Holiday advice/information on Gloucestershire area

[Paddy Tobin]

We are planning a holiday to England in July with the intention of visiting Hidcote, Kiftsgate, Highgrove, Bob Brown's, Barnsley House and others in that general area as plans develop and wonder if anyone can recommend a suitable location in which to base ourselves.

We will be travelling by ferry from Rosslare to Fishguard; will probably visit a garden or two en route as we pass through south Wales but don't intend staying there overnight.

Any recommendations for other gardens would be most welcome as would suggestions for hotels in the area. Indeed, any comments and advice would be equally welcome.

Paddy

[PDJ]

The Best Garden, a little bit farther but really nice and plenty of unusual plants and sales area.
Stone House Cottage Nurseries, Nr Kidderminster, Worcs DY10 4BG
Tel: 01562 69902
www.shcn.co.uk

[Lesley Cox]

Good Lord, the three lists on that website could easily send one's bank manager over the edge of sanity into the wild black yonder.

[Paddy Tobin]

Paul,

Many thanks for the suggestion. Mary had spotted The Stone House Cottage and thought it looked very good; so it is one to consider. Distance is not a huge issue as we will be driving and so free to go wherever we wish.

Lesley, we may have to check the bank balance before visiting these garden centres.

Many thanks. Paddy

[maggiepie]

Good Lord, the three lists on that website could easily send one's bank manager over the edge of sanity into the wild black yonder.

Oooooooooooooooooooh, they have Philadelphus Belle Etoile.
Wish someone in Canada would sell it.

[majallison]

Pan-Global Plants is at Frampton on Severn, a bit south of Gloucester ~ always some very rare plants available there; another garden that's well worth visiting, if it's open is Abbotswood ~ it opens frequently through the summer weekends, it's near Stow on the Wold, beautifully maintained & designed by Lutyens; Batsford Arboretum is on a beautiful site, many super rare trees there & very nearby is Bourton House which has spectacular bedding during the summer; another very interesting garden is Spetchley Park once the garden of the sister of Ellen Willmott, it's on the way to Stone House Cottage, just outside of Worcester city. Arley Arboretum, just a bit beyond Stone House Cottage is also lovely...

No shortage of accommodation in Gloucestershire...

[FrazerHenderson]

Paddy

I would recommend Painswick and its rococo garden (and its free access if you're RHS) for more details www.rococogarden.org.uk

I also liked Mill Dene when we stayed at Moreton-in-the-Marsh. It has the old benches from Lords in the garden - it's only about a couple of acres, though on an incline but a nice place to enjoy plants for an hour or so. But only visit if you are in the area.

Don't forget the National Botanic Garden of Wales www.gardenofwales.org.uk or the nearby Aberglasny with its Ninfarium www.aberglasney.org - you could visit one of the way to Glos. and one on the way back.

Frazer

[Lesley Cox]

]

Oooooooooooooooooooh, they have Philadelphus Belle Etoile.
Wish someone in Canada would sell it.

Oh Helen, I could send you some cuttings if you were able to have them. I saw it in the UK 30 years ago and took 20 years to find it here. I sometimes DREAM the scent of it and wake with the perfume in my nose. It's easy from cuttings, one of my most favourite things.

[Paddy Tobin]

Frazer,

Those were on the list, however.....

As I explained to Brian Ellis earlier this afternoon, there was a moment around lunchtime as Mary was checking on hotel prices in the area and exclaimed, along the lines of, "Feck this, the prices are crazy here. We're going to Italy instead". So, plans for England have been unilaterally dropped, and I'm happy with that, and we will be in Sorrento in the summer. Ninfa gardens are top of my list of gardens to visit.

Paddy

[Martin Baxendale]

Did anyone mention Westonbirt Arboretum?

[Casalima]

If I had to chose between Gloucester and Sorrento, I think I know where I'd end up going, Paddy

I'll also be over in the UK in the summer (too early for the Mid-Anglia Bulb Sale this year ) and I do wish Pan-Global was a bit nearer London! Both Stone House and Pan-Global have excellent lists, but P-G's list is superb and just up my street (Parrotia subaequalis!) - only 2h20 drive from London, says viamichelin ...
I might send an email asking about some prices/plant sizes, just to get a general idea.

[Brian Ellis]

I'll also be over in the UK in the summer (too early for the Mid-Anglia Bulb Sale this year  )

What a shame Chloe, we'll miss you.