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22nd
May
Tuesday |
Arrive in London. Visit The Savill Garden then travel to Winchcombe in the Cotswolds.
The Savill Garden, situated in Windsor Great Park, is one of Britain’s greatest ornamental gardens. Enjoyed by horticulturalists and enthusiasts alike, it never fails to charm visitors who come to explore its 35 acres of contemporary and classically designed gardens and exotic woodland.
Dinner on arrival in Winchcombe is provided. |
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23rd
May
Wednesday |
Tour of Cotswold Villages. Visit Mill Dene Garden.
The beauty of the Cotswolds villages owes much to the honey-golden colour of the limestone used to build its houses. Relax and let your driver guide take you on a journey to discover scenes that have hardly changed for centuries.
Mill Dene Garden This jewel of a garden owes its existence to a young couple falling in love with eachother and an old water mill. Knowing nothing about gardening the Dares set about creating one of the most interesting gardens in the Cotswolds. It is personal, witty, surprising and of course, beautiful as well as horticulturally excellent as you would expect from a sometime Chelsea judge. |
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24th
May
Thursday |
Today we will drive to London and spend the day at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the Great Spring Show, held each year on five days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, England. It is the most famous such show in the United Kingdom, perhaps the most famous gardening event in the world and part of London's summer social season. Chelsea Flower Show tickets sell out every year, it is so popular. |
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25th
May
Friday |
Hidcote and Kiftsgate Court Gardens You'll never forget the exquisite garden rooms of Hidcote, each with its own unique character. Discover rare shrubs and trees, herbaceous borders and unusual plants from around the world. Nestled in the Cotswolds with sweeping views across the Vale of Evesham.
Kiftsgate Court Gardens is a series of interconnecting gardens each with its distinct character and secrets. |
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26th
May
Saturday |
Sudeley Castle, Snowshill Manor and Snowshill Lavender Farm
Surrounded by stunning views of the Cotswold Hills, the setting of Sudeley Castle is breathtaking in itself. The award-winning gardens have been lovingly restored and redesigned to compliment the elegance and tranquility of the castle and its ruins, as well as to echo through the ages and recreate the beauty of the gardens which have grown here in years gone by.
Snowshill Manor was owned by Charles Wade who was a treasure-seeker who loved buying and restoring beautifully made objects. Laid out with creative flair, just as Mr Wade intended, the Manor is literally packed to the rafters with thousands of treasures. The Manor is surrounded by an equally characterful hand-crafted terraced garden. Snowshill Lavender Farm is a family run farm set in the heart of the Cotswold Hills.The lavender plant loves the free draining limestone soils 1,000 feet above sea level giving the best growing conditions for the highest quality English Lavender Essential Oil. The crops are steam distilled on the farm and made into a range of modern lavender products. The sight of the lavender fields in bloom is truly breathtaking. |
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27th
May
Sunday |
Today we will drive across the border to Wales. We will visit Hampton Court Castle Garden and admire the beautiful herbaceous borders which stretch out from a one hundred and fifty year old wisteria tunnel that leads to vast lawns and ancient trees beside the castle. Beyond the lawns are riverside and woodland walks. We will then drive across the Brecon beacons where we will have majestic views across the region to Hay on Wye, famous for the international book festival. We then go on to see Tintern Abbey, set in the Wye valley and renowned for its picturesque qualities. It was famously visited by the poet,William Wordsworth and since the early 20th century every effort has been made to keep standing one of the finest and most complete abbey churches in Wales. |
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28th
May
Monday |
Bath, Iford Manor and Courts Garden
Today we visit two gardens and the City of Bath which offers a unique experience with its stunning architecture, great shopping and iconic attractions. The Italianate garden at Iford Manor was designed by the architect and landscape gardener Harold Ainsworth Peto who lived there from 1899 to 1933. A unique and romantic hillside garden, it is characterised by steps, terraces, sculpture and magnificent rural views.
The Courts Garden is an example of English country style at its best. We will enjoy the peaceful water gardens and herbaceous borders, with organically shaped topiary,and stroll through the arboretum with its wonderful species of trees and naturally planted spring bulbs. |
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29th
May
Tuesday |
Private Gardens of the Cotswolds - Stanton Village and Stanway
Today we will drive just a few miles to see some of the nearby private gardens.
Behind the picturesque housefronts in Stanton Village lie some truly spectacular gardens. We have organised private viewings of several of these gems.
We will then visit Stanway House , protected thanks to its location from many changes of the 20th Century. The last decade has seen the gradual restoration of the water garden to its former 18th Century glory. The formal canal, on a terrace above the house, the cascade, the longest in England, the striking pyramid and eight ponds have been reinstated. A single jet fountain at 300 feet, (the highest in Britain) and the highest gravity fed fountain in the world has been added.
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30th
May
Wednesday |
Barnsley House and Highgrove (to be confirmed)
Today we will visit Rosemary Verey's garden at Barnsley house. This iconic garden was designed and cared for by Rosemary Verey from 1951 when she lived here. Since her death in 2001, the house has become a hotel, however the garden remains and over the years has inspired designers and gardeners alike, including HRH The Prince of Wales. We will enjoy its terraces, formal lawns, ancient meadows and wildernesses. taking some to time to explore the gardens’ many twists, turns, nooks and crannies.The Laburnum Walk and ornamental fruit and vegetable gardens are among England’s most famous settings.
HRH The Prince of Wales has spent 30 years transforming the grounds of Highgrove into what have been acknowledged as some of the most inspired and innovative gardens in the United Kingdom. His Royal Highness’s strict adherence to organic and sustainable methods has helped create gardens which are both magical and intriguing while being environmentally sound; encouraging both plants and wildlife to thrive.
We are unable to confirm our visit to Highgrove, the private gardens of their royal highnesses, The prince of Wales and the duchess of Cornwall until 2012. If it is not possible to include this visit we will substitute a visit to an alternative garden.
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31st
May
Thursday |
Depart or extend your stay to enjoy our local Music Festival followed by the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations here in Winchcombe. |
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