At the Godstone Gardeners Club we don’t just talk about gardens, we visit them too! Trips are organised by our expert organiser, Jean and are known as ‘Jean’s Jolly Japes’. Most of our trips are fully arranged with coach transport, entrance fees, (where appropriate), and sometimes refreshments, included. Here’s the list of Jean’s Jolly Japes for this year:
ULTING WICK GARDENS
Thursday 23rd April, 2015
Created in 2004 out of the debris and detritus of an old working farmyard, this is now the heart of the garden and the area where colour is dominant. Surrounded by the listed barns, the four box parterre beds are filled in spring with thousands of tulips. The rest of the garden consists of The Pink Garden, The White Garden, the Woodland, The Pond and Stream Beds, The Front Bed and The Meadow! It has appeared in articles in a host of garden and lifestyle magazines and has been on Gardeners’ World. Now its time for us to see it!
PRIVATE GARDEN TOUR AT HEVER CASTLE
Tuesday 19th May, 2015
In June 2014 we were fortunate enough to welcome Neil Miller, Head Gardener at Hever Castle to speak at our monthly meeting. He gave a fascinating history of Hever Castle and how the gardens have evolved over the years. During the course of the evening Neil mentioned that he might be able to offer a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of Hever Castle Gardens. Jean immediately snapped him up on his offer and the visit is arranged! We will arrive before the gates open to the public and enjoy a private tour of the garden hosted by Neil.
Neil is one of the most engaging speakers we enjoyed in 2014 and we are looking forward to welcoming him back to the club in the future to talk about his other gardens in Jerusalem!
TWO NIGHTS AWAY TO OXFORDSHIRE
Sunday 7th June, 2015
We head north-westwards into Oxfordshire where our first stop is at the 10-acre plot(!) of THE GRANGE in Chalgrove. An evolving garden which includes herbaceous borders, lake with bridges and an island, a brook running through the garden, a wild flower meadow…. to name just a few features! Here we shall have an introductory talk from the owner, Vicky Farren, tea/coffee and biscuits, (included), then explore the garden at leisure. Before we leave we shall have a light two-course lunch, (included).
This afternoon, we make our way towards Chipping Norton to visit the garden of THE OLD VICARAGE at Bledington. The borders and beds of this 1-and-a-half acre garden are filled with hardy perennials, shrubs and trees and, amongst other things, there are 350 David Austin roses! We shall perhaps have a quick introductory talk on arrival, visit the garden at leisure and before leaving, tea/coffee and cake will be served (included).
Just under an hour away is our hotel, the charmingly thatched, privately owned, WROXTON HOUSE HOTEL, in the village of Wroxton near Banbury. We will enjoy a three course meal including coffee and then relax for the remainder of the evening.
Monday 8th June, 2015
This morning we have a late-ish start and a short drive to PRIMROSE GARDENS in Steeple Aston for our first visit. This garden offers a wide variety of gardening styles within one acre of walled garden. A former kitchen garden until the early 1950’s, then a commercial enterprise, the current owners have changed it beyond all recognition using their own individual skills. We shall have an introductory talk and tea/coffee and cake during our visit (included).
A short drive for lunch at THE CROWN pub (two courses with coffee), then onto visit CHIVEL FARM, a Cotswold garden with colour-coded borders – a rural masterpiece of plants made from 30 years of passion and patience. Tea/coffee and biscuits included.
We return to the hotel where there will be time to relax and/or explore the village of Wroxton just across the road – more thatches, church, and gardens of the historic Wroxton Abbey which is now a Farleigh Dickinson University. (Abbey not open to the public – but gardens usually are.) In the evening we will enjoy a three course Table d’Hote dinner with coffee in the Wroxton Room.
Tuesday 9th June, 2015
Time to pack up and leave our thatched idyll and move on to visit BROUGHTON GRANGE. The centre-piece of this 350-acre landscape was designed by Chelsea Gold Medal winning Tom Stuart Smith in 2001.
Here we shall have an introductory talk by the Head Gardener (or one of the Gardening Team) and refreshments (included), then visit the gardens at leisure. From here to the nearby SAYE & SELE PUB for a light lunch (two courses with coffee included) before hitting the motorway and back to Godstone by mid-afternoon
TOM STUART-SMITH’S OWN GARDEN
Monday 29th June, 2015
Tom Stuart-Smith is the infamous eight times Chelsea Gold Medal winning designer. We are in for a real treat with a visit to his own garden. A journalist once said on visiting his garden, “There is something comforting about walking through a spectacular garden and finding, in the middle of a border, two happy, (if guilty looking), dogs digging an enormous hole. It is even better when the proud owner of said garden is one really too bothered!”. Tom Stuart-Smith has designed a number of gardens for the Chelsea Flower Show. Eight of these have been awarded gold medals, and three have won ‘Best in Show’!
This trip also involves a trip to the local pub where, if we want it, we can buy lunch after visiting the garden!
MONKSFIELD HOUSE
Monday 20th July, 2015
This garden opened for the National Gardens Scheme for the first time in 2014. Now it’s our turn!! A 10½ acre varied family garden with a Hampton Court show garden, an orchard/walled garden, a 300 foot long border and formal garden, a cottage garden, a half acre pone and a good selection of mature and newly planted specimen trees. That should keep even us busy!!!
The visit includes an introductory talk, tea/coffee and homemade scones with cream and jam – what more could we ask!!
HEATHSIDE, COBHAM
Wednesday 19th August, 2015
In July 2014, Margaret Arnott came to talk to the club about the National Gardens Scheme in Surrey. During the course of her talk we saw some photographs of her own garden at Hearthside. This is an evening visit to her garden with is a third of an acre terraced plantsman’s garden designed for year round interest. There are lots of wonderful plants set off by harmonious landscaping with many urns and obelisks to aid the display. Water abounds and there is a parterre with sundial. Included in this visit is wine, (with complimentary refills!), and luxury canapés that include smoked salmon, king prawns, roast beef and other luxury items!!
CHESHAM BOIS HOUSE
Thursday 17th September, 2015
This 3 acre garden surrounds an 1820s villa built in the, then fashionable, Strawberry Hill gothic style. This may seem like a traditional English country garden but, inspired by her love of Italian gardens, the owner, Julia Plaistowe, has created three vistas giving this largely informal garden an air of formality. Plants are constantly changing season by season and year by year. “I never consciously work on colour combinations”, says Julia, “If I don’t like something, then I move it!”
If you would like to join us on any of our trips, please drop us a line at trips@godstonegardeners-net.affinitydns.uk and we’ll give you details of cost and timings. We’d love you to join us and we promise a fun time is had by all!