Autumn Gardening Holiday

October 12th - 17th 2008

The holiday is designed to take in the glorious colours of autumn which blend beautifully into the outstanding Lakeland scenery. Guests will see first hand trees and shrubs suitable for all types and size of garden to give character and extend colour in the garden to autumn and winter.

Windy Hall, Windermere   A four acre garden designed and maintained by Diane & David Kinsman. Woodland underplanted with species rhododendrons, magnolias, hydrangeas. Japanese influenced quarry garden, alpine area, gunnera, wild flower meadow. Kitchen & waterfowl garden, re-designed pond garden with plants raised from seed collected by David in China. Collection of aruncus and fillipendula. Naturalised moss garden. Flock of rare sheep, and a wide variety of native birds.

Sizergh Castle, National Trust Garden  Two thirds of an acre of limestone rock garden, with a collection of Japanese maples, dwarf conifers, hardy ferns, primulas, gentians, perennials and bulbs. A water garden with aquatic plants, and on the castle walls - shrubs and climbers, many half-hardy. Wild flower areas, herbaceaus borders, crab apple orchard with spring bulbs. Dutch garden, terrace garden and lake. Kitchen garden with herbs and flowers.
   

Copt Howe, Langdale  The home of Prof. Hazeldine. a two acre plantsman’s mountain paradise garden with superb views of Langdale Valley and Pikes. Extensive collections of acers, camellias, azaleas, beeches, rare shrubs, bulbous species, alpines, trough gardens, rare conifers. Outstanding spring and autumn colour plus a wildlife sanctuary.
   

Pear Tree Cottage, Burton in Kendal   Home of Linda & Alec Greening carefully planned to harmonise with its rural setting, and to encourage wildlife. Intensive planting includes the rare and unusual with collections of ferns, geraniums and clematis. The diverse settings range from a gravel garden through to herbaceous borders, rockeries, pond, and bog garden with an planting for year round interest.
   

Garth House, Brampton   Sandra and David Tate enjoy living in a dignified late Georgian red sandstone house set in four acres of shelter belts, shrubberies and lawns. A whole catherine wheel of gardens surrounding the house - sunken formal garden, wild garden, a woodland walk leading to a wildlife pond, a Japanese garden, a pool garden, a Mediterranean and even a Zen garden.
   

Parcey Howe, Hartsop   The home of Liz & Dick Clark has a spectacular setting opposite Brotherwaster at the head of Patterdale. Originally a farmhouse with land above and below it, this is not an easy garden. Good trees, shrubs, camellias, amelamchier and prunus, and terraces to prevent soil erosion and for greater depth of soil. Birches, aronias, rownans, acers, berberis, hydrangea and mecanopsis are just a few of the extensive collection of plants. Composting is a major occupation.
   

Plant Collecting with John Main   Trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, became Curator at Harlow Carr Gardens, Harrogate, and then curator of the R.H.S. Gardens at Wisley. Finally Director of Horticulture to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Edinburgh, from where he escorted tours and expeditions to India, Sikkim, China and Taiwan. Retired to Irthington he specialises in growing alpine plants, especially the rare and difficult.
    

Gardeners' Question Time  A chance to seek answers to any gardening problems, with a panel of Peter Howarth and Shelagh Newman.

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.