Report on visit to Cotehele of Monday 5th December 2016 We had decided that our last visit of the year would be atrip to Cotehele to see the garland. A big thank you to Carol Williams for organisingwhat turned out to be a most enjoyable and leisurely day. Fourteen members of the group travelled onthe Lerryn Area Minibus driven by Annie Singer and by the time we got toCotehele, the weather was dry and very mild as there was not a drop of wind. In fact, we had better weather than on some ofour summer outings! We got to Coteheleby 11.45am and Carol had booked us to listen to some Carol Singing at 2.00pm. So, we had plenty of time to visit the WWIexhibition, the Art Gallery and the National Trust shop, go round the garden,admire the garland and of course have lunch!
This year is the 60th anniversary of the garlandand one of the gardeners explained that, as it is a diamond anniversary, they hadchosen more subdued colours than usual to reflect the theme. There were indeed plenty of blue, silver andwhite dried flowers. The honesty wasvery effective and glistened in the light. The garland consists of 39,120 dried flowers, all grown at Cotehele.
At 2.00pm, we were entertained by the Tregadillett Songbirdswho sang famous carols as well as some less well known. Thoseof us who knew the words were able to join in. It was the perfect end not only to our visit but also toour garden visiting year. We are all lookingforward to next year’s programme.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody! ***************** Programme of visits for the rest of 2016 Monday 5th December: Visit to Cotehele
****************** Planning meetings Our next planning meeting will be on Monday 6th March 2017 at 10.00am in the Royal Oak. We will confirm arrangements for our planned visits. Please contact Annie Singer for more details of above events ******************* UPDATE 02/09/16 Report on the visit of 1st September to Marsh Villa Gardens, Par  The inspiration for the start of the garden came from Judith, who, with her husband Harvey, had been farming on Bodmin Moor. When they came to take on the family home at Marsh Villa , Judith was horrified by the semi – urban surroundings and immediately set about importing any available top-soil and planting trees to provide privacy. This was thirty years ago. Now mature trees, many of interest, provide the structure. Paths meander through glades and under planting of many shrubs and colourful herbaceous plants. A large pond at natural water table level was splendid with water lilies and prolific marginal planting, with a shady summerhouse to sit and admire the view. In fact plenty of seating was conveniently placed in sun and shade around the garden. Behind newly planted yew hedging, replacing old Escallonia was a formal garden with central rose arbour and herbaceous borders. Paths went out at the lower level to wander through the marshland – fortunately dry underfoot at this time of year! We ended our visit with tea and cake in the shaded courtyard of a converted barn.  ************************** UPDATE 19/07/16 Report on the visit to Hidden Valley Gardens of 15th July 2016  We also admired the new wildflower "circles" originally inspired by the planting in the Olympic Park. During our visits, we are equally interested in the owners' story. Tricia and Peter moved to their hidden garden in November 1999. They moved from a cold dry garden near York and brought over one thousand plants plus the small greenhouse and the solar shed - it all took more space in the removal van than the furniture! Their initial years were spent creating the design, moving soil, putting in drainage and trying to eradicate pernicious weeds and bramble. They also needed to add visitor facilities appropriate for opening the garden, as well as installing a watering system and work area with a large greenhouse. The result of Tricia and Peter's hard work is truly stunning: an informal cottage garden with lots of herbaceous perennials and self-seeding annuals. They grow flowers for pollinating insects and encourage wildlife. The pond and grass area are also important part of their wildlife objectives. There are also fruit trees as well as raspberries and blackcurrants (PYO). The Garden has started to win awards, deservedly so. In 2014, it was one of three runners-up to Heligan as the "Cornwall Today" "Best Garden" in Cornwall. More photos taken during our visit may be viewed on our flickr page. We finished our visit with tea/coffee and cake - the lemon fairy cakes were yummy!  (Click on image above for larger view) ******************** UPDATE 10/06/2016 Reporton the Garden Visit to Lethytep of 10thJune 2016 Tocancel or not to cancelin the light of the weather forecast was very much the question on mymind right until we met in the Lostwithiel Community car park. I amso glad that, ever the optimist, I decided to go ahead as the groupof 13 U3A members (including four from the Photography Group) whomade this visit spent a fantastic afternoon at Lethytep, a stunningwildlife haven right on our doorstep, yet unknown to many in thegroup. It was my fourth visit and I never tire of it. And, yes, theweather was kind to us! I must say from the outset that the reportwhich follows will not do credit to Lethytep, as I will find itdifficult to translate into words the beauty of the natural word thatwe witnessed.  Philipand Faith have been recording the flora and fauna for several yearsand they informed us that to-date their records show 24 butterflyspecies, 101 bird species and over 100 species of plants. One of themost spectacular sights during the tour were the thousands ofSouthern Marsh Orchids which flower in the meadows from late May toearly June. Afterwalking around the large ponds bordered by yellow irises and raggedrobin and having admired the different variety of water lilies thatgrow in them, we signed the visitors’ book in the summer house andadmired Philip’s talent as a photographer. His photos taken acrossthe seasons of the wildlife that inhabit Lethytep were stunning. Wedid see some fauna including a grebe feeding her chicks on one of theponds and …a wallaby…which had escaped, we all presumed, from thePorfell Wildlife Park - the first time it had ever happened! Wasthis the latest recruit to the U3A Garden Visit Group? He hoppedaway before he could be challenged to show his membership card…. Atthe end of the tour, we were treated to a very generous andscrumptious afternoon tea. The money raised by our visit will go toPhilip’s and Faith’s chosen cancer charities. Thankyou Philip and Faith for your time, generosity and inspiration! (Click here to see larger version of group Picture) (Click here to see larger version of Wallaby Picture)  Ifyou would like to visit Lethytep, see their website for details of open days: http://www.lethytep.co.uk/index.php Annie Singer ************************** UPDATE 24/05/2016 Report on the Garden Visit to Poppy Cottage Garden and Enys Garden of 12th May 2106 by Ben Purser and Sally Albright, organisers of the trip Three cars and 9 U3A members all met up at Poppy Cottage Garden. We were greeted by the very enthusiastic owner, who gave us an introductory talk, plus coffee and cake, before letting us loose. It is a relatively small, relatively young garden packed with many, many plants, with an excellent choice of plants for sale. After King Harry Ferry and a lunch break at Trelissick, our convoy arrived at Enys Gardens, by contrast a large and ancient garden which is now having some serious improvement. The highlight at Enys at this time of year is their bluebell field which provided a glorious display. A good day out.  Click here, or on image above, to see a selection of photos from our visit. ************* UPDATE 14/04/2016 I draw members' attention to the following event. This is not a U3A outing but members might want to take part.
******************* Reportof visit to Bottalick on 13thApril 2016 pm  Fourteenmembers of the U3A Garden Visits group took part in this first visitof the year. The Bucknell family had opened their private garden toour group to support their fund raising efforts for St Veep Church: we donated £5.00 each for the visit and the money raised will go tothe St Veep Church bells appeal. Thankfully, the Spring showers thatthe weather forecast had predicted did not materialise and after adull start, our visit was blessed with glorious sunshine. Our hostswere very generous with their time. After a mug of coffee/teaaccompanied by yummy cakes, Pat, Peter and Jo their daughter took usfor a guided walk lasting a good hour and half around their four acregarden. Peterand Pat moved to Botallick in 1993, when they bought the Farmhouse,Barns and 14 acres of land. It had been a working farm with verylittle garden. The main plants were two large Cornish RedRhododendrons and some Hydrangeas. They were very keen to establish"A Cornish Garden" with Rhododendrons, Camellias andMagnolias but they also wanted other trees and shrubs to give colourall year round. They started planting around the house and astheir interest grew more areas were planted. They purchasedanother three acres in 1996 and now the garden extends to about fouracres. There is also an orchard with over fifty varieties ofCornish and Tamar Valley apples together with cherries, pears, plumsand damsons. Their daughter Jo, husband Ian and two grandsons movedfrom Tunbridge Wells to Cornwall three years ago and now live in themain farmhouse while Peter and Pat have converted a small barn forthemselves. They share the garden and maintain it together as afamily. The views from the higher parts of the garden over thesurrounding countryside are stunning!  Click on image for larger view Wewere truly inspired by this beautiful Cornish garden which containsover 300 varieties of camellia, at least 100 magnolias and a hugenumber of rhododendrons. There were also many interesting trees toadmire, including a huge variety of acers and a very old sycamore. What was impressive was that Pat knew all their names! We loved thefact that there was something exciting to Thefamily exhibits under the name Bottalick at many shows, including theCornwall Garden Society Spring Flower Show at Boconnoc and the RHSshow at Rosemoor. This year at Boconnoc , and not for the firsttime, the family won a trophy for the most points in the camelliasection – a well-deserved recognition for their hard work. Weall left truly inspired – what a fantastic start to our gardenvisiting season! *************** UPDATE 10/03/2016 The first meeting of the group in 2016 will take place on Thursday 24th March at 10.30am in the Community Centre when we will put together our programme of visits for the year. Come and join us for a drink and toasted tea cake! In the meantime, keep your diaries free for Wednesday 13th April and Friday 10th June. All shall be revealed at the meeting! ************* |
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