Spring Gardening Holiday

April 26th - May 1st 2009

PROGRAMME
Designed to take in and experience the vibrant fresh colours of springtime in the dynamic scenery of the Lake District.

GARDENS
 
Scarthwaite, Grange in Borrowdale   A fascinating garden in Borrowdale, the home of Mr & Mrs Hicks. The half acre garden gives the impression of a woodland focusing on naturalistic planting of ferns, hostas, bulbs, many varieties of hardy geraniums,clematis and other plants growing in the profusion of a cottage garden. Centred in the exciting Borrowdale landscape.

Brackenburn, Manesty, Keswick  The home of Prof. Derek & Christine Ellwood on a one & a half acre garden on a mountainside, with streams, waterfalls and wonderful views over Derwent Water. Good walkways take us to several water features planted for damp, acid conditions with rhododendrons, azaleas, acers, ferns, primulas, heathers, kitchen garden with fruit trees. Brackenburn is the former home of author Sir Hugh Walpole.

Brockhole, Windermere  Originally built as a private residence, it consists of 5 acres of formal gardens laid out by Thomas Mawson, and 25 aces of landscaped gardens down to the lakeshore. Beatrix Potter was a frequent visitor.

Lawson Park, Coniston  Approx. five acres of reclaimed fellside in a spectacular setting. Informal herbaceous garden, woodland, bog garden with wild flower meadow. Organic kitchen garden with apiary many experimental plantings and unusual seed grown perennials and trees.

Barkhill, Storrs  A glorious garden planted and maintained by Fred & Sally Tattersall with gentle sloping terrain from the house down to Lake Windermere. Water’s edge planting, man made and planted rockery with stream and ponds from top to bottom flanked with acers, ornamental conifers and heather borders. The main features in spring are the rhododendrons, camellias, acers and heathers.
    

TALKS

Spring Bulbs  An illustrated talk on Winter and Spring bulbs, showing the range of colour and requirements. Peter in his earlier life was a ’Bulbs Advisor’ in Lincolnshire.

The Care of Summer House Plants   The practical care of these plants will cover the topics of composts, light, (particularly sunlight), watering and feeding. A senior member of the Hayes Garden World will take us trhrough the problems with live material, as well as introducing some plants you may not have come across yet.
    

Plant Propogation  Back again by popular demand, a morning of practical propogation to include: composts, equipment, selection and taking of cuttings, use of suitable containers and compost, after care and potting on. A short session on budding and grafting trees, shrubs and fruit crops. These will be truly practical sessions.

Mecanopsis (Himalayan poppies) This will be an illustrated talk on the growing and varieties of Mecanopsis.

Gardener’s Question Time A chance to seek answers to any gardening problems, with a panel of Peter Howarth and a local gardener.

All the experts you will meet during the weeks, despite their particular specialisations, are practical gardeners, able to impart good basic gardening information.

TUTOR
Peter Howarth - Trained at the Royal Horticultural Society Gardens at Wisley, and for 25 years was horticultural advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, he moved to Cumbria in 1970, to run his own nursery and garden centre. He is a member of the International Camellia Society, President of the Lakeland Rhododendron, Magnolia and Camellia Society, President and Judge of ‘Cumbria in Bloom’ and a member of the Guild of National Show Judges. Recipient of the Queen Mother’s Birthday Honours Award for Horticulture in 1999. He will be in attendance for the whole of your stay at Rothay Manor.

The 5-night holiday runs from Sunday afternoon through to Friday morning, and the prices are per person and include full English breakfast, morning coffee, light afternoon tea, 4-course dinner and V.A.T. for the stay.

Non-participating partners are welcome, and for them there is a reduction of £50 for the holiday.

We ask for a deposit of £150 per person. It can be made by cheque or credit card, and is non-refundable unless the room is subsequently relet - cancellation insurance is available.