Garden Visits
Garden Visits are generally from 2.00 to 5.00pm. Details of each visit will be available at the U3A twice monthly Wednesday meetings.
Dates and details of Garden Visits for previous years are shown below.
For more information, please contact Vivienne Hayday (Group Leader):
Email vivienne.hayday1206@sky.com
Phone 07584 295013
Garden Visit dates for 2024
These are all new gardens. (Status as at 26-02-24)
Thursday 18th April. Ashbrook house, Westbrook street, Blewbury OX11 9QA -This is the garden where Kennoth Graham read “wind in the willows” to local children, where he took inspiration for the descriptions of the oak doors to badger’s house. Come and see, you may see a glimpse of Toad and friends in this 3 ½ acre chalk and water garden. In spring is a mass of daffodils, and in late summer it is full of unusual plants. Owner Jane Barrat Parking is best by the recreation ground by the cemetery the western entrance to Blewbury. From there there is a 100m walk to Ashbrook House at the top of Westbrook street Cost: Tea and cake £8
Thursday 16th May. Acer Corner, 10 Manor Rd, Wendover, HP22 6HQ - A garden designers garden, with a strong Japanese influence, a large collection of Acers. The front garden is Japanese in style, the back garden is divided in 3 areas, the patio, recently redesigned in a Japanese style, with many acers and roses, a productive greenhouse with interesting planting. There are more than 70 acers in the garden. Parking is in the street and in front of a school campus, it is recommended to be there at the latest by 2pm. Owner: Jo Naiman Cost: Entrance, plus tea and cake £6 : Maximum 20 visitors.
Thursday 13th June. - TBA.
Thursday 25th July. - Caverfield House Caversfield, Bicester, OX27 8TQ - 10 acres of gardens, herbaceous border, a walled garden, an orchard and parkland, set within a wider 70 acre estate. It has an 18 acre wildflower meadow, ponds and a large lake. A backdrop of topiary and beautiful old trees. Head Gardener: Tobias Holst
Thursday 8th August - Hall Barn, Windsor End, Beaconsfield, HP92SG - To be confirmed
Thursday 19th September. - TBA
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Garden Visit dates for 2023
- Tuesday 18th April (2.00pm). - The Manor House Gardens, Bledlow - The garden covers 12 areas created by landscape architect Robert Adams in 1967. They were then rejuvenated in 2019 by plantsman and designer Sean Walter. There are many beautiful areas within the garden and many interesting and unusual statues. The owner of the garden is Lord Carrington. – Cost: £12 per person which includes tea and cake. (Must have at least 25 visitors.)
- Thursday 18 May (2.00pm). - Lime Close, 35 Henleys Lane, Drayton, Abingdon, OX14 4HU. The owner, Marie Christine de Laubarede, is a garden designer, she has 4 acres of mature and rare trees shrubs roses and bulbs. A herb garden by Rosemary Verey. 100 varieties of tall, bearded irises. Many plants and trees you will not have seen before. – Cost: £12 per head including tea and cake.
- Thursday 29 June (2.00pm). - Monkshead, Weston Road, Bletchingdon, OX5 3DH. Owned by Sue Bedwell a plantaholic. The garden has year-round interest. Alpine area, greenhouse, constantly evolving becoming more of a wildlife Garden. – Cost: £10 per head including tea and cake.
- Thursday 27 July (2.15pm). - Foxington, Britwell Salome, Watlington, OX49 5LG. Stunning views from some parts of the garden which includes patio, Heather and gravel as well as a vegetable garden. There is an orchard and a flock of white doves. Mrs Mary Roadnight owns the garden and there are level paths throughout. – Cost: £11 per head including tea and cake.
- Thursday 24 August (2.00pm). - Hollydyke House, Little Missenden, HP7 0RD. A 3 acre garden surrounds the house with year round interest. Sandra Weatherall is the garden owner and we have visited before about 4 years ago. She usually has plants for sale. Cost: £7.50 per head including tea and cake.
- Thursday 14 September (2.00pm). - Greyhound House, The Street, Ewelme, Wallingford, OX10 6KU. 2 acres of hillside garden set in the Chiltern village of Ewelme. Mixed herbaceous borders, with some unusual plants, and Salvias. Ornamental garden walk, walled garden with many late flowering perennials, houseplant theatre a cutting garden. Owned by Mrs Wendy Robertson. – Cost: £6 to visit the garden. No refreshments on site. (Minimum of 10 visitors)
Garden Visit dates for 2022
- Thursday 28 April (2.00pm) - Garsington Manor, 48 South End, Garsington, OX44 9DJ - Garsington Manor is a Grade 11 listed house on top of a hill looking South West over the Thame valley to the Chilterns, surrounded by approx 11 acres of beautiful park and gardens, including Woodlands, lakes a water garden and 2 avenues of Oak and Lime trees. - Garden tour, tea and cake: £7.50.
- Thursday 12 May - Kingsbridge Farm, Steeple Claydon, Buckingham, MK18 2EJ - Kingsbridge Farm has approximately 6 acres of garden designed by Serena Aldous. the present owner. It has both formal and informal planting, a stream going through the garden, beautiful borders. The planting system is constantly changing. - Garden tour, tea and cake: £13.00.
- Tuesday 21 June - Home Farm, Wood Eaton, OX3 9TP (New garden) - Home Farm is not usually open to the public, 4-5 acres of woodland stream, herbatious border. Roses are a speciality here. Vegetables bog garden, rock garden, greenhouses. Another garden that is constantly changing. - Tea and biscuits: £7.50.
- Tuesday 19 July - Rescheduled to 13 September
- Thursday 11 August – Manor House, Church End, Bledlow, HP27 9PD - The garden covers 12 acres created by landscape architect Robert Adams in 1967 they were then rejuvenated in 2019 by the plants man and designer Sean Walter. There are many beautiful areas within the garden and many interesting and unusual statues. This is Lord Carrington’s house and Garden - Tea and biscuits: £10.00.
- Thursday 1 September - Blewbury Manor, Berry Lane, Blewbury. OX11 9QJ - Approximately 10 acres of garden including a stream, lake, water garden and herbaceous border. The garden is beautifully laid out with both formal and informal beds and borders. There are many large sculptures around the garden and Richard, the head gardener has been there for many years and will show us around. - Tea and biscuits: £8.00. Originally scheduled for Tuesday 15 September.
- Tuesday 13 September - Compton House, Compton Beauchamp, Swindon, SN6 8NN - A garden rarely opened to the public. 4 acres of beautiful garden many roses and many old trees. There is a moat around the house and sweeping lawns also some very old examples of Topiary Green houses and kitchen gar den both formal but mostly informal garden beds. - Tea and biscuits: £7.50. Originally scheduled for Tuesday 19 July.
Garden Visit dates for 2021
- Thursday 10 June - Well Barn, Moulsford OX10 9JS - Lovely garden, lovely food, excellent Head Gardener and they have opened the shooting lodge specifically for our group. The cost will be £7.50 per head (all payments go to a charity)
- Thursday 22nd July - New Garden, Friars Court, Clanfied, OX18 2SU - This is a new garden and the owner will lead the tour. The cost will be £12 per head. (Follow this link to view flyer - Friars Court – 2021)
- Thursday August 19th - Compton Beauchamp SN6 8NN
- Thursday 16th September - Garsington Manor - £7.50 per head