Tuesday, 5 September 2023 at 8:45 am - 6:00 pm
Morton Hall Gardens and Warndon Court
Our last gardens visit of the season takes us up the M5 motorway into Worcestershire, a journey of approximately 1.5 hours.
Morton Hall Gardens
Morton Hall Gardens are located on the crest of a steep embankment. The eight acres of garden and park combine historic and new features in a highly aesthetic fashion providing the backdrop for a collection of nearly a thousand plant varieties.
We will be divided into two groups for a tour around the house, through a series of distinctive but linked garden rooms. The journey starts in the West Garden with its bold Mediterranean style planting and stunning views. It continues through the orchard and the walled Kitchen Garden with its ‘expressionist’ herbaceous borders. A gateway leads on to the ‘impressionistic’ South Garden, brimming with roses, clematis and herbaceous planting in soft pastels. Past a magnificent chestnut tree, the path continues down through a woodland rock garden planted in cool hues. At the far end, a laurel dome opens out onto a Japanese style garden with two ponds and a tea house. The planting in this area combines Asian and European shrubs and perennials. The journey continues through a magnificent meadow which, in spring, boasts thousands of fritillaries, daffodils, anemones and primulas. The circle is completed passing through the ‘New Garden’ with its selection of species roses and flowering trees. Throughout the tour, we will learn about the history, design and planting of the gardens as well as specific horticultural techniques.
A light lunch will be served at Morton Hall.
Warndon Court
Warndon Court is a two-acre family garden surrounding a Grade 11 listed farmhouse featuring a circular route with formal rose gardens, terraces, two ponds, pergolas, topiary (including a scruffy dragon) pretty summerhouse (art gallery with original paintings, cards, book etc for sale) a potager and woodland walk along the dry moat and through the secret garden. It has bee-friendly wildlife areas and is home to great-crested newts and slow-worms. In the barn we will be able to glimpse a selection of vintage cars. The woodland walk is bumpy with slopes at each end. Seats are available in the garden.
The Grade 1 listed St Nicholas Church will also be open.
Tea, coffee and cake will be served in either the Church Barn or house.
The cost of the visit will be £47.00, to include coach travel from Nailsea, entry to both gardens, a light lunch at Morton Hall, and afternoon tea/coffee cake at Warndon Manor.
There will be a short comfort break at The Twisted Spoon, prior to the visit to Morton Hall, and tea/coffee/biscuits will be available at an additional cost of £3.00. If required, please have cash available.
The booking form for this trip can be downloaded Fagus Booking Form Worcester (.dox) or as a pdf