Waterperry Gardens-We had a wonderful time, see below report
Coach Outing to Waterperry Gardens
Report on the ALGS Coach Trip. Waterperry Gardens Nr Oxford
See the website here: Waterperry
Our May visit to Waterperry Gardens, organised by Sue and Antoinette, took place on a beautiful Spring day. The gardens are about an hour’s drive away and near Oxford.
They were made famous by Beatrix Havergal who, together with her partner Avice Sanders, established the School of Horticulture for Ladies from 1932 to !971.
Since the closure of the school there has been extensive development by the present owners, the School of Philosophy and Economic Science and now the gardens occupy 20 acres.
There are landscaped ornamental gardens, wilder areas and a riverside walk, a good plant centre, a gallery, a museum of country life, an outdoor theatre, and of course a tea shop.
There are also some wonderful frescoes to see on a tour of the house. Sculptures are dotted around and reflect the ethos of calm in Buddhism as well as Christian and other writings on sculptures and monuments and on the red granite obelisk.
The gardens were already showing promise of stunning summer displays, especially along the herbaceous border. A walled garden had vegetable beds and an orangery with more information about the development of the garden, as well as the national collection of saxifrages.
There were five acres of orchards growing around fifty different varieties of apples, and plum and pear trees. Waterperry apple juice was available in the garden shop.
A wonderful wisteria tunnel on entering the Silent/Formal garden was a treat for the eyes and the scent and sculpture provided a calm oasis.
There was also a “Yew Henge”: think Stonehenge made of trees and a river walk with signs with thoughtful sayings to ponder as you walked along. The rose garden which will be splendid in the summer months was already starting to bloom (alongside rhododendrons) and borders were giving a hint of summer colour. The alpine garden and the rock garden would be of interest throughout the year.
The Saxon Church was well worth visiting for the 13th century stained glass and enclosed pews.
Waterperry is described as an oasis of calm. Thank you again to Antoinette and Sue for arranging the trip.
Among the sayings found in the garden, this one seemed particularly appropriate:
Gardening helps you slow down
When you slow down you feel
When you feel, you heal
When you heal, you grow.
Sue Gotts
