EHS MINI HOLIDAY - SUMMER
2007
GARDENS OF THE NORTH EAST
See also the picture galleryThis was the first of our
4-day
holidays and its success led to it becoming a regular
event in our
calendar. I think everyone was surprised and delighted
at the variety
and quality of the gardens in an area not renowned for
its horticulture. |
On 3rd
August, 28 enthusiastic members boarded our 52 seater
coach (so
lots of room for plants) for a long weekend visiting 8
gardens in the
North East and what a wonderful trip it turned out to
be. At most
gardens we had a guided tour or an introduction from the
owner, which
personalised the visit. Everyone got on well together
with many
friendships made or strengthened. Even the hotel service
at dinner left
us all with some amusing anecdotes! All the gardens we visited had their own character with different styles, ranging from the big scale of Alnwick Castle Garden to the smaller, privately developed gardens, such as the Garden Station at Hexham. |
Alnwick is a modern
garden on a grand scale with fascinating
water
sculptures, fountains and a wonderful tree house with
restaurant, but
perhaps the most interesting was the Poison garden. I
think we all felt
wary in our own gardens after that experience! Perhaps the unexpected delight of the trip was the tranquil Crook Hall Gardens in Durham, close to the city centre. It was divided into separate areas, each with its own theme. The owners were very trusting allowing people to browse around their 13th century home unattended. There was also a tea garden with everything homemade – what more could we want! |
Other memories are: - Cragside with its deep, wooded valley and the innovative house; the extensive walled garden at Wallington Hall; the quiet, secluded, country setting of The Cottage Garden with its mass of planting and dry riverbed feature; Herterton House and garden where the owners had prepared precise records of every plant and its position in the garden! and Bide-a-wee Cottage (no toilets!) with a garden created from a field and quarry. |