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ABOUT GARDENS
ABOUT GARDENS
Robin Lane Fox
This year’s Celebrity Speaker Robin Lane Fox has been gardening and writing about gardens for half a century, including a weekly column for the Financial Times. He oversees the garden at New College, Oxford and his own Cotswold retreat. Author of ‘Thoughtful Gardening’, he has strong views on prairie gardening, wildflower meadows, badgers and much else. Humorous, controversial and occasionally politically incorrect, Robin is never boring.
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Visit to two Boxford Gardens
Visit to Two Boxford Gardens - Kingsbury House and 2 Holmwood Cottage
As these are two small jewel like gardens, we shall be divided into two groups, A and B. of 11/12 people to visit each garden alternately. We will forgather at the home of our President, Maggie Thorpe, Weavers House, Swan Street, Boxford CO10 5NZ. You will need to drive between gardens.
The owner of Kingsbury House, Stephen Howarth, lived in France and on retiring to Boxford created a wonderful formal courtyard garden with pleached hornbeam hedging, roses, lavender and a magnificent view of the Church.
Neil Bradfield at Holmwood Cottages is a professional gardener who has worked in several famous gardens including Fullers Mill, Highgrove, and Ulting Wick. He has created his own beautiful small garden with some very special plants, grasses, roses and small trees.
After the visits tea and cakes will be available at Weavers House, with Maggie Thorpe.
PLEASE NOTE - This visit is restricted to 24 people maximum, and is a Members Only event.
PRICE IS £10 to include tea.
There is limited parking and car share would be a good option where possible.
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Summer Social at The Place For Plants
THE PLACE FOR PLANTS
By kind permission of Rupert and Sara Eley you are invited to join us for a magical summer evening in this beautiful garden. Rupert has very kindly agreed to take us on a tour of this wonderful arboretum, and the borders and roses will be at their best, so this will be a very special event. We will be having a supper of a selection of wonderful cheeses with crusty bread and chutneys, with a glass of wine. Extra glasses will be available at £2 per glass. £15 for members, and £17 for guests. Numbers are limited to 50 for this event.
There is plenty of parking space through the gates. Please note that the nursery will not be open for plant sales.
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The Old Vicarage, Wormingford
Visit to The Old Vicarage Wormingford CO6 3AZ
This visit includes a 15 minute talk by the designer Jeremy Allen, followed by a garden tour, then tea and cakes . The numbers are strictly limited to 15, and we have had a lot of preliminary interest, so it is anticipated that it will sell out quickly!
Jeremy and Beverley Allen’s garden surrounding the Old Vicarage in Wormingford has been developed over the last 15 years from a completely overgrown site. It covers 3.5 acres with a structure of mature hedging, new trees and topiary, and contains inspirational perennial and ornamental grass planting. There is a natural pond, water features, an orchard and a productive kitchen garden.
PLEASE NOTE - This visit is restricted to 15 people maximum, and is a Members Only event.
PRICE - £20 to include tea and cakes.
Parking details to follow
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Visit to Polstead Mill
Visit to Polstead Mill
September 4th at 2.30
The garden at Polstead Mill is 11 acres and it has been created over the last 22 years by Lucy and Richard Bartlett. The house dates from 1785 and the mill, millrace, weir and pool leading off the River Box became part of the property in 1947. Trees play a very important part of the structure of the garden and fringe the lawn where the herbaceous borders are. The garden is known for it’s display of Dahlias. There is a wild flower meadow and thriving walled kitchen garden. Numbers are limited to 50 people.
PRICE IS £16 TO INCLUDE ENTRY AND TEA AND BOOKING CLOSES ON 22ND AUG. IN ORDER TO CONFIRM NUMBERS FOR TEA.
Polstead Mill, Mill Lane, Polstead. CO6 5AB Satnav directions are good and parking is in the field opposite.
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REWILDING YOUR GARDEN
REWILDING YOUR GARDEN
Charlie Harpur
Rewilding isn’t just about beavers and wild boars. Charlie Harpur is head gardener of Knepp Estates, which is at the forefront of the rewilding movement. He explains the ‘active gardening’ practised at Knepp, and tells us how to rewild our own gardens to give nature a chance.
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CONTAINER GARDENING
CONTAINER GARDENING
Ed Flint
If you’ve got limited growing space or just want lots of variety in your garden, planted containers are the way to add instant colour to a bare corner, patio or even balcony. Ed Flint, a lecturer at The English Gardening School, demonstrates how to make the most of your pots through all the seasons.If you’ve got limited growing space or just want lots of variety in your garden, planted containers are the way to add instant colour to a bare corner, patio or even balcony. Ed Flint, a lecturer at The English Gardening School, demonstrates how to make the most of your pots through all the seasons. Following Ed’s talk there will be mince pies, mulled wine and a Seed Swap.
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UNUSUAL EDIBLES
UNUSUAL EDIBLES
Matthew Oliver
Tired of tomatoes or bored with broccoli? Matt Oliver suggests you grow tiger nuts or achoccha, known as ‘fat babies’. Matt raised over 350 unusual edibles in RHS Hyde Hall’s Global Growth Vegetable Garden, and has lots of ideas to get you growing weird, wonderful and delicious unusual veg.
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SECRET GARDENS OF THE SOUTH EAST
SECRET GARDENS OF THE SOUTH EAST
Barbara Segall
Garden writer, Barbara Segall takes us on a private tour of glorious gardens in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. From the historic ‘Restoration House’ to the romantic Town House, and Arundel Castles 40 Acres to a 45ft plot in Whitstable , each garden is inspirational. Some are open for the NGS others for private groups. Barbara will introduce us to gardens we’ll want to put on our ‘must visit’ list!
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AURICULAS - SPRING'S PAINTED LADIES
AURICULAS - SPRING'S PAINTED LADIES
Luci Skinner
Auriculas brighten the days of early spring with their jewel-like colours and exquisite detail. In the past they were known as ‘Painted Ladies’, or less romantically Bears Ears. Luci Skinner of Woottens Nursery, which stocks over 400 varieties of Auriculas, will tell us about their history and how to propagate, grow and care for these little beauties. She will bring plants for sale.
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Timothy Walker In the Not-So-Bleak Midwinter
Timothy Walker In the Not-So-Bleak Midwinter
We’re delighted to welcome back Timothy Walker, lecturer, botanist and former Director of the Oxford University Botanic Garden, to inspire us in the bleak midwinter. Gardening books write of putting the garden to bed for the winter. While many plants become dormant during this cold, wet and dark time of year, some are providing fruit for the birds and other animals while others are flowering. Winter may not be the traditional season of big borders and drifts of different blooms but has plenty to offer the gardener. Timothy looks at the opportunities for bringing winter interest to your garden.
Jim Paine - The Secret Life of Plants
How do plants tell the time? How and why do they communicate with each other? Did you know that some plants can generate enough heat to melt snow, whilst others nourish their young?
Tinkers Green Farm, Cornish Hall End CM7 4HP
THURSDAY 12th July – 2-5pm 2023
By Kind invitation of Peter and Denny Swete
Denny is a well-known garden designer and created this most interesting garden from scratch. The 17th century cottage now sits in the middle of the five acres made up of gardens, orchard and meadow.
The lawns are surrounded by yew hedging and richly coloured herbaceous borders, which include roses and perennials, leading on to another enclosed area, where there is a dark grey ornamental pool. The charming potager has fruit trees, an interesting variety of vegetables and cutting flowers,
Cost £12.00 to include Tea and Cake In aid of St. Nicholas Hospice
Minimum of 15 people
Directions – From Steeple Bumpstead take B1057 heading for Finchingfield. When you reach Cornish Hall End take the first right hand turn signed Great Sampford. Follow this road for approximately one mile, you pass an avenue of poplars and after a short distance parking will be on the right.
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EAGG Dorset Holiday 2023
EAGG DORSET HOLIDAY BY COACH 13th to 15th June 2023
PRICE £416.00 per person (Single Supplement £92) National Trust members £400.00 *
Staying at the Best Western Royal Chase Hotel, Shaftsbury
Half board - Breakfast and dinner included
Depart Lavenham 8.00am
* Members of the National Trust please have your membership cards with you
JUNE 13th – MALVERLEYS, EAST END, NEWBURY RG20 0AA
10 acres of exceptional gardens designed and developed over the last 9 years to include magnificent mixed borders, a flame border, cool garden, pond garden and new stumpery
A vegetable garden sits within a walled garden with wonderful fruit cages . Meadows open out to views over parkland.
We have tea/cake here and you are welcome to bring a picnic if you wish.
CADENHAM MANOR, FOXHAM, CHIPPENHAM SN15 4NH
4 Acre garden around a listed C17 manor house and dovecote. The rooms divided by yew hedges and moats contain wonderful displays of old roses, mixed borders with fountains and statues, water garden and vegetable and herb garden.
We have tea here with the owner, Victoria Nye.
JUNE 14th - MAPPERTON GARDENS, BEAMINSTER DT8 3NR (Visit garden only)
Terraced valley gardens surrounding Tudor/Jacobean manor house with orangery and Italianate formal gardens with fountains and lower garden with shrubs and rare trees.
Restaurant here to buy lunch/snacks.
ABBOTSBURY GARDENS, WEYMOUTH DT3 4LA
The maritime Mediterranean climate enables a fabulous display of sub-tropical plants
(selected wheel chair route) in a 30 acre walled garden with wonderful views of the Jurassic coast from the top of the Magnolia Walk.
Restaurant here where you can buy tea/drinks etc.
JUNE 15th – MOTTISFONT, ROMSEY (NATIONAL TRUST) SO51 0LN The world famous collection of old-fashioned roses surround this 18th century house with a medieval priory at its heart. The house contains the drawing room painted by Rex Whistler and a 20th century art collection.
Restaurant here to buy lunch/snacks
THE OLD RECTORY, FARNBOROUGH. OX12 8NX (photograph)
Mr and Mrs Michael Todhunter will welcome us to this immaculately tended garden of rooms containing herbaceous borders, secret garden, roses, vegetables and bog garden with an explosion of rare and interesting plants and stunning views across the countryside.
We have tea here.
We journey home arriving in Lavenham at approximately 7.00/7.30pm
£416 per person National Trust members £400 *
Single room supplement £92.00
BOOK DIRECT BY PHONING KINGS COACHES and ask for a booking form for the EAGG holiday (01206 210332)
Easton Lodge Gardens, Dunmow
Easton Lodge, Little Easton, Dunmow CM6 2BD Essex
Harold Peto’s gardens
The Gardens of Easton Lodge are the only example in East Anglia of the work of the Edwardian garden designer, Harold Peto. Peto originally trained as an architect and brought to Easton Lodge his passion for Italianate, French and Japanese designs, including many architectural features. Peto’s 1902 designs for the Countess of Warwick included formal lawns, a sunken Italian garden, a yew walk, a treehouse, a glade and a Japanese garden. Today, they continue to form the outline of the Gardens, which the Trust is restoring as funds allow.
The Italian Garden
Peto’s Italian garden was the centrepiece in his garden design. It includes a 30m long water lilypond, surrounded by stone balustrades, and is set within flower beds and borders. Its wide gracious steps and its paving were from honey coloured Ham Hall stone. The Edwardian planting in the garden provided both structure and colour. The Trust’s volunteers work to ensure that the Italian garden is colourful throughout the seasons. Landsec funded the restoration of the one set of stone steps in use in 2019; and the Trust fundraised and completed the restoration of the balustrade around the lilypond in 2021. The Trust will prioritise further replacement of stonework in the Italian garden as funds permit.
Directions: Little Easton, Dunmow, CM6 2BD. (Use Satnav CM6 2BB). Entrance is on the right about ¼ mile beyond Little Easton Church. Directional signs from Dunmow. What3words for car park – stocky.bulletins.opponent
Arrive 10.30 for 11.00 start of guided tour and history of the gardens and the late owner, The Countess of Warwick. After the tour, tea and cake and the opportunity to explore the gardens until closing at 3.00 p.m. Picnics are welcome.
Entry price includes Tea & Cake.
bookings will close on the 15th May 2023
Minimum of 12 people
Lucy Hutchings Growing Fruit and Veg the No-Dig Way
See Event Review
Lucy Hutchings (@shegrowsveg) swapped a career designing couture jewellery for growing heirloom vegetables. She’s passionate about enthusing us all to grow our own food organically with the no-dig method, and shows us how easy it is to become partly self-sufficient. She grows several hundred varieties of fruit and veg in her allotment and back garden, and claims you can too!
Lucy had a show garden at Hampton Court in 2022 and recently appeared on BBC’s Gardener’s World.
She will be bringing plants for sale.
Free to members - guests £5.00
Troy Scott Smith - A Tale of Three Gardens
Troy has spent three periods of his career at Sissinghurst, returning twice as Head Gardener and leading a project to revitalise it including the controversial re-creation of the Delos Garden. He also led the restoration of the great Welsh garden Bodnant and The Courts Garden. Troy reveals the challenges and successes of managing these iconic gardens.
Steve Edney
How to create a Herbaceous Border from soil and site to pests and companion plants
Do you long for inspiration to plan a flowerbed or plant your whole garden? Steve Edney will tell you everything you should consider, from the soil, site, proportions and size to predators, pests and companion plants. Gardening organically and experimenting with bold groupings he and his partner Louise created the longest herbaceous border in the UK – 100metres – from a field in two years at their No Name Nursery. Those who saw Steve’s glorious planting at the famous Salutation know that we’ll be in for a feast of ideas.
Christmas Wreath Making
Open to just 20 members and guests. Florist, Helen Newman, will show us how to make a beautiful Christmas door or table wreath. A lovely activity using wired moss wreath bases this year to be more environmentally friendly. Please bring any foliage to use if you can, although some will be provided. Also useful will be scissors, secateurs and something to cut the fine wire we will use to attach the foliage and decorations.You are welcome to bring your own decorations and plenty will be supplied. Tea and cake will be served. Book via the website or by contacting EAGG secretary Liz Law. – lizz.a.law@gmail.com
Annual General Meeting followed by Ed Berger 'Herbs for Health'
Ed is an experienced herbal therapist for 25 years and teacher of herbal medicine for 20 years.
Originally inspired by the Ayurvedic healing system of India, he has a BSc in Western Herbal Medicine and also trained in Naturopathic Iridology, practicing ever since. Combining a thorough grounding in orthodox medical diagnosis and evidence based herbal medicine with the traditional energetic approaches of Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine.
In addition to practicing herbal medicine Ed also teaches, runs workshops and writes on the subject of plant healing. A passionate plantsman he grows a wide variety of herbal medicines in his woodland garden in Suffolk. He is delighted to be sharing his knowledge with the members of East Anglian Garden Group and if anyone has any particular herbs in their garden they would like to know more about, do bring them along.