Arthur Bulley's birthday

Saturday 10 January is the anniversary of the birthday of the celebrated plantsman and founder of Ness, Arthur Bulley.

Born in 1861, Arthur Bulley became a successful cotton merchant, politician and philanthropist.

In 1898, he created Ness Botanic Gardens with the intention of furthering botanic science and offering a place of tranquil beauty for everyone to enjoy and share in his love of plants.

To celebrate the anniversary of his birthday, we're offering free admission to everyone visiting the gardens on Saturday 10 January 2026. The gardens will be open from 10am until 4pm, with last admissions at 3.30pm.

You can find out more about how Arthur Bulley founded Ness and changed the face of British gardening on our History of Ness page.