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Thursday 27th April
Furzelea Gardens and Ulting Wick 
Furzelea Garden is open through the
NGS
In the morning we visit the private garden of Furzelea under the National Garden Scheme. At just over an acre it is lovingly tended by Avril and Roger Cole-Jones. 40 years ago it was a field but now boasts ‘a bit of everything’ and we will also get tea or coffee and homemade biscuits on arrival.
Arrangements for lunch are yet to be confirmed. After lunch we travel a short distance to Ulting Wick another National Garden Scheme garden. This is much larger property centred around three listed black Essex barns and boasts plantings and features to provide year round interest. The garden has been redesigned, extended and developed by Philippa and Bryan Burrough over the past twenty five years and they also supply us with tea or coffee and cake. For more information: www.ultingwickgarden.co.uk Bookings commence at the talk on 22nd March and continue at The Store on 2nd and 16th April. 
Ulting Wick is centred around three listed black Essex barns
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Thursday 15th June
Batsford Arboretum and Bourton House Gardens. 
The world renowned Batsford Arboretum in the heart of the Cotswolds
Bourton House Gardens which was transformed from a wilderness in 1983 to its current spendour
World renowned Batsford Arboretum in the heart of the Cotswolds will be our first stop. The 56 acres are home to one of the largest private tree collections in the country and there is also a garden centre, café and even a falconry centre. We will take lunch here and then move on to…
Bourton House Gardens which was transformed from a wilderness in 1983 to its current spendour. It boasts luxuriant terraces, wide herbaceous borders with stunning plant, texture and colour combinations as well as several spring-fed features and a raised basket pond from the Great Exhibition of 1851. For more information: www.batsarb.co.uk/ www.bourtonhouse.com/ Bookings will commence at the talk on 17th May and continue at The Store on 21st May and 4th June. |
Thursday 3rd August
Ham House and Gardens and a trip on the Thames 
Ham House and Gardens
We last visited the spectacular National Trust Ham House way back in 2008 so we thought it about time to visit again. Both the 17th century house and the gardens are well worth visiting and you may recognise many of the views from numerous film and TV locations including, bizarrely, Steptoe and Son!
The house was the creation the Duchess of Lauderdale in the late 17th century and is wonderfully preserved. The garden which reaches down to the River Thames is a recreation of what ‘might have been’ and features a kitchen garden, a ‘wilderness’ and a cherry orchard but fortunately no Chekhov! For more information: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/london/ham-house-and-garden Following lunch at the property we move on to trip on the River Thames. Bookings will commence at The Store on 2nd July |
