Upton Wold, Northwick Estate, Morton-in-Marsh, GL56 9TR

We plan to stop on route for coffee before our visit to Mr & Mrs Bond’s 9 acre garden. Started in 1976 from a barren & neglected estate and with the help of several eminent designers they have achieved an unconventional garden on a complicated site. Trees are Mr Bond’s passion, he has an arboretum of 200 walnut trees of 14 different species and many other fine specimens around the main garden are underplanted with herbaceous perennials and rare/unusual plants which are Mrs Bond’s domain. She is an intuitive and skilful plantswoman. A canal and fountain garden at the rear of the early 17thC house look over a broad view. There are ambitious fruit & vegetable gardens, not to mention rose and sumptuous curving borders graded by height and colour.

(We strongly recommend bringing a packed lunch to eat on the coach before we arrive at the next garden)

Harrells Hardy Plants Nursery Garden, Rudge Rd. Evesham,WR11 4JR        

Entry to the nursery includes Tea/coffee & cake and a look around their beautiful 1 acre garden. Naturalistic in style and informally planted with an array of hardy perennials, grasses and a large range of hemerocallis. Accessed by bark paths with several seating areas giving views over the garden, so maybe we shall once again come home laden with plants we have seen growing there!