In August, members heard about flowers beginning with the letter A. These included Acacia, Abelia, Acanthus, Acer, Aconite, Agapanthus, Agave, Alchemilla, Allium, Alstroemeria, Amaryllis, Anemone to name just a few of the 70 that I found.
A good number attended despite the weather – it poured with rain just at our meeting time! – and the holiday season. But then we know that gardeners are intrepid and positive characters!
September’s meeting was a trip, this time to Harlow Carr, more details next month.
On 6th October we are back at the JGC for a talk by Camilla Anderson on Arts and Crafts and the Edwardian Garden. All are welcome as we are an open group.
August saw the now combined groups of Grumpy Old Men and Not So Grumpy Old Men meet up together for the first time at Titchfield Park for a session of Lawn Bowls.
Meeting up at 1.00 pm the group had a session of instruction and practice helped by members of the bowls club. Breaking after an hour for refreshments the group then returned to the greens for a further session of bowling.
A big thank you to everybody at the bowls club for their support and tuition.
A meal at the Broomhill Restaurant followed to complete a lovely afternoon.
September takes the group on a visit to the Flight Museum at Rolls Royce and then on to visits to the Newark Air Museum and the Sherwood Observatory in Sutton.
Departing at our usual time of 8.30 am from Hucknall Market we enjoyed a pleasant and very scenic journey through the Peak District up to Lyme Park. On arrival we were greeted by members of staff from Lyme Park who issued maps, tokens to enter the house and spent time explaining the facilities and tours on offer for the group.
The House, gardens and estate are very extensive and covering everything in a day presents a challenge.
The estate is very well staffed with volunteers who were both enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
Over the day members had the opportunity to go on a behind the scenes tour of the House, attend a series of talks concerning the history of the Estate, tour the superbly maintained gardens, walk around any of the pleasant walks around the estate and possibly catch sight of the deer who were roaming around. There was a choice of cafes available which baked many of the items on site also a selection of shops including a gift shop, plant shop and second hand book shop.
All this before entering Lyme House itself with its twenty four splendid rooms adorned with period furniture.
Arriving finally back at the coach for the journey home we all agreed that Lyme Park is one of the gems in the National Trust collection with an army of volunteers helping to make the visit one to remember.
Next month the group will be heading to Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire when due to the shorter journey time we will be departing at the later time of 9.30 am.
During July some members of the group were away on holiday. However, members still managed to collect a total of 17 bags of rubbish from our environment. It’s just a pity that all the litter louts weren’t away on holiday too!
Should anyone else wish to join our litter picking group please contact me for further information as per the interest group details at the end of the newsletter. A tabard and equipment will be provided.
On Friday 8th August we visited Stratford on Avon, a beautiful day though maybe a little hot for some.
Stratford-upon-Avon, a historic market town in Warwickshire, is world-famous as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Visitors can explore several significant sites linked to the playwright’s life.
Shakespeare’s Birthplace is a restored 16th-century timber-framed house on Henley Street where Shakespeare was born in 1564 and spent his early years. The home offers period furnishings, rare documents, and live performances by costumed actors, giving an authentic glimpse into Tudor life.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, located in the nearby village of Shottery, was the childhood home of Shakespeare’s wife. This picturesque, thatched farmhouse, surrounded by beautiful gardens, features original furniture, including the “Hathaway bed.” The cottage reflects rural Elizabethan life and courtship traditions.
New Place was Shakespeare’s grand family home, purchased in 1597, where he lived for the last 19 years of his life and wrote many late works. Although the original house was demolished in the 18th century, the site is now an open garden with sculptures and exhibits that evoke the spirit of his creations.
Together, these landmarks form the heart of Stratford’s Shakespearean heritage, attracting millions each year to walk in the footsteps of England’s greatest playwright.
