GROUP: HOUSE AND GARDENS
LEADER: Kate Colley (651369)
WHEN: 2nd Wednesday 2.00pm - 4.00pm approx depending on visit.
ORGANISER: Celia Gregory (644350)
WHERE: See notice board
We normally arrange our own car groups. If you require a lift please contact Kate or Celia in advance. Note: if you are unable to attend a meeting, please telephone Kate or Celia to let them know.Pictures of the group on recent visits (click on a picture for a larger one)
 Cowdray Gardens |
 Cowdray Gardens |
 Cowdray Gardens |
 Woodhill Manor |
 Shere tour |
 Shere tour |
| 2012 | ||
| Wed 15th Feb | Group visit to Painshill Park, Portsmouth Road, Cobham, KT11 1JE | Painshill was created between 1738 - 1773 by the Hon
Charles Hamilton, a Painter, plantsman and brilliantly
gifted and imaginative designer. He dedicated his
creative genius to the layout and composition of a
landscape garden which was unique in Europe and still
remains so. Meet at 2.00. Directions: Take the A3 to the first junction after the M25, follow A245 towards Cobham. CP on Between St, 200m from A245/A307 roundabout. Cost: £5.80 for pre-booked groups of 10+. Tea available in cafe. |
| Wed 14th March | Group visit to Timber Hill, Chertsey Road, Chobham. GU24 8JF | A beautifully situated 15-acre woodland garden and park.
Fine specimens of oaks and liquid ambers. Many camellias
and magnolias; drifts of narcissi, daffodils and spring
bulbs. Meet at 2.30. Directions: Take the A3 to Guildford, left onto A322 from Woodbridge roundabout, through Bisley and West End; turn right onto A319 to Chobham, continue on A319 pass Fairoaks Airport, after a further 1/3 mile Timber Hills will be on your left. Cost: £5 to include tea and cake. |
| Wed 11th April | Group visit to Winkworth Arboretum (NT), Hascombe Road, Godalming GU8 4AD | Superb display of old English bluebells in Springtime,
Magnolias, cherry blossom and azaleas, many unusual and
rare trees. Meet at 2.30. Directions: Either via Chiddingfold and Dunsfold to the B2130; or through Godalming to the Brighton Road. Cost: £5.60, Free to NT members, Tea shop on site |
| Wed 9th May | Group Visit to The Grange, Fittleworth, RH20 1EW | A 3 acre garden sloping to River Rother, formal area
divided by Yew hedges comprising rose garden, thyme
lawn, small potager and orchard. Large collection of
hellebores and naturalized spring bulbs. Meet at 2.30. Directions: Take the Pulborough Road (A283) out of Petworth, at top of hill bear right (B2138) into Fittleworth, turn right in front of The Swan Pub. Cost £7.30 to include tea and cake (Possible Lunch at The Swan Pub before contact Celia). |
Meetings in the pipeline:
June: Spurfold, Peaslake;
July: Lavender Fields, Nr. Selborne; NOTE This visit
will cost £10, for guided tour and cream tea, we will require a deposit
of £2.50 a head on/by our November meeting please.
Gardens we have visited
| Hinton Ampner, Bramdean, Hants SO24 OLA NT Property with an outstanding collection of furniture, paintings and objects d'art & famous formal gardens with distinctive topiary and crisply manicured lawns. Directions: Take the A272 Petersfield to Winchester Road, cross the A32 junction and through Bramdean Village, the House is a mile further on, on the left. |
| Berry Cottage, Church Rd, Upper Farringdon, Nr Alton GU34 3EG Small organic cottage garden, roses, clematis and herdaceous borders, Pond and bog garden, shrubbery and kitchen garder surrounds C16 house, contains many unusual plants. Close to Massey's Folly with unique handmade floral bricks. C11 Church and some of the oldest Yew trees in the country. Directions: Head for Alton via Selbourne, you will see two turnings off this B3006 both are very narrow leading into Farringdon, it is better to continue to the Chawton turning, going through the village and join the A32 and turn left towards Petersfield. |
| Bradstow Lodge, The Drive, Ifold RH14 0TE A triangular garden designed by owners and started from scratch in 2001. A series of 'rooms' give a varied range of moods and plantings, extensive flower borders, kitchen & knot garden, topiary, bog garden and wild area. Directions: Head for Loxwood through Plaistow, having left Plaistow village there is a sharp right hand bend with a road to the left signed The Ride, 20 mph. follow this down to a T junction, turn left and Bradstow is on the left. If you miss this turning continue down through Ifold to the village shop(about a mile), The Drive is immediately on the left, follow this just past the The Ride turning and park on the road. |
| Down Place, South Harting, Petersfield, West Sussex GU31 5PN 7-acre hillside, chalk garden, with fine views. Extensive herbaceous, shrub and rose borders on different levels, merging into natural wild flower meadow renowned for its collection of native orchids. Fully stocked vegetable garden and greenhouses. Directions: Old A3, left to Rogate, Nyewood and South Harting, though village heading south, uphill and bear left onto B2141, continue uphill to take the 1st left turn (below the hill, if you pass the turning for the NT CP near the top of the hill you have gone to far!) |
| John & June's Hosta Garden, Narra, Frensham Lane, Lindford GU35 0QJ Directions: Take the B3002 through Grayshott, Headley Down & Headley to Lindford and the junction with the B3004 (Liphook/Bordon Rd) Chase Rd is a little to the right opposite, CP is on the left a little way in. |
| Lodkin, Lodkin Hill, Hascombe GU8 4JP 4-acre country garden on many levels in a rural valley. 110ft greenhouses, extensive flower borders, kitchen garden and orchard augment the flowering trees, thousands of bulbs and A wild garden stream. Garden is very steep in parts. Directions: Chiddingfold, right to Dunsfold through village to junction of B2130, turn left to Hascombe. Garden is on outskirts of village, take narrow lane signed to garden. |
| Abbot's Hospital in Guildford High Street. George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury (1611-1633) and possibly the most famous Guildfordian in the town's history, founded The Hospital of the Blessed Trinity in 1619; where it has offered town centre accommodation to the community for nearly 400 years. The hospital is opposite Holy Trinity Church and just metres away from the Abbot statue at the junction with upper high street. |
| Claremont Landscape Garden (NT) It has been described as the noblest of any in Europe thanks to Sir John Vanbrugh & Capability Brown to name just two great names in garden history. Directions: Portsmouth Road, Esher KT10 9JG, 1 mile South of centre of Esher, on east side of A307 (no access from Esher bypass). |
| Warningcamp House, Warningcamp, Arundel, BN18 9QY Formal garden laid out in 1920's to reflect the Victorian house first built in 1820; set in 11 acres. Includes 'peony & pinks walk', roses, long borders parterre and gravel and kitchen gardens. Old Victorian water pumps renovated this year. Wonderful views of Arundel Castle. Directions: South to A27 then East, leaving Arundel cross railway bridge take 1st left signed Burpham, continue for 1 mile take 1st left at junction and gate faces you, follow drive up to parking. |
| Stansted Park, Rowlands Castle, Hants PO9 6DX A prime example of Caroline Revival, set in in 1750 acres of glorious park and woodland. The Manor contains the late Lord Bessborough's collection of paintings and family Furnishings. Chapel of St Paul is situated in the grounds. There is also a light railway (passenger steam or diesel locomotives) running weather permitting at £1.50 a trip. Refreshments available in the Walled Garden, there is also a Garden Centre. Directions: Sign posted from The A3 Rowlands Castle. |
| St Mary's House Gardens, Bramber, West Sussex BN44 3WE Five acres of gardens incl topiary, ivy-clad Monks Walk, prehistoric Ginkgo, around a Grade I listed C15 medieval house, once a pilgrim inn. Directions: Take the A283 from Petworth continue past Steyning on your right to roundabout, take 2nd left with Bramber Castle (English Heritage, may be worth a visit?) on your left down to St Mary's. |
| Land of Nod, Headley Down, Hants Extensive grounds with many mature trees mostly self planted by owner, Japanese garden, good display of azaleas. Major Whittaker gave us a guided tour. Directions: Head out of Grayshott towards Headley Down, passing the end of the common on your left, look out for a white fingerpost on our right with the house name on it, follow the drive up to the house. |
| Woodhill Manor, Woodhill Lane, Shamley Green GU5 0SP Georgian Manor House with glorious mix of traditional and formal gardens with views towards the South Downs. Dramatic spring display of over 3000 tulips. Wild meadow walks and 20 acres of parkland with mature trees and newly planted pond gardens. Directions: You need to reach the B2128, either via Godalming and Shalford heading South for Shamley Green, Woodhill Lane will be on your left near the middle of the Village; or up through Cranleigh, heading North for about 2 miles, after bearing right at a roundabout take the 1st right up Stroud Lane this will bring you out opposite Woodhill Manor. |
| Aldsworth House, Emsworth Common Road, Aldsworth. 6 Acre Victorian family garden being adapted to modern needs by plantaholic owners. Unusual trees, shrubs, hellebores, magnolias and carpets of Spring flowers,also fine views. Route: A286 towards Chichester, passing through Lavant to take the 1st right signed Fishbourne. Follow road through to 2nd right & left junction, here turn right and follow road through to Funtington; bear left just pass Pub onto Common Road. Aldsworth is a couple of miles further on, House is on the right as you enter the village. |
| Denmans Garden,Denmans Lane, Fontwell Nearly 4 acre garden designed for all year interest through use of form, colour and texture; home of John Brookes, renowned garden designer and writer. It is a garden full of ideas to be interpreted within smaller home spaces. Head for A27 below Chichester, either through Midhurst (A286) or Petworth (A285) turn East (left) for about 5 miles to Fontwell roundabout and come back on yourself ½ mile to turn into Denmans Lane, gardens on left. |
| The Round House, Loxhill 2.5 acre Victorian garden on sloping site with far reaching views. Colourful mixed beds with annuals, perennials and roses; unusual statuary and ornamental fishpond. Suggested route: Chiddingfold to Dunsfold, through village to T junction with B2130, turn right then 1st left into Park Hatch follow drive to garden. |
| Barhatch Farm, Cranleigh 6 acre garden, created by present owners, surrounding listed Tudor farmhouse. Herbaceous borders and abundance of old roses, including romantic rose tunnel. Take the Ewhurst Rd out of Cranleigh for 1 mile turn left into Barhatch Rd which becomes Barhatch Lane; The garden is 1st on right after Cranleigh Golf & Leisure club. |
| Savill Gardens, Egham One of Britain's greatest ornamental gardens, set in Windsor Great Park. Café & restaurant available. Entry is via Wick Lane at Englefield Green TW20 0UU, which is on the A30, West of the M25. |
| Walled Garden at Cowdray Ruins. A newly restored walled garden by Jan Howard, the simple geometric design is centred around a large rectangular lawn area with a central fountain, the Gardens also have a Tea Room. |
| Nymans, Handcross (NT) One of the greatest C20 gardens in the country with an important collection of rare plants, set around a romantic house and ruins in a beautiful wooded estate; created by three generations of the Messel family. |
| New Barn, Egdean, nr Petworth A 2 acre garden in peaceful farmland setting; with large natural pond and stream; planned for year round interest. |
| Bramdean House, Bramdean, Hants. A 6 acre garden on chalk, famous for mirror-image herbaceous borders, also collection of old fashioned sweet peas. |
| Clandon Park, West Clandon N.T. Informal garden around House, apart for parterre; mid C18 Grotto: parkland in style of Capability Brown. Dutch garden modelled on the pond garden at Hampton Court. |
| Coverwood Lakes, Peaslake Rd, Ewhurst. 14 acre landscaped garden with lakeside arboretum, rhododendrons, azaleas and primulas. |
| The Manor House, Upton Grey, Hants. A recreated Gertrude Jekyll's 1908 garden. |
| Uppark (NT), South Harting. Late 17th century house and garden in impressive setting. |
Note: Shulbrede Priory.
You may like to know the Priory is open to visitors on the Sunday and Monday
of the late May & August Bank Holidays. Admission about £2.50.