Garden Visit
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
Thursday 7th September 2017
Twenty seven members and friends set off in a comfortable Holman`s coach on 7th September bound for Abbotsbury Subtropical gardens in Dorset.
Following a half hour stop en route at St.Bridget`s nurseries near Exeter, members enjoyed the beautiful scenery of East Devon and the Dorset coast. Chesil beach came into view and the wooded setting of the gardens in a dip in the hills where the land then rises up again towards the adjacent coast.
Soon we were immersed in some sunshine on arrival and the impression of having arrived in a sub-tropical place. The sound of Kookaburras enhanced this feeling. There were also Golden Pheasants in the garden.
The 1st Countess of Ilchester, Elizabeth Fox-Strangeways established the gardens in 1765 as a kitchen garden for her nearby castle. It has since developed into a magnificent thirty acre garden filled with rare and exotic plants from all over the world. It was generally wooded but with glades and more open areas and an open quite steep `magnolia walk` up to a wonderful view of the coastline.
There was a Sino-Himalayan Glade for plants from Asia, streams, ponds, oriental bridges painted bright red, a Mediterranean bank and a Southern Hemisphere garden with plants from Australia, New Zealand and Chile. Also a Burma rope bridge built in 2015 to enhance the Himalayan and Jungle garden. The garden was involved in hydrangea trials with the RHS and there were magnificent areas of hydrangeas. Many Holm Oaks providing shelter.
There was much of interest; the visit was enjoyed and also refreshments in the Colonial Restaurant and a good homeward journey rounded off an excellent day out.
Some photos from the visit
