Garden Visits. Away Days

Whilst trying to increase the Membership, someone made the suggestion that we ought to do more to keep our membership interested in the countryside. Having given this some thought I have decided, with the Committee’s endorsement, that if there is sufficient support, then we could take a coach to visit a number of gardens in the future and here are my ideas so far. I have in mind one garden a year.

Visit to East Ruston Old Vicarage. 2009 In this issue there is an article by Alan Gray about his and his partner’s garden, at East Ruston Old Vicarage. The garden is quite stunning and well worth a visit. June and July are the best months. It covers some 32 acres The current estimated cost of a coach is £15 per person, which is a lot cheaper than taking a car. The journey is about two hours and the coach would leave from Bures Village Hall at about 10.30 and return late afternoon arriving back in Bures by 19.00. We would stop for lunch at a pub near the garden so as to arrive when it opens at 14.00. There is an entry charge of £5. Please can you indicate on the enclosed form whether you are interested; or, if you have internet access, e-mail me, which is my preferred method of communication. info@colnestour.org

Bradenham Hall. 2010

This garden belongs to the Allhusen family who bought the house in 1951. It had been used by the army during the war, and was a total mess. Colonel Allhusen, and his wife Jane, built the present garden from scratch and it has one of the largest collections of trees (over 800 different species) in East Anglia. The house is now lived in by their eldest son, Chris Allhusen, and his young family, and has only been opened to the public, on selected dates, in recent years. The house was once the home of Rider Haggard. The best months to visit are June or July. The 2009 entry cost is £4.50. The current estimated cost of a coach is £15.

Visit to Highgrove

I have applied for a date to visit the garden of HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. There is a waiting list of approximately three years, but our name will eventually get to the top of the list. Numbers are strictly limited, usually 25, but sometimes slightly more. The current estimated cost of a coach is approximately £30 per person. There is no entry charge but visitors are, I suspect, expected to buy something in the shop, or make a donation! I would imagine that there will be no shortage of people wanting to go, so I need to lay down the rules. Applications to join the visit will be limited to two per family and will only be accepted with payment in full by cheque. When we get given a date, applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis. All applicants have to be named and only they are permitted to go. Anyone who has been before should not apply. I understand that the Duchy keep records of visitors. Once the maximum number has been reached the next ten applicants will go on a waiting list, but their cheques will not be cashed. In the event of anyone dropping out there will be NO refunds and the next on the waiting list will be offered the space. I need to get an idea as to who is interested, so can you complete the enclosed form or better still e-mail me? ONLY those who answer will receive a separate notification of the visit, once we have a date. Depending on how much notice we get will depend on whether notification can be given in the Newsletter, but if we are only given short notice this may not be possible, that is why I need to know now. ONLY members can apply, so if only one of you is a member your husband or wife will have to join to be able to apply. Complete the enclosed form or e-mail me info@colnestour.org

I hope that some of our members will have ideas of other places we could visit. Please can you let me know? I do need help with this one. Here are some ideas where the emphasis is on the garden, although all the National Trust properties have buildings to visit as well. Anglesey Abbey, Cambridge. National Trust Felbrigg Hall, Norwich. National Trust Hyde Hall Garden, Rettendon. RHS Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Cranbrook. Kent. National Trust