Visiting gardens is an immensely popular pastime in England and a highly developed aspect of cultural tourism. The pleasure of seeing historic gardens in their well maintained glory is balanced with the delight in finding smaller, private gardens full of inspiration and personal touches. This week is a garden tour through those contrasts and a realisation that excellence in gardening is possible for everyone. There can be no greater welcome to the world of English horticulture than "Open Gardens".
| Saturday 13/6 |
ARRIVALS |
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Evening |
Welcome by host families. |
| Sunday 14/6 |
DIDSBURY’S OPEN GARDENS |
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Morning |
Introduction to Manchester. Discover Manchester, orientation tour of the city centre with its impressive Victorian and modern buildings and new landscaping. |
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Afternoon |
Return to Moor Cottage and the private (Yellow Book) gardens open to the public today |
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Evening |
Bridgewater Hall Symphony Concert |
| Monday 15/6 |
ADLINGTON HALL & LYME PARK |
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Morning |
English conversation class and garden briefing. Adlington Hall, where a series of colourful garden rooms leads to a park and woodland full of carefully placed garden buildings: temples and pavilions. |
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Afternoon |
Lyme Park is an architectural delight with Venetian classicism married to Elizabethan vernacular in the middle of a moorland deerpark. Pleasure gardens humanise the wilderness. |
| Tuesday 16/6 |
GRESGARTH AND THE LAKE DISTRICT |
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Morning |
Visit to the delightful garden at Gresgarth Hall created by the renowned garden designer Arabella Lennox-Boyd. The garden includes terraces, lake, bog garden, a wild garden and herbaceous borders. |
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Afternoon |
Seven lake tour of the English Lake District including the garden of Graythwaite Hall, the first of Thomas Mawson’s designs. |
| Webnesday 17/6 |
NESS BOTANIC GARDEN |
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Morning |
English conversation class and garden briefing. |
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Afternoon |
Visit to Ness Botanic Gardens, University of Liverpool created in 1898 by the horticulturist and sponsor of plant hunting expeditions, Arthur Kilpin Bulley.Return via the City of Liverpool. |
| Thursday 18/6 |
YORKGATE & HAREWOOD HOUSE |
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Morning |
Depart for Yorkshire
York Gate demonstrates the refinement of English gardening in the mid 20th century. Sophisticated cottage gardening achieved through plantsmanship is its revelation. |
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Afernoon |
Harewood House is set in a “Capability” Brown landscape with its signature lake. In Victorian times the modest villa became an Italianate palazzo with terraced gardens and is a casket full of art treasures. An historic set piece alive in the 21st century. |
| Friday 19/6 |
DOROTHY CLIVE & WOLLERTON OLD HALL |
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Morning |
English conversation class and garden briefing before departing for the Dorothy Clive Garden |
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Afternoon |
Visit to Wollerton Old Hall garden - great garden of choice borrowings so that the "Arts and crafts" movement, Hidcote, Sissinghurst and Lutyens's gardens are all woven into a customised spirit of beauty. Return via Bridgemere Garden World, vast garden centre! |
| Saturday 20/6 |
DEPARTURES |
Manchester Language School reserves the right to alter this itinerary subject to the availability of the venues / gardens etc. listed.
English
Garden Tours