Beyond this feature is an arboretum that contains Programme 5 champion trees as well as many notable trees 10.30 am Arrival and introductory talk of unusual species. Another addition to the gar- by Mr I Sark (head gardener) followed by a den was the planting in 1999 of 1,000 hawthorns tour of the garden.

in the shape of a heart. 12.30 pm Depart for lunch. (There is a Sharcott Manor pub in Oare – The White Hart. There are also Sharcott is a modern 6 acre garden on green- a number of pubs and restaurants in Pewsey.) Spring/Summer Newsletter No.8 2013 sand that has been transformed in the last 30 2.00 pm Meet at Sharcott Manor for an years into a densely planted plantsman’s para- introductory talk by Mrs Armytage, then a tour of the garden. dise. Garden rooms near the house lead out into We are looking forward to the start of spacious lawns and a woodland garden. This 3.30 pm Tea AN URGENT APPEAL another year of events which we hope you includes a woodland walk carpeted with spring 4.00 pm Depart bulbs around a lake. There is year round interest will enjoy. Thanks to our Chairman, we HELP REQUIRED WITH THE from the spring bulbs through to plants with good Quick Glance Events List have personal invitations to two private autumn colour. There are harmonies and con- gardens, not open to the public. Hunton ANNUAL MAGAZINE trasts while the dark shady lake at the bottom is a March 12,19,26 and April 9 - Garden Manor is a morning visit with lunch on 10 haven of romantic broodiness. The lake is home History Lecture Series - April and Alan Titchmarsh’s private garden We urgently need someone to take the to a collection of ornamental water fowl. A recent Place. on 27 June should prove a memorable lead role in editing the annual magazine addition is an avenue of Pyrus calleryana occasion for a summer evening. We are so that we will be able to publish it this ‘Chanticleer’. There is also a small vegetable April 10 - Hunton Manor, nr Sutton also venturing into Wiltshire with two garden. There is the following note on the RHS year. gardens in Pewsey highly recommended website - Sharcott Manor is an excellent garden Scotney and Little Court, Crawley. that deserves to be much better known. by the Wiltshire Gardens Trust and, closer Janet Hurrell is stepping down from the April 20 - HGT AGM, Park. to home, the grand Rotherfield Park, near role she has held for the past four years Alton. The four day Northamptonshire May 7- Rotherfield Park and Bramdean Gardens Visit in May now has a waiting list although together with Sheila Carey- House, Bramdean but we look forward to seeing you at the Thomas and Sally Miller, she is happy other events. There were a few changes to finalise the content and to May 17– 20 - Northamptonshire Gardens on the Events Team last year. Joan commission the writers. It is hoped that Visit. Wilson, Roger Brown and Gwen Shaw Sue Gordon, who does the final edits stepped down and we have been joined by and copy-editing, and Sharon Cluett June 27 - Exclusive Members’ only Susie Long, Judi Haycock, Mary Hogg and who designs the magazine, will be private visit to Alan Titchmarsh’s garden. Joanna Lang. I have agreed to stand in offering their services again. However, as acting chairman until such time as a there remains that middle stage of July 25 - Oare House and Sharcott new chairman is appointed. Finally, we editorial work before publication. Manor, Pewsey, Wiltshire. have made a small change to the HGT Newsletter – a more compact size, which Oare House pavilion, courtesy of Anguskirk, Flickr we think will be easier for those of you with If you think you may be able to assist POSITION VACANT handbags. Leslie Shaw, Acting Chair, (or know someone who might be Gardens Trust is in need of a librarian to supervise the collection of books and periodi- interested) either contact the office on: cals that has been amassed over the years, and is shelved in the Special Collections Department 01794 367752 email: of the Hartley Library at Southampton University. All the administration is done by the university [email protected] staff, leaving the principal task of our Librarian that of deciding how to spend the annual allocation of money from HGT funds on new books. This involves the pleasurable job of regularly reading through reviews of books that are relevant to our interest, and always checking the appropriate or contact Janet Hurrell direct on 01962 section when visiting a bookshop. The job is principally to liaise with the Treasurer of HGT and the 867100 staff of the University Library, and check now and then that all is in order. If you feel that this is email:[email protected]. something that would be of interest to you or someone you know please contact Lucy in the HGT office for more information. This won’t commit you immediately but HGT, Jermyns House, Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, SO51 0QA, T: 01794 367752 will help you to find out more. E: [email protected] www.hgt.org.uk Twitter: @hantsgardens Bramdean House 4 1 Spring-Summer Programme 2013 since the mid 1990’s with over 60 apple trees as 2.00 pm Arrive at Bramdean House. To apply for the events below, please complete the Application Form which comes with this well as pears, plums, damsons, medlars, figs, Short introductory talk followed by self-tour of Newsletter and send it along with a Stamped Addressed Envelope to Valerie Jolley at the ad- mulberries and cherries, and there is a the garden. dress shown. Directions to all events will be issued with the tickets. All events enquiries should be dedicated peach and apricot house and a 3.30/4pm Tea and cake and departure directed to the Organiser, or Valerie Jolley, 01794 519919. vinery. Other features include an ice-house ,ha- ha, lime avenue, a bluebell wood and a grass Thursday 27 June . Evening Visit to Alan Titchmarsh’s garden. Wednesday 10 April amphitheatre by Kim Wilkie who has devoted 6 pages of his book “Led by the Land” to this Cost : £15 Self drive visit to two gardens near garden. William Cobbett described the park in There is a maximum limit of . Hunton Manor, Hunton and Little his Rural Rides, and Norah Lindsay made notes 50 people and this is strictly for members only. Court, Crawley and suggestions, many of which were adopted, Organiser: Margaret Prout Tel: 01329 280455. By kind permission of Mr and Mrs John Caulcutt in the 1920’s. This is indeed a fascinating Mobile on the day 07794261814. and Professor and Mrs A Elkington respectively. garden to delight in. Cost: Members £15 Non-members £17 Bramdean House, Bramdean. This is a privileged visit to a very special (includes coffee/tea and light lunch) This is a real plantsman’s garden, designed by garden—the first time a group has been given Organiser: Leslie Shaw 01962 860240 Victoria Wakefield –she has been attached to permission to do so. It has been described in Hunton Manor the RHS for several years, judges at Chelsea Alan’s recent book “My Secret Garden” of This Grade II listed Georgian Manor House Flower Show, and admits to being a complete which copies may be available on the evening. overlooks gardens and beautiful parkland with Caulcutt John of courtesy Manor Hunton “plantaholic”. It is Grade 2 listed by English Programme. mature beech trees. The recently restored Saturday 20 April Heritage and full of interest all year round. A garden is a clever design of contrasting spaces 6pm Arrive for wine and canapés, enjoy Annual General Meeting vast cloud hedge of yew and box screens the which include a walled garden, rose garden and a th the garden and depart by 8pm. At Hursley Park, near Winchester. fine 18 century house from the road, and secret garden, together with an impressive Details of the location will be sent out with the One of the historic mansions of Hampshire, behind the house lies a beautiful 5 acre garden potager and glasshouse. A large fountain and tickets. Car parking is not easy, so car-sharing previously owned by members of Oliver with glorious roses and clematis and the specimen trees also feature as well as a is advisable if possible. Cromwell’s family and which played a key role famous mirror-image herbaceous borders, wonderful swimming pavilion and terrace (where in the Second World War. The official AGM planted with over 100 genera. Wrought-iron we have been invited for a light lunch). There Thursday 25th July business meeting will begin at 11am followed gates lead to the 1 acre walled kitchen garden will be spring flowers to enjoy as well as vistas Self drive visit to two gardens near by a talk from IBM’s in-house historian. There filled with prize-winning vegetables, fruit and over fields towards the river and an old water- Pewsey, Wiltshire. Oare House, Oare and will be a buffet lunch and the opportunity to flowers including a special collection of more wheel, with plans to restore. A visit to the stable Sharcott Manor, Pewsey. tour the Japanese sunken garden afterwards. than 40 varieties of old fashioned sweet peas. block, with its special clock and fabulous barn, is By kind permission of Sir Henry Keswick and All papers and forms will be sent out to An orchard lies beyond a second wrought-iron a must. Captain and Mrs D Armytage respectively. members but for further information please gate and nearby is a new small arboretum with Little Court Cost: Members £15 Non-members £17 contact the HGT office. a wild flower meadow. There are some fine This 3 acre garden is spectacular in spring with trees including Ginko biloba, Liriodendron (includes tea and cakes in the afternoon) carpets of bulbs. Mrs Elkington is a Tuesday 7 May tulipifera , Davidia involucrata and magnolias. Organiser: Judi Haycock 07766910466 knowledgeable plantsperson and there will be Self drive visit to two Meon Valley This is another garden of delights. Oare House much to be learned and enjoyed here. Several Gardens. The gardens at Oare House surround a house distinct areas of the garden are linked by flint and By kind permission of Sir James and Lady Programme. originally built in 1740 for a wine merchant. brick walls and a sunken lawn, orchards, a Scott and 10.15 am Arrive for coffee. Short The entrance is along lime avenues and tall traditional kitchen garden and far reaching views Mr and Mrs. H Wakefield respectively introductory talk, followed by self-tour of the hedges. The garden includes a fine traditional over open countryside are some of the features. Cost: Members £17 Non-members £19 garden. English walled garden with a range of espalier Little Court is a favourite with painters and Organiser: Margaret Prout 01329 280455. 12.15pm Depart for lunch with kind per- fruit trees, a cut flower area and herbaceous photographers and has appeared in books and Mobile on the day 07794261814. mission from Lady Scott to picnic in the borders. There are 3 greenhouses, one of magazines. Plants grown by Mrs Elkington will grounds, or there are several nearby pubs. . which is dedicated to propagation. The main be for sale. Rotherfield Park, East Tisted. formal garden includes an area of lawn Rotherfield is a Grade 1 listed mansion, re- Programme enclosed by a wall flanked by majestic mixed built in the Regency style between 1815 and 11.00am Arrival and introductory talk by borders. The owner is a keen plant collector 1821,and later “Victorianised”; it is home to Mr Caulcutt, followed by a self guided tour of the and as the result of an expedition to China and the 6th,7th and 8th generations of Scotts . garden. the Himalayas in 2002 the garden houses a The garden covers about 12acres in the early 12.15pm Lunch collection of unusual plants, some of which 19th century park and is listed Grade 2 by 1.15pm Depart for Little Court, Crawley have yet to be named. These are planted both English Heritage. It includes an acre of 2.00pm Meet at Little Court. Introductory talk in the nursery area and throughout the garden. walled garden divided into four compart- by Mrs Elkington, then a tour of the garden To commemorate the millennium a ments all decorated with flower beds. There 3.30pm Tea (optional small charge for cake) summerhouse/pavilion was commissioned by has been a large programme of tree planting 4.00pm Depart 2 3 I.M. Pei, who designed the Louvre Pyramid.