Worcestershire Gardens Tour

From 3 days / 2 nights duration
Return Executive Coach Travel with local pick up points of your choice
2 nights half board accommodation at a minimum 3 star hotel - all rooms ensuite
Visits to all gardens mentioned including tours & refreshments where stated plus 2 lunches
Group Organiser’s Personal Liability Insurance Cover is automatically included without any extra charge

Price on application – subject to group size, date of travel and room requirements

Sample Itinerary

Day 1 - Hill Close Gardens (NGS), which will also be our lunch stop. These Grade ll* Victorian leisure gardens have 16 individual hedged gardens, 8 brick summerhouses, herbaceous borders, heritage apple and pear trees, C19 daffodils, over 100 varieties of snowdrops and many varieties of asters and chrysanthemums as well as heritage vegetables, plant heritage border, auricula theatre, and a Victorian style glasshouse. There is also a plant nursery here where the majority of the plants sold are propagated from the gardens, and many are rare or heritage varieties not usually found in garden centres. Specialities include collections of snowdrops, Michaelmas daisies and hardy border Chrysanthemums which form part of the dispersed National Collection. Lunch can be purchased in the café after your garden visit. Our next included visit this afternoon is to Marlbrook Gardens which is made up of two neighbouring properties.

1. NGS Oak Tree House is a plantswoman's cottage garden overflowing with plants, pots & interesting artefacts. There is a secluded patio with plants and shrubs, a small pond & a waterfall. There is plenty of seating, separate wildlife pond, water features, alpine area and a rear open vista. The garden has many scented plants, hostas, dahlias and lilies and the Conservatory with art has been done by owners.
2. NGS Round Hill Garden. This landscaped front garden leads to a South facing rear garden with planting in abundance, from exotics and unusual through to traditional. Shady areas, hot beds, water features, sculptures and artefacts. The garden ascends gently from the house, landscaped and built by enthusiastic owners, with a Mediterranean area, patio and pond area, lawn with herbaceous borders and raised bed vegetable garden with greenhouses.

Afternoon coffee & cake is included here.

Day 2 - 24 Alexander Ave (NGS). On arrival you will receive a small talk on the development of the garden before wandering around at leisure. There will be someone on hand to answer any questions you may have and coffee and biscuits also included during your time here. Departing here we travel to Feckenham, where a ‘fork buffet’ lunch (excluding drinks) is included at The Rose and Crown before our afternoon visit to nearby Meadow Farm Garden & Nursery. Here, you will receive an introductory talk followed by a free flow visit of this one acre private garden, 1.5 acre wildflower meadow after which you can peruse the plants for sale. Tea/coffee with biscuits is included here before we make our final visit of the afternoon to Stone House Cottage Garden & Nursery. This is a romantic garden set in an old walled kitchen garden and although only 1 acre in size it seems much larger, as hedges divide it into different compartments and create diverse habitats in which to grow the vast selection of rare and unusual plants that thrive here. Unusual brick follies adorn the walls and these in turn, are covered with a multitude of climbing and twining plants in which the garden specialises. The garden acts as a shop window for the adjoining nursery.

Day 3 - Cotswold Garden Flowers. There will be a talk given before your free time to explore the nursery and stock beds. Tea & coffee is included here. Bourton House Garden. In 1983 Mr & Mrs Paice became the owners and began the task of turning a neglected wilderness into the perfect garden setting. They were fortunate to have the help of a splendid gardening team, originally headed by Paul Williams followed in 1999 by Paul Nicholls, the current long-serving Head Gardener. Imaginative topiary was introduced including a knot garden, parterre and topiary walk; natural springs used to create water features; an unusual shade house constructed and ever wider herbaceous borders created to accommodate more exotica. Today, the garden continues to evolve, constantly surprising visitors with its inspirational planting, stunning colour combinations and rare, unusual and exotic plants. A light lunch is included.

Simply Groups reserve the right to make minor changes to this itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control.