This short break
staying at the Mercure
Wessex Hotel adjacent
to the cathedral,
includes some exceptional
Hampshire gardens.
There will be an
illustrated talk
given by Andrew
McIndoe, followed
by a visit to his
own garden. Other
gardens include
Longstock Water
Garden, considered
to be the finest
in Europe, the fantastic
garden at Farleigh
Wallop created by
the Countess of
Portsmouth and the
quintessentially
English garden at
Little Court. Another
highlight will be
the visit to the
spectacular Salisbury
Cathedral Flower
Festival held this
year to celebrate
the 750th anniversary
of the dedication
of this historic
building. Michael
Bowyer the mastermind
behind the Festival
and who recently
appeared as one
of the judges in
BBC's The Great
British Village
Show will accompany
you on your visit.
Tuesday 17 June:
Arrive and check
into the hotel in
time for the illustrated
talk at 1745 hrs
- this will be followed
by a welcome drink
and dinner. Andrew
McIndoe, deputy
Managing Director
of Hillier's Nurseries
and 18 times Chelsea
Gold Medal winner,
will talk on "Behind
the Scenes at Chelsea
and Gardening Design"
Andrew regularly
contributes to magazines,
BBC Radio and has
recently written
the new Hillier's
Gardener's Guides
- he lectures all
over the country.
Wednesday 18
June: Depart
by coach for Longstock
Water Gardens there
will be an introduction
by the Head Gardener
before exploring
these exceptional
gardens. The water
gardens covers seven
acres fed from the
River Test. They
were created by
John Spedan Lewis
in 1948 and they
form an archipelago
connected by narrow
bridges and causeways
with stunning planting
reflected in clear
waters, stocked
with gold carp and
planted with numerous
different varieties
of water lily. Continue
to Salisbury Cathedral
for your reserved
timed entry to the
Flower Festival
and to meet Michael
Bowyer will give
an insight into
the planning of
this great extravaganza
of colour. There
will be time to
find lunch in Salisbury
before continuing
to Sandhill Farm
where Andrew will
show the garden
that he and has
wife have created
in the last seven
years - depending
on time an additional
garden may be included
before returning
to the hotel for
dinner.
Thursday 19 June:
This morning the
coach departs for
Farleigh House,
the family home
of The Earl and
Countess of Portsmouth.
In just 15 years
they have restored
these magnificent
ten-acre gardens
to their former
glory with the help
and guidance of
designer Georgia
Langton. It is very
much a contemporary
garden of great
tranquillity surrounded
by wonderful views.
The walled garden
with ornamental
potager, borders
full of summer colour,
a formal rose garden
and wild rose garden.
Greenhouses of exotics
, serpentine yew
walk, contemplative
pond garden and
lake with planting
for wildlife. The
next garden, Church
Close is a delightful
cottage garden and
featured on BBC
The Gardener's Year.
A break for lunch
will be made in
the lovely market
town of Alresford
before continuing
to Little Court.
This attractive
garden created by
Patricia Elkington
uses a wide variety
of plant material
and colour combinations
and is filled with
ideas to inspire
you. Return to the
hotel for departure.
Price per person:
£378 Non refundable
deposit £100: No
Single Supplement
on single room Extra
nights maybe available
- please enquire
when booking.
Includes:
• 2 nights
accommodation with
full English breakfast
and dinner
• Welcome reception
• All garden
entries, tours and
lectures
• Professional
guide and executive
coaching
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