Garden Visits

Status:	Active, open to new members
Coordinator:	Dave Willis
Group email:	Garden Visits group
When:	Monthly - see visits schedule
Cost:	Typically £10 - £20 per visit

This is a group for those who like to appreciate the beauty of a garden, be it flowers, shrubs or trees, without necessarily having the space, the ability or the wish to create it themselves. We organise monthly visits to notable gardens, generally within a one-hour drive. Members volunteer to arrange bookings where necessary.

The venues are suggested and decided by members at the annual Planning Meeting in January, with the visits arranged with availability and anticipated seasonal aspects in mind. Car-sharing is organised and encouraged to minimise cost and environmental impact.

Unfortunately due to continuing time pressures, and with much regret, Dave has taken the decision to cease stewardship of the Garden Visits group at the end of the calendar year. If you feel you would be able to take on this role, either on your own or with someone else, please contact Hilda, Groups Co-ordinator

9 members of the Garden Visits group pose behind a viewing frame at Evenley Wood Garden

Weston Park, Shifnal

Ashwood Nurseries' Head Gardener gives tips on plant-care

July 2024: Kiftsgate Court Garden - fountain area

Kiftsgate - Fountain area

Garden Visit members enjoy refreshments at Guys Cliffe Walled Garden, Warwic

Refreshments at Guys Cliffe Walled Garden, Warwick

Herbaceous Borders at Thenford Arboretum & Gardens

Garden Visits group members standing in the garden of Winterbourne House, Edgbaston

April 2025: visit to Winterbourne House, Edgbaston

Kiftsgate - Upper Pond

May 2024: Lord Heseltine at his Thenford Garden cafe

Thenford owner Lord Heseltine chats to visitors

July 2024: Kiftsgate Court Garden - Lower Pond

Kiftsgate Court - view from the lower pond

Hill Close gardens, Warwick

Guided tour in the rain, for Garden Visit group members

Guys Cliffe Walled Garden - guided tour in the rain

Kiftsgate Court Garden, looking down to Lower Pond

Kiftsgate - looking down to Lower Pond

Garden Visit Members at Ashwood Nurseries

March 2024: visit to Ashwood Nurseries

Four members of the Garden Visits group standing among chrysanthemums of different colours at Picton Garden

Among the flowers at Picton Garden

Guys Cliffe Walled Garden

Kiftsgate Court Garden - herbaceous borders

Kiftsgate - herbaceous borders

Head Gardener Dan Cartright addresses the Garden Visits group members on a tour of Winterbourne House garden

Head Gardener Dan explains the gardens at Winterbourne House

Garden Visit Members at Upton Wold garden

A damp day at Upton Wold garden, near Morton-in-Marsh

May 2024: Visit to Thenfield (Michael Hesetltine's) Garden

Garden Visit members amongst the Autumnal colours at Arley Aboretum, near Bewdley

November 2024: Autumn colours at Arley Arboretum

Packwood House visible between the trees in the Yew Garden

Packwood House Yew garden

Photo: Old Court Nurseries' Head Gardener explaining her planting strategy to a small group of our members

undefined - Old Court Nurseries' owner, Head Gardener and guide Helen Picton explains her planting strategy

Tour guide Lee entertains the Garden Visits group on a Spring visit to Spetchley Park Gardens

Guided tour at Spetchley Park Gardens

Garden Visits members exploring the garden at Broughton Grange, near Bloxham

Exploring Broughton Grange Gardens

Garden Visits schedule 2026

Day	Date	Month	Venue / Activity	Location	Miles	Venue Liaison
Tue	10	February	Birmingham Botanical Gds	Edgbaston B15 3TR	10	Anita
Thu	12	March	The Picton Garden	Colwall WR13 6QE	39	Bev.
Wed	22	April	Evenley Wood	Brackley NN13 5SH	47	Tricia C.
Thu	14	May	Morton Hall Gardens	Redditch B96 6SJ	15	Dave
Wed	17	June	Witley Court & Gardens	Great Witley WR6 6JT	30	Angela
Tue	7	July	Hidcote (NT)	Chipping Campden GL55 6LR	30	Janet
Wed	12	August	Dudmaston (NT)	Quatt, Bridgnorth WV15 6QN	51	Jenny
Thu	03	September	Cedar House	Wasperton, Warwick CV35 8EB	18	Rob
Tue	13	October	Moseley Old Hall (NT)	Featherstone, Wolverhampton WV10 7HY	38	Maggie
Wed	11	November	Walsall Arboretum	Lichfield Street, Walsall WS4 2BU	26	Pam W.
Wed	02	December	Hiller's Farm Shop	Dunnington, Alcester B49 5PD	16	Heather
Tue	12	January, 2027	2027 Planning	Ambleside Garden Centre B94 5LR	2

Garden Visits schedule 2026

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