COTSWOLDS (UK) GARDENS AND NURSERIES WITH JIMI BLAKE

10th, 11th & 12th September

 

Join Jimi Blake for a three day guided tour of famous gardens and nurseries in the picturesque Cotswolds.

Day 1:

SPECIAL PLANTS NURSERY AND THE OWNER’S PRIVATE GARDEN

Special Plants grow and sell unusual plants from all over the world including an amazing range of hardy herbaceous and rockery plants as well as many tender perennials for terrrace and conservatory. Derry Watkins, author of two books on greenhouse gardening, has introduced many new plants from her plant collecting trips to South Africa and elsewhere. Derry will guide us through her garden and nursery.

LADY FARM

Lady Farm is in the village of Chelwood, Somerset. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Pearce, the gardens have been designed and created by Judy Pearce over the last 13 years.

The accidental discovery of a spring water source in 1994 enabled the garden to be landscaped with a water course running down the side of the valley, punctuated by waterfalls and two lakes with associated marginal planting. Malcolm’s vegetable patch was transformed in 2000 to a cottage style garden which has since been replanted to a more modern style for ease of management. In 2004, the addition of mist units and a wooden gorilla to the waterfall ravine added an alternative aspect to the garden, to the amusement of many a visitor. The 'prairie' and 'steppe' style plantings are a popular feature all year round providing an array of striking colours which evolve throughout the seasons.

A shady hosta walk with birch and hydrangeas leads to a lake which is surrounded by natural planting, blending into a wildflower meadow. From the lake, a stream cascades into a deep ravine of rockwork. A new prairie was planted in September 2007, combining a broad variety of grasses, stems and colour themed perennials which will start to flower this June. A kitchen garden growing organic vegetables was new in 2008. A guided tour will be provided by Judy Pearce.

Day 2:

PAN GLOBAL PLANTS

Pan-Global Plants is a specialist nursery founded by Nick Macer in 1997. Located in the Severn Valley of Gloucestershire, he provides an inspiring selection of the finest, most desirable and often rarest plants capable of growing on these isles. It is one of those places that you regret not having discovered earlier. 'Inspiring and indiosyncratic plants' says the cover of Nick's Plant Catalogue. The plants, a lot of them at least, are most certainly inspiring although the extent to which they are 'idiosyncratic' is not clear — just how many are 'odd', 'peculiar', 'kinky', 'offbeat' or even 'misbehaved'? Perhaps  Amorphophallus konjakis one? Jokes aside, a visit to Pan-Global is always fun and rewarding. The quality of the plants is first-class and Nick's knowlege of them is no less. There is also a garden, stocked with Nick's favourites with some of Nick's enemies creeping in occasionally when he looks the other way. One of Jimi’s favourite nurseries.

WESTINBERT ARBORETUM

The diversity and history that surround Westonbirt and its tree collection is truly astonishing with every tree providing a memorable story or link to the past or future. Westonbirt was started around 1829 by the Holford family and planted in a picturesque style following the guidelines laid down by W.S.Gilpin. Many of the specimens now present date back to that time.

The site covers an area of 600 acres of Grade One listed landscape and includes areas of ancient, semi-natural woodland, specimen plants and open grassland. This woodland represents one of the largest areas of oak and coppiced hazel forest in the locality and includes areas of restoration of forest which was clearfelled some 60 years ago. The new maple plantings will, in time, create the world’s best collection of maples and is in keeping with the tradition of Westinbert. A guided tour will be provided by Jimi Blake.

Day 3:

Morning free in Tetbury/ travel home.

Cost €195

This tour consists of two overnights in the picturesque village of Tedbury.

Further Information:

Recommended Flights:

Dublin to Bristol by Ryanair: Depart Dublin Thursday, 9th September at 19:55 and arrive in Bristol at 20:55. Return on Sunday 12th September departing from Bristol at 15:55 and arriving in Dublin at 16:55.

Coach hire has been arranged to pick up at airport in connection with this flight and to take us to the hotel on Thursday Night. The same coach will take us to the gardens on Friday and Saturday and the back to airport on Sunday. Cost £27- £44 per person, depending on the number of people booking.

Accommodations in Tetbury:

The Ormand Hotel www.theormondattetbury.com

The Snooty Fox – www.thesnootyfox.co.uk

The Close Hotel – www.theclose-hotel.com

The Priory Inn – www.theprioryinn.co.uk

Lunch in Special Plants on Friday (homemade soup, bread and cheese salad) £7

Lunch in Westonbirt Arboretum on Saturday

Prices include guided tours and admission to all gardens and nurseries. All meals, accommodation and transport are to be arranged and paid for separately by participants.

Please ensure you have adequate travel insurance prior to travel.

Itineraries are subject to change and all tours are subject to a sufficient number of bookings taken to make tours possible.

BOOKING FORM