Meet 10.30 at Haseley Court, Great Haseley, OX44 7LL

The former home of Nancy Lancaster where she created a stylish and elegant English garden. There was topiary here in 1543 and the ancient topiary chess set still in excellent shape, miraculously survived the Second World War. Since 1982 Desmond & Fiona Heyward have lived here initially sharing the garden with Mrs Lancaster who died in 1994. Since then, Mrs Heyward has continued to develop the garden, making it very much her own A entrancing walled garden with hornbeam tunnels and a mix of perennial plants continues to keep the garden alive and well worth a visit. We shall be given a short talk on the history and the gardener will give us a tour. Coffee & biscuits included.

We shall then drive individually (approximately 15 – 20 minutes) to :-

Adwell House, Thame, OX9 7DQ                         

The gardens here cover 4 acres and have been developed by many generations of the Birch-Reynardson family. The broad sweeping lawns are surrounded with impressive specimen trees. A large mixed border in the front of the house is planted with shrubs, roses and perennials (including large plantings of salvias) which lead on to more subdued plants around the church. The walled garden is more formal with box edged beds with roses and perennials together with arches and trellis covered with roses and clematis. We are hoping to have a tour of the garden with Colin the gardener.