Date/Time
Date(s) - 21/05/2023 - 22/05/2023
All Day
Location
Coach pick outside Leicester Botanic Gardens
We have arranged a two day trip for a visit to RHS Bridgewater, overnight in a hotel and a visit to Thornbridge Hall on the return journey.
This is being organised a bit differently from our usual events. The trip is being arranged by Paul Winson Coaches Ltd and their booking form is attached below.
Paul Winson Coaches will arrange the transport, entry to Bridgewater and the Hotel accommodation
Elizabeth will arrange a visit to Thornbridge Hall on the return. There will be a small additional cost for this. Details will be communicated later.
RHS Bridgewater
We have been unable to pre-book any refreshments at Bridgewater. There are catering facilities available, but you may prefer to bring a packed lunch.
RHS Garden Bridgewater is the fifth RHS garden and one of the largest gardening projects undertaken in Europe in recent years. The transformation of this 154-acre green space will enrich the lives of local communities and their environment for the future
The site of the garden was formerly Worsley New Hall, built for the 1st Earl of Ellesmere between 1840 and 1845. It survived a fire and two World Wars before it was demolished in the 1940s. In its heydey, Worsley New Hall, standing in its glorious, formal landscaped gardens, designed, by William Andrews Nesfield, in 1846 was a notable residence of its time. The RHS master plan for RHS Garden Bridgewater will embrace the site’s heritage while also giving it a future. Commenting on the plans, broadcaster and RHS Vice President, Alan Titchmarsh MBE, said: ‘The development of the RHS’ new fifth Garden will be the biggest hands-on gardening project the charity will have undertaken in its 211-year history.
We look forward to visiting this important newly created garden, whose designers include Tom Stuart-Smith, Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg. They have incorporated remnants of the original gardens into their 21st century designs. By visiting the garden in its early years, we can watch how it develops over the years.
Hotel
Mercure Bolton Georgian House Hotel Built around a Georgian manor house with stunning views of the West Pennine Moors, this superb Bolton hotel has 9 function rooms for up to 300 guests, a health club, beauty spa, swimming pool and is ideal for business and leisure.
Thornbridge Hall
Thornbridge Hall is a Grade II listed stately home nestled amongst the rolling hills of the Peak District. Set in 100 acres of stunning parkland, it is the family residence and private home of Jim and Emma Harrison. The Hall and its 14 acres of formal gardens have been lovingly restored and is now recognised as one of the most beautiful, quirky stately homes in the U.K.
Thornbridge Hall is surrounded by 13.5 acres of quirky and quintessentially English gardens, set in the heart of the Peak District National Park. They were designed at the end of the 19th Century to create a vision of ‘1,000 shades of green’ which the owner wanted to be able to see from his bedroom window. The startling, calming and gracious gardens are a perfect example of Victorian drive, determination and engineering to manipulate the landscape into a series of garden rooms.
The Gardens first opened to the public in the 1930’s and there are many distinct areas including the Italian Garden, 30m (100ft) Herbaceous Border, Water Garden and Koi Lake, as well as terraced lawns overlooking the beautiful Derbyshire countryside.
Visitors will also come across three temples, numerous statues, 46 urns and two grottos, all of which were incorporated into the garden in the 1890’s. Some of the statuary came from Clumber Park and Chatsworth, while some were gifts from the Greek Government.
Since 2002, Emma and Jim and the talented Thornbridge team have developed the Kitchen Garden, Scented Terrace, Long Border, Modern Knot Garden, Cascade Garden, The Greenhouse and The Orangery. The garden that will be created next is the Jaipur Garden – at long last! – a garden for Emma and Jim – to celebrate their marriage in Jaipur (whilst backpacking) in 1993. There is no doubt that a considerable amount of Jaipur Beer, an IPA, named for the place they were married, will be deliciously and unsparingly enjoyed in this garden…
Cost
On half board basis with en suite facilities to include admission into RHS Bridgewater on Sunday 21st May. Price per person would be £169.00 in a twin or double beddedroom.
A supplement of £24.50 would apply to any single occupancy rooms, however these would be double for sole occupancy room (larger room) and NOT a true single. The above price include, hotel, porterage, evening meal and breakfast, any coach parking charges and passenger protection cover for financial failure.
If minimum numbers of 25 passengers are achieved there would be no extra charge for the driver’s accommodation and meals. If you should find that you only have 20 – 24 passengers, I would try to renegotiate the driver’s accommodation with the hotel. Rooms on hold for your group are: 5 singles (DFS occupancy), 12 twin bedded rooms and 4 double bedded rooms.
An addition cost for entry to Thornbridge Hall of around £7 depending on what we can arrange.
Download a Booking form
Please follow the instructions on the booking form by 28th January at the latest