Hello Garden Group members
Hope that you are enjoying seeing lots of flowers and green shoots appearing in the garden or parks. I thought that the magnolias were especially good this year. We are hoping to visit Caerhays in Cornwall in March 2027 to see their renowned collection of magnolias. We may make it a weekend, visiting a few other Cornish gardens as well. Ideas welcome!
But sooner than that, we have plenty to look forward to in the Gardens Group in the coming months. If there is nothing happening in your area, please consider organising a visit to your favourite local garden or garden event. It is most rewarding to see others enjoying something you have put together. To help, I have published some guidance, and am on hand to support you to make it happen. Just get in touch, without obligation, if you have an idea you would to discuss.
First up on 19th of April is a visit to the splendid Iford Manor near Bath. Designed by Harold Peto, it has won numerous awards. Loyal Gardens Group supporter Bill sent me the photos above, taken during his visit this week. Free entry for Historic Houses members. This event is part of a GOC weekend of walks and socialising centred arouind Bath, but you don't need to be attending the other events to join us. It is likely to be busy so advance booking is recommended. Please also note that there are some narrow lanes to get there, so you may want to factor that in when planning your journey. See here for full details.
Fast on the heels of that is Fritillaries, frescoes & wisteria at Waterperry near Oxford, with twenty acres of beautifully landscaped ornamental gardens. As everyone knows, the county flower of Oxford is the snakeshead fritillary and there should be plenty of these to see on our visit, along with wisteria and a huge fresco in the house, the largest of its kind in the UK. See here for full details.
Then on 10th May we have two National Garden Scheme (NGS) Group Open Gardens – one in Whitstable in Kent and the other at Pontardulais near Swansea. Such events give us the opportunity to explore hidden gems - private gardens that have often been created by their owners as labours of love. Opening them to raise funds, they usually also have lovely cakes and plants for sale. It would be rude not to! Click here for the Whitstable one and here for the Pontarddulais one.
Fast forward to June and we have a visit to the famous David Austin Roses near Wolverhampton, Barrington Court in Somerset, Abergavenny Open Gardens in South Wales, which includes a visit to a Chelsea winner's own garden, and back to Somerset to visit the famed Hestercombe, designed by Gertrude Jeykill and Sir Edwin Lutyens.
More events are online for early July whilst the end of that month brings us to the Annual Outdoor Gathering, this time in the West Midlands, where we have three fine gardens for you to visit on the Friday afternoon, Saturday and Monday morning. Bookings for all AOG events will open in late May. At the time of writing (12th April 2026) , there is still limited accommodation available on campus if you want to join us. You do not need to attend the AOG to come on any of the garden visits.
I recently came across this page on the National Trust website about LGBTQ connections with their properties, which I thought may be of interest.
Hope that you will be able to join us in the coming weeks and months – we are very welcoming and conversation flows easily when there is lots to admire. But if you are anxious about attending, please get in touch so together we can work out a way to make it easier.
With best wishes
Neil
Gardens Group Co-Ordinator.
