The Pass
Inspirational ideas for group days out and holidays
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Spring into Summer
Spring into Summer
Spring is the perfect season to visit the UK’s gardens, as you get to witness some rare and stunning flowers beginning to bloom. It’s also a great time to enjoy a flower show or two. Here’s some ideas you might like to consider…
Rosy events
Known to visitors as one of the finest gardens in England, Pashley Manor, in East Sussex, is all set for an exciting 2008. 20,000 bulbs have been planted for the Tulip Festival, and their collection of old roses has been pruned ready for a stunning display over their Rose Weekend. Hundreds of lilies will also be coming up for their second year, with more flowers for Lily Time and Lily Weekend. In addition there are two new joint days out with a visit to Pashley in the morning and Great Dixter Gardens or Hever Castle in the afternoon. Pashley has also just lowered its minimum group size to 15 people to qualify for the reduced group rate. For more information call the number below or visit their website.
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01580 200888
Rare mixture
Surrey’s latest visitor attraction, Cherkley Court & Gardens, opened its gardens to the public for the first time last year. Set in 400 acres of parkland, it was the home of the 1st Lord Beaverbrook, former newspaper owner and Cabinet member from 1910 to his death in 1964. Cherkley Court offers a rare mixture of formality and intimacy with outstanding views across the Mole Valley. You’ll also find 16 acres of gardens offering grand terraces, a shell grotto, Italianate garden, herbaceous borders, wild flower meadows, Mediterranean planting, a vegetable garden, and Orangery café serving home-prepared food on the terrace. Contact them below for further details.
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01372 380980
Woodland wonder
West Stow is a unique reconstructed Anglo-Saxon Village, where groups can step inside Anglo-Saxon houses made from wood and thatch. Set within West Stow Country Park with a river, lake and woodland area, visitors can see the rare and beautiful archaeological finds from the site displayed in a specially built Centre. West Stow is also brought to life by living history re-enactors during special events. Groups are welcome and can receive a discount, although you will need to book ahead. A nature trail, café, shop, and free car park are also available to visitors.
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01284 728718
Show time
Spurred by the rise in attendance at the 2007 event, organisers of Shrewsbury Flower Show have put together an outstanding mix of spectacle and interest for 2008. Shropshire’s leading outdoor event of the year will take place in the natural amphitheatre of Shrewsbury’s Quarry Park on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 August. The show’s traditional mix of flowers, fruit and vegetables, along with non-stop music and 12 hours of arena entertainment will be enhanced this year by the appearance of a number of personalities. Television gardener and author Chris Beardshaw, the official horticultural “face” of the show, will be back this year, mixing with the crowds on both days. Also there will be celebrity chefs Rosemary Schrager, appearing on the Friday, and James Martin, on Saturday, who will be giving cookery demonstrations at the specialist food hall. Within the entertainment programme there will be performances by singer Hayley Westenra and violin virtuoso Fiona Pears, and male voice choirs on both days of the show. Further information, including arrangements for visiting coach parties, is available by calling the number below.
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01743 234050
In full bloom
At Worcestershire’s Heritage Garden, the Vale of Evesham Spring Blossom Trail is 25 years old this year. To celebrate its Silver Jubilee Anniversary, the trail is to be extended to include the delightful Cotswold village of Broadway - providing group visitors with a greater opportunity to see more of the area’s beauty. For a preview of the blooms, and details of all other blossom events, call Angela Tidmarsh on the number below for your free colour brochure.
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01386 565373
Centre stage
Spring is a great time to visit RHS Wisley with your group, as during March and April their ‘Step into Spring’ trail will take you around all the highlights of the garden, showing the stunning collections and varieties of spring flowers. Daffodils take centre stage with swathes of many varieties all over the garden; Spring bedding with tulips make a bold statement, while flowering shrubs and blossom have delicate and fragrant blooms. If visitors look closely, they will also find smaller flowers of primulas, anemones and pulmonaria dotted amongst the flower beds and lawns providing interest and colour after the winter. Events at RHS not to be missed include National Science Week, from 10 to 14 March, and Narcissus Day, on 21 March. Find out more below.
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0845 260 9000
New heights
Popular Peak District attraction The Heights of Abraham has revealed two brand new exhibitions for the 2008 season. Heath and Heaven, from Derbyshire-based arts organisation Living Art, opened in early February and features a patchwork of stunning aerial shots of the Peak District National Park. Then The Fossil Factory is due to open for Easter and brings to life the areas geological history, including its very own Dinosaur fossil! Also updated for this year is a brand new cave tour, which sees the cavern walls bathed in coloured lights for the first time in its history.
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01629 582365