MELKSHAM Gardeners’ Society has been visiting grand gardens recently, taking part in guided tours, including West Lavington Manor garden and Dyffryn, near Cardiff.
Cary Hopkins, secretary to Melksham Gardeners’ Society reports, “On a lovely balmy evening, the Melksham Gardeners’ Society visited the West Lavington Manor garden in West Lavington on 26th June.
“Behind those honey-coloured walls lies the manor house and five acres of wonderfully rambling, but well organised gardens. We were taken on a guided tour by the head gardener, Andrew Coxhead, who advised us on the history of the house and gardens, how each area was laid out and why.
“Like all gardens, each area had its moment in the year, such as the snowdrop garden area in spring, which was easy to imagine how it would have looked. The photos show a tiny fraction of this lovely garden. It is part of the NGS scheme and groups can book and we urge you to have look! Thank you to Andrew for the tour and the garden, it was beautiful.
“Then on Sunday 8th July, we went to Dyffryn near Cardiff on what turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year; at the end of the day, club members were melting quicker than their ice creams!
“Despite the heat, it turned out to be a delightful visit with lovely woodland areas, long meadows, secluded gardens, the main house and plenty of land to walk around. But I have to confess, I for one, was grateful for the many seats dotted around so that you could take a breather in the heat of the day.
“A big thank you to our great coach driver from Chandlers as he had to encourage 50-plus horseflies to leave the coach before we returned.
Annual Flower and Produce Show
“A reminder that the 10th Annual Open Flower and Produce Show will be on 9th September from 2pm at Melksham Town Hall.
“Details will be on the website and booklets and entry forms are available from: Flowers in Focus – Melksham Town Hall – Melksham Without Parish Council – Tourist Information Office; also look out for the posters with more information.
“Entry for classes are open to everyone, if you don’t enter you can’t win; so go ahead and enter as many classes as you can! Get the children looking at their classes and see what they come up with during the holidays.”
For more information please contact Tel: 01225 350740 or Email: melk sham_gardeners@live.co.uk
