Thursday 4th December – Deck the Halls – Julie Woods
Thinking of Christmas… Julie is a national demonstrator and a member of NAFAS. She also teaches flower arranging locally.
Followed by our Splendid Christmas Buffet and Christmas Raffle for Perennial
Fowlmere Village Hall
The Gardening Club Tour for 2026 will be Shropshire
Thursday 25th June – Sunday 28th 2026
Staying at Telford golf and spa hotel.
3 nights B&B + 3 course evening meals.
Price: £485 pp sharing twin/double room
£ 125 single supplement
Entry to gardens approx £80p/p, with a discount of £32p/p for NT members.
Gardens visiting; Packwood House, Dorothy Clive, Hodnet, Powis, Gregynog, Arley arboretum, Deene park. There will be time to drop in to see the mediaeval town of Ludlow.
Booking forms will be available online and at meetings in early Autumn.
More detailed itinerary for Shropshire tour June 2026
On Thursday 25th we will stop at Packwood House in Warwickshire, a NT property. It has a 16 century Tudor house lovingly restored, with lakeside walks, sculptured yews, herbaceous borders and a kitchen garden. Before heading to our accommodation, Telford golf & spa hotel, we will make a slight detour to visit Ludlow. We can stroll around this medieval market town admiring the special buildings and unique shops. For those who would like a 15 min walk can head to the castle, although there is a charge for entry.
Friday : We will be visiting The Dorothy Clive Garden. The garden was initiated by Col. Harry Clive in 1940 for his ailing wife Dorothy who was suffering from Parkinson’s. It is a 12 acre hillside plot with a 2 acre quarry garden. Of interest is the Royal Botanic glasshouse, living walls and waterfalls. In the afternoon we head down the road to Hodnet Hall with its 400 year old tithe barn, jungle like water garden and many more interesting features.
Saturday : A visit to Powis Castle, a NT property just over the border to Wales awaits us. There are Italian terraces, fountain and formal gardens. The site is famous for its 300 year old yew hedges and beautiful views. You will be able to visit the medieval castle with its vast collection of South Asian artifacts dating back to the 1600’s. To end the day we will make a short stop to visit a garden called Gregynog. Unfortunately the Tudor house will be closed to the public that day due to a wedding taking place. The gardens are Grade 1 listed for their historic significance and design.
Sunday : On our final day we will head out to Arley Arboretum & gardens. Its highlight inside the walls is the Italian garden with formal planting, water features, temple and dovecote. The site has an extensive collection of trees. Our final stop of the tour on the way home will be Deene Park in Northants. The most striking feature of this site is the box hedge parterre, where the plantings consist of lavender, geraniums, salvias, irises and nepetas. As tea was the late owners favourite drink, there are 4 quirky teapot topiaries. The rose garden was replanted in the 21 century with a vast collection of David Austin varieties. They were chosen for their strong scent and because their names equated with various family members and close friends.
If interest please fill in the booking form.
2026 Shropshire Fowlmere & Thriplow booking form
