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Hampshire country gardens

4 days | £2695 per person | 17 - 20 June 2025

Featuring the Mottisfont Rose Garden; Arts & Crafts Gardens; and some choice private visits

Hampshire is predominantly a pastoral county of undulating hills with a belt of chalk stretching from the north-westerly Hampshire Downs through to the South Downs. Intersected by the trout rivers, Test and Itchen, that wind their way to Southampton Water. The chalk soils support a rich garden and natural flora that we will find in the well-established and newly developed country gardens of this blessed county. Winchester, Hampshire’s County town and Capital of the old Kingdom of Wessex, is central to this garden tour, with the hotel just a few short miles out of town and the gardens all within easy reach. The tour is based at Oakley Hall Hotel, a luxury 18^th century Georgian manor spanning across a 315-acre estate with its own kitchen garden.

Day to day Itinerary

Day 1

Start the tour from Winchester Railway Station, or if you are bringing your own car, Oakley Hall Hotel. Then travel together to the first garden visit. Patricia Elkington’s family have lived at Little Court since the 1950’s. For many years she was the County Organiser for the National Gardens Scheme and aimed to open her own garden from February through to September growing plants that thrive on the Hampshire chalk soils. Her wish was for everyone who visited the garden to feel more relaxed and happier from the influence of the visit to her beautiful garden. Continue to Longstock Park Water Gardens for lunch and a walk through the grounds before arriving at Oakley Hall Hotel. After some time to unpack, we meet the Head Gardener in the

walled Kitchen Garden for a short tour before dining together in the hotel restaurant.

Day 2

Travel to the eastern Hampshire border for a morning visit to a very private garden designed by Arne Maynard. Just a small step into Sussex is the seventeenth century Sandhill Farm House where we are the guests of Rosemary Alexander, author and principal of The English Gardening School. A vibrant and detailed garden including a large leaf boarder, a red border and decorative kitchen garden. Lunch is included. In the afternoon visit the five-acre gardens of Bramdean House, famous for their extensive mirror image herbaceous borders, at their best in June. Return to Oakley Hall Hotel to dine together.

Day 3

This day has an Arts & Crafts theme that is found in different measures in all three gardens. The garden at Weirs Barn, was created by Robert Weir Schultz, a Scottish Arts & Crafts architect and keen gardener and colleague of Gertrude Jekyll. He moved to Weirs Barn in 1900 and lived there until his death in 1951. The garden is now undergoing careful restoration by the current enthusiastic owners. Robert Weir Schultz first worked in Hampshire at nearby West Green House to design the formal gardens. More recently, Marylyn Abbott, a renowned Australian garden designer has greatly influenced the gardens- in the words of Stephen Lacey she has created “swashbuckling annual potage displays, fountain gardens and torch lit operas that reflect her energy and zest.”. After enjoying a group lunch together, we move to our final visit of the day. Upton Grey Manor, was designed by Gertrude Jekyll in 1908, for Charles Holme, a leading figure in the Arts & Crafts movement. In 1984 John and Rosemary Wallinger purchased the almost derelict property and the restoration has been ongoing ever since. Return to Oakley Hall Hotel to dine together.

Day 4

This morning, we have arranged a private visit to The Walled Garden at Mottisfont which is home to the National Collection of Pre-1900 shrub roses, these ‘old-fashioned’ roses tend to flower just once a year, so their blooming season is a very special event. After a group lunch we travel to Hardy’s Cottage Plants, a small nursery selling hardy perennials. It was started by Rosy and Rob Hardy in 1988 and is still going strong. Return to Winchester Railway Station, and Oakley Hall Hotel for those with cars.

Oakley Hall Hotel

This luxurious country house hotel is located in the picturesque Hampshire countryside set across a 315-acre estate. The 18th-century Georgian manor offers historic charm and modern amenities, rooms are designed for comfort and relaxation with plush linens, countryside views and thoughtful touches. Guests can enjoy dining in the award-winning Glasshouse Restaurant, renowned for its emphasis on fresh, seasonal flavours.

Tour Price: £2695

Single Supp: £350

Deposit: £350

Departure Dates:

17 - 20 June 2025

Duration:

3 nights / 4 days

Your Tour Includes

Three nights’ bed and breakfast at the Oakley Hall Hotel
Private coach transfers and excursions
Three evening meals and four lunches
Guided visits to the sites listed in the programme
Services of the tour host and a tour leader
Detailed programme and garden notes
All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers and serving staff

Tour Lecturers

Troy Scott Smith

Troy Scott Smith is a highly experienced horticulturalist who has worked with the National Trust since 1990. He has spent most of his career as Head Gardener at three National Trust gardens, including the renowned Sissinghurst Castle Garden! After two years at Iford Manor Gardens, Troy returned to his role in Sissinghurst to help preserve its fascinating legacy.

Sophie Piebenga

Born in The Netherlands and based in the Cotswolds, our expert Sophie Piebenga has lived most of her life in the UK. Trained with the National Trust and qualified at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, all whilst working as head gardener of a private estate, Sophie quickly developed a particular interest in the conservation of historic gardens. This eventually led to a doctoral study at the University of York, researching the work of the early Victorian landscape gardener, William Sawrey Gilpin. Sophie has since worked freelance, mostly in the field of historic landscape conservation, and, for the last 25 years, has regularly led Boxwood tours around the UK and to Ireland, France, Spain and The Netherlands.