	The Orchard House Today Written by Gemma Sturges. Published on April 1, 2025. Gemma Sturges, the Kitchen Garden Supervisor at Audley End House and Gardens, writes of her experiences in managing a nineteenth century artefact (the Thomas Rivers designed Orchard House) in a twenty-first century climate.
	Plums for Rivers 300th Anniversary: How to get cultivars from Rivers Nursery’s 19th century varieties into the 21st century Rivers Heritage Orchard? Written by Colin Gill. Published on March 2, 2025. This month there are two articles, the first by Elizabeth Waugh and the second by Colin Gill. Elizabeth’s is about the history of the naming process, Colin’s describes how to get 19th century varieties into a 21st century orchard.
	New Varieties and Naming: What’s in a Name? Written by Elizabeth Waugh. Published on March 1, 2025. This month there are two articles, the first by Elizabeth Waugh and the second by Colin Gill. Elizabeth’s is about the history of the naming process, Colin’s describes how to get 19th century varieties into a 21st century orchard.
	Restoring Rivers Orchard: Early Happenings and Great Events Written by Hazel Mead. Published on February 1, 2025. Hazel Mead, volunteer for over 20 years, discusses the restoration and events of the Rivers Orchard volunteer groups over that period.
	Restoring Rivers Orchard: An interview with Diana Richards Written by Elizabeth Waugh. Published on January 1, 2025. Elizabeth Waugh's interview with Diana Richards - one of the founders of Friends of Rivers Nursery - the first volunteer group involved in reviving the Rivers Orchard.