Date/Time
Date(s) - 23/07/2024
8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Location
Coach pick outside Leicester Botanic Gardens
Depart Glebe Road, Oadby, (LE2 2LD) at 8.00am
This will be an early start, but should prove well worth it, as we are going to visit two outstanding gardens in Shropshire, near to each other, Wildgoose Nursery and Garden and Stone House Cottage Garden and Nursery. Many of you will remember Jack Willgoss’s memorable talk, at the Hoby tea in April 2023, about his Wildgoose Garden and Nursery. Stone House Cottage Garden was recommended by him.
Wildgoose Garden and Nursery Jack Willgoss started his gardening career, probably like most of us using fertilisers, pesticides and other chemicals and then, over the years, became more organic until, for example, he now recognises that soil is a living entity and fertilisers for certain plants can upset the balance in the soil.
Wildgoose is a small independent nursery and garden housed within the old redbrick walls of a former kitchen garden, nestled in the beautiful Shropshire Hills. It offers an ever-expanding plant list of exciting new perennial introductions and long-standing favourites, showcased in exuberantly planted borders. The garden also functions as their stock beds from which they propagate. It is also where they continually test the garden worthiness of their plants. See more here.
Stone House Cottage Garden is only 1 acre, set in a walled garden but seems much larger as hedges divide it into different compartments and create diverse habitats in which are grown a vast selection of rare and unusual plants. Unusual red 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 Stone House Garden acts as a shop window for the adjoining nursery. Here you can buy plants most of which are grown in the garden. The list of shrubs and climbers includes many hardly ever seen for sale in this country. See more here.
This day should be one of the highlights of our summer visits. We will be the only group at Wildgoose on that day and both places give plenty of opportunity to buy interesting plants. Both nurseries have online plant lists on their websites.
There is no coffee/tea available at Stone House Cottage Garden, our first garden of the day. It should be possible to make a comfort stop en route, but you might like to bring a flask with you in case there’s not time to stop for coffee. However, we have arranged lunch at Wildgoose Garden and Nursery. This will be homemade soup and a cheese scone or homemade sandwiches, plus cake and a drink. A menu will be available nearer the time. Please don’t let this put you off booking early, as the menu will be sent to you when we have it so you can make your choices.
8.00am Depart Glebe Road
9.40am Arrive Stone House Cottage Garden and Nursery
12 noon Depart for Wildgoose Garden and Nursery
1.00pm Arrive at Wildgoose
4.45pm Depart Wildgoose
7.00pm ETA Leicester
Cost: Friends £53.50 Guests £55.00
This includes entrance to Stone House Cottage Garden, entrance, talk/tour and lunch at Wildgoose Garden and Nursery.
For further information contact Elizabeth. (Telephone 01162705711)
Elizabeth and the Events team
Please book, online or by post, by Monday, 8th July 2024 at the latest.
To book and pay online:
Copy and paste this form into an email, complete and send to Fliss at flisshector@gmail.com
Wildgoose Nursery and Stone House Cottage Garden on Tuesday 23rd July 2024
Name……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Address……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Telephone……………………………………. Email……………………………………………………………….
Please reserve places for …. Friends @ £53.50 ..… Guests @ £55.00
Total £…………. (Paid by bank transfer)
Special Dietary Requirements …………………………………………………………………
Menu choices for lunch will be sent to you as soon as they are available
I do/do not require email confirmation of my booking
Pay by bank transfer to Leicestershire and Rutland Gardens Trust 30-18-69 00033098 Reference: WG followed by your surname
Booking and Payment by post :
Download, print and complete the booking form and pay by bank transfer or cheque.