Lydden Vale
Gardening Club
You don't need to have a large garden
to be interested in plants and like
growing them. Window sills, pots and
containers and house plants can
provide year round scope for the
enthusiast. So why don't you come
along and meet us?
Anyone interested in joining, please contact: Antony Parson Lydden Vale Gardening Club on Facebook
Buckland Newton Community Website
in the heart of rural Dorset
The Lydden Vale Gardening Club meets on the second
Wednesday of each month between September and April in the
Buckland Newton Village Hall enjoying a mixture of talks from
guest speakers, practical sessions where you can learn top tips for
all things gardening. During the summer months we visit award
winning gardens, garden centres and enjoy Alfresco Social
evenings.
We welcome all ages and levels of experience and are keen for all
generations to benefit from the enjoyment of gardening. If you live
in Buckland Newton, Pulham, Glanvilles Wootton, Kings Stag,
Alton Pancras or neighbouring parishes and if you’re interested in
having a fine garden or rewilding, planting or harvesting the results
of your labours, or simply visiting gardens and learning about the
history of gardening, we would love you to have you with us.
If you are not already a member of the Club and are interested in
gardening and think you might like to join, we would love to hear
from you. Please do get in touch by emailing Jan at
greystonebn@yahoo.co.uk or Antony at
Bladeley365@outlook.com
The Newt Visit in early May was a resounding success, as shown
by the comments received the following day “A Fabulous Day
out…an amazing place. Definitely going back, in fact we’ve taken
out membership!” “Exceeded all expectations, really enjoyed the
Roman Villa with the additional virtual reality tour…as good as
Pompei without the crowds!” “The Day was first Class and the
benefits of going as a group much appreciated”
The estate is vast and can involve a lot of walking and so the
shuttle buggy from the car park to the main entrance was much
appreciated by those who needed to conserve their energy “it
made all the difference to our enjoyment of the day.”
As was the bus service to the Roman Villa, a 25 min walk.
The driver (as were all the staff), could not have been more
thoughtful and helpful.
As for those who took the Garden Tours, again “Nothing was too
much trouble”.
Those of us with Arthur Cole were given insights into those many
instances of Newt’s attention to detail, eg the crushed cockle shells
lining the paths by the section of **Lancashire Apples in the
Parabola. This houses cordoned or espaliered examples from all
the apple growing counties of the UK. (And his description of how
figs are pollinated had us transfixed with a mixture of wonder and
disgust! (For more details Google the life cycle of the Fig-wasp)
**(Morecombe Bay Lancs, being famous for its cockles.)
Next Visit 17th June 2.00pm
Described by House & Garden magazine as “A harmonious Dorset
rose garden designed by Isabel and Julian Bannerman”, Upper
Sydling House is the Club s planned visit for 17 June when the
walled garden bursting with roses should be at its best. Many of
you may know the Bannerman’s have a long association with King
Charles and have been involved with him on many of his garden
projects and so it s rather special to be able to visit another of their
projects at Upper Sydling.
The owner, Susanne Cooper turned a farmyard into a walled
garden encompassing vegetable, cut flowers and stock beds within
a framework of herbaceous borders. Roses are abundant,
tumbling and climbing everywhere, she has 120 different varieties
and 400 individual plants. There is a Portland Stone water feature,
box domes create structure, a small lake all of which meld
beautifully into the surrounding countryside.
The garden is rarely open to the public, so it’s rather special that
we have been able to persuade Susanne to allow our Club to visit.
We will be treated to a guided tour by either Susanne, or her head
gardener, tea and cake is included and there will be time to wander
at leisure which should prove to be the making of a wonderful
afternoon.
The cost to non-members is £25 and £15 for Members.
Members are to make their own way to the property - the
address is Upper Sydling House, Up Sydling Upper Sydling
House, Up Sydling DT2 9PH. DT2 9PH. Please arrive at 2pm,
and where possible share lifts, there is a paddock behind the
garden for parking.
To ensure enough cake! email Susie if interested by 10th June
on susiejkeys@icloud.com
Looking ahead
15th July 2.15pm Visit to The Blooming Wild Nursery at
Horsington.
Further details next month.
Jan Burnett and Susie Goymour
If you are interested in gardening, enjoy good talks, seeing other
gardens as well as your own, or experience problems with your
own garden that you would like to share and would welcome
advice on, the Gardening Club could be for you. Feel free to
contact Antony at Bladeley365@outlook.com or talk to Jan on
01300 348627.
