Outings 2019
THURSDAY 6th JUNE - NORTH YORKSHIRE
Breezy Knees Gardens - Warthill
Please note - this is a very large site and will involve much walking, starting with a long walk from the coachpark to the gardens.
Breezy Knees has been recommended by members many times. It is a little further than we usually travel but there will be a comfort stop and the whole morning will be spent there.
Featuring award winning gardens and a specialist perennial nursery and cafe, the site covers 20 acres and is one of the largest gardens in the North of England featuring thousands of different varieties of plants. The Pond and Shade garden, special collections of irises and peonies and both the Rock and Shade gardens are highlights in May and June. A Cottage Garden, Rose Garden, trees, shrubs and herbaceous borders are a riot of colour through the seasons.
The Nursery stocks over 1,500 different varieties of perennials, all can be seen growing within the garden and proven to withstand the Yorkshire weather. Some areas are accessed via grass paths so appropriate footwear should be worn.
Photos from Breezy Knees website.
A light lunchtime menu is available in the Cafe and a selection of drinks, cakes and scones are available throughout the day, at your own expense.
Weathervane House - Seaton Ross
For the afternoon, we again travel to Seaton Ross where we visited Boundary Cottage, Roger Brook’s Garden last year. Weathervane House created by Peter and Julie Williams, was recommended by one of our committee who rightly described it as one of the best gardens she has visited. We had the great pleasure being shown around Weathervane, and it is truly a wonderful garden.
Peter was a speaker at our September 2017 meeting when he talked on ‘Exploration of Fashions in Gardening’ and he is a regular contributor to the the HPS Journal. The garden will be open to the public the weekend following our visit and we are fortunate to be given an exclusive preview.
A two-acre woodland garden with magnolias, rhododendrons, azaleas, flowering trees and shrubs. A wide range of spring bulbs including erythroniums, and trilliums together with mixed herbaceous borders, lawns and circular meadow. Fruit garden, glasshouse with a wide range of hardy and tender plants and large
polytunnel with specimen rhododendrons and many other plants. Altogether a wide range of interesting and uncommon shrubs and herbaceous perennials growing in the garden some of which may be for sale.
Photos - Peter Williams
Access is via a gravel drive, paths and lawns, all areas are level. Tea and Scones included.
THURSDAY 18th JULY - WEST MIDLANDS
Winterbourne Botanic Garden - Edgbaston
Winterbourne is part of Birmingham University and only opened to the public in 2010 after extensive restoration of the house and garden. The Historic Arts and Crafts House was built for the wealthy industrialist Nettlefold family and explores the history of the family and subsequent owners as well as gorgeous arts and crafts rooms. The Grade II listed Botanic Garden covers an area of 7 acres, it is the best surviving example of a suburban villa garden in Birmingham and now contains over 6000 plants from, around the world. The terrace provides a wonderful view of the garden and steps lead down to the gardens, featuring a crinkle crankle wall, restored walled garden, glass houses, herbaceous borders, woodland gardens, many unusual varieties of trees and shrubs, and a stream with Japanese bridge. Plants are available for sale on the Terrace. Photos from Winterbourne website
Please Note. The cost of the trip includes admission to the House and Garden and we will be served Tea/coffee and biscuits in the Old Tool Shed on arrival.
Take a Packed lunch or light lunches and snacks are available in the Cafe (at own expense)
** The Barber Art Gallery is a short walk away, housed in one of the city’s finest Art Deco buildings and well worth a visit. We then travel towards Burton on Trent for the afternoon visit.
Wild Wood Lodge - Anslow, Staffordshire
Situated on the edge of the National Forest, much of this garden has been established over the last two years on the site of a former farmyard, areas of more mature planting were carried out by the owners when they occupied the adjoining Farmhouse. Raised gravel beds, lawns and various planted containers complete the planting adjacent to the Barn Conversion.
The garden covers 2 acres consisting of a productive orchard, soft fruit garden, a wide selection of vegetables on raised beds, colourful herbaceous borders, shrubs, ornamental trees, wildlife pond and a fishing lake. The Garden was overall winner in the Staffs. Agricultural Societies Farm Garden Competition 2016.
The garden is level with wide paths, there is an undercover area for teas in the event of poor weather.
Tea and cakes included.
Photos - Richard and Dorothy Ward
THURSDAY AUGUST 15th - LINCOLNSHIRE
Aubourn Hall GArdens - Aubourn
Aubourn Hall is a 17C house (not open) set in 9 acres of beautiful gardens. Including mature trees, shrubs, roses, vibrant mixed borders, a rose garden, pool garden, raised beds, labyrinth, woodland walk, ponds and a new edition described as an exciting prairie garden which should be at its peak in August. The garden is level with some grass areas.
Our visit will include a guided tour of 1 hour plus tea/coffee and biscuits.
Photos from Aubourn Hall and NGS Website
Mere House - Sturton by Stow
Approximately 1 ½ acres of established garden planted for the first time in 1975, redesigned in 1996. Renovated over the last 5 yrs to include new beds with drift planting but still including a formal parterre. Spring bulbs and late summer colour are a highlight. There is also a cutting garden, pleached hedges, vegetable garden and orchard. Creation of a long herbaceous border and a new garden project are in progress. The garden was featured in the September 2018 edition of Homes and Gardens. There is seating in the garden and a marquee to eat own lunch in case of inclement weather.
Teas/Coffees are included.
The highly acclaimed Cross Keys Pub next to the historic church in Stow village do lunch but some distance to walk from the house and back. Please take a packed lunch.
Photos - Alice Gray
5A High Street, Sutton on Trent, Nottinghamshire.
Included in the NGS booklet, instead of 45 Chapel Lane - North Scarle
This hidden plot started as a field 30 years ago. Trees form a frame for this plantsman's garden. Ponds run through the area which ranges from tropical to naturalistic. 600 named plants including over 100 types of fern in the woodland areas. Herbaceous borders add a riot of colour. Ornamental grass borders and succulents add further interest. All shown off to great effect by well manicured lawns
Tea and home made cakes are included.
Photos - Courtesy of the NGS website
