GARDEN VISITS

Bradenham Hall Gardens.

Last year we went to Blickling Hall. The event was well supported although there were a few spare places on the coach. The azaleas were still in full flower due to the late spring but some of the herbaceous plants were way behind in coming into flower. However the garden is spectacular, and must be glorious when the roses and borders are in full flower. The house is impressive and has a very interesting interior. It was built in the period 1616 to 1624 for Sir Henry Hobart. It was the first house to be given to the National Trust in 1940 by Lord Lothian, who was a confirmed batchelor, who had been responsible for setting up the National Trust’s Country Houses Scheme. Members lunched in the on-site restaurant and we were all disappointed at the quality of the food, which was far from cheap. I reported our complaints to the supervisor and an apology was received. I hope they have overcome their problems!

Garden Visit 2014. Wednesday 4th June

I have booked to go and see two gardens next year. They are both very special.

I have previously mentioned Bradenham Hall (Once the home of Ryder Haggard) in Norfolk and had intended visiting a year or so ago. However, the owners (Christian and Panda Allhusen) had to move out of the house for three years to allow for it to be re-plumbed and re-wired as without this work they could not get insurance. The re-wiring used over ninety kilometres of wire!

I first visited this garden as a teenager as my parents were friends of Christian’s parents who had bought the house in 1951. I have watched the garden and arboretum develop ever since. Go to www.bradenhamhall.co.uk You will find a description of the garden and a list of the 800 plus trees.

We will go to Bradenham first to arrive around 10.30, when we will be offered tea and coffee before being given a conducted tour of the 27 acre garden and arboretum. We will aim to leave at 13.30 to go to Hilborough House, the home of the Van Cutsem family. I suggest that you bring a sandwich lunch (and a drink) with you to eat whilst transferring from Bradenham to Hilborough. Hilborough House was only completed in 1997 and an outstanding garden has been created around the house. The garden was featured in the 11th September 2013 issue of Country Life. To see pictures of the house and garden Google “Hilborough House Norfolk”.

Trees at Bradenham gardens.

Beautifully kept gardens at Hilborough House.

We aim to arrive at Hilborough at 14.00 and will be given a conducted tour of the garden followed by tea and cakes. We will aim to leave by 17.00 arriving back in Bures at 19.00.

The coach will arrive outside the Eight Bells on Colchester Road, Bures at 08.00 and we will aim to leave at 08.30. You can park on Colchester Road or Station Road or elsewhere in the village. The overall charge will be £40.00. This includes the cost of the CSCA purchasing Public Liability Insurance.

As in the past, outline details of the visit were sent to Members who have email in the autumn of last year, then in January this year I sent out final details and cost, together with an Application Form. The visit was fully subscribed within a couple of weeks. If you want to go on the waiting list, you need to let me know by telephoning 01787 227088. There is an answering machine if we are out. Please leave your name and telephone number.

Well-established trees at Bradenham Hall.

Garden Visit 2015 (Date to be advised)

I have made provisional arrangements to visit, what look like two stunning gardens, for next year. The owners have agreed that we can go and I have got to settle on a date in the next few months. The gardens are Elsing Hall, Elsing and Corpusty Mill Garden, Corpusty. Both gardens are near Norwich. I think the cost will probably be the same as this year, (£40) but this is dependent on the cost of the coach. The Elsing Hall garden was featured in the Country Life of 15th January 2014. You can see it if you go to www.elsinghall.com and for Corpusty Mill, Google Corpusty Mill Garden.

If you are NOT on email and would like details at the same time as I email Members about the visit, then I will send you a Reservation Form by post, but you will need to send me an SAE. (Stamped, addressed envelope) I anticipate sending out details in January 2015.

My address is Cooks Green, Lamarsh, Bures, CO8 5DY.

Costing of Garden Visits

From when I first started the Garden Visits, I have underwritten the cost in the event that there was a low take-up of spaces. I therefore set the breakeven point at between 33 to 35 people. Therefore, if there are more than this number, the CSCA will make a profit.

Mark Dawson