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Croome Court Landscape Park and Croome Walled Kitchen Garden
September 14, 2018 : 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
£9.50 – £19.50


Book Online or send a cheque for £9.50 (NT members) or £19.50 (Non NT members) per head to Steve Elstub, Clare College, Trinity Lane, Cambridge CB2 1TL, tel: 01223 333270. For more details email Steve Elstub for this event.
PGG visit to Croome Court Landscape Park (NT) and Croome Walled Kitchen Garden.
Croome Court and Landscape park
The landscape park of Croome Court was Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s first commission, designed and set out for the 6th Earl of Coventry from 1751 onwards to enhance the 18th century neo-Palladian mansion with its commanding views of the Malvern Hills. The 270 hectares of parkland were bought by the National Trust in 1996 by which time much of the managed parkland and many of the features were nearly lost.
The Trust has restored the landscape to its former glory with its man-made lake and river, statues, temples and other buildings with the Court as the central focus. The other buildings around the park include Gatehouses, a Grotto, an Icehouse, a Church and a number of buildings termed “eye-catchers”. These include Pirton Castle, Panorama Tower, Dunstall Castle and Park Seat. The numerous walks through the parkland linking these Iconic features constantly deliver outstanding views of the landscape and into the wider countryside and give a glimpse into the mind of its creator, “England’s greatest gardener”.
The Court itself has been managed by the Trust since 2007 having previously been a Catholic school and the UK headquarters of the Hare Krishna movement amongst other uses. During the Second World War the parkland housed RAF Defford which housed over 2000 staff and scientists along with the RAF sick quarters. The NT have established a museum which reflects the life, work and secret developments made there from 1941-1957.
For more information: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croome
Croome Walled Kitchen gardens
Chris and Karen Cronin bought the 5+ acre derelict walled gardens in 2000 and have spent the last 17 years restoring and developing them with a level of love, care and attention that has to be seen to be believed. The history of the garden goes back 250 years and this combined with its size and the fact that the 18th century records of the garden survive almost completely intact, make it of national historic and horticultural importance. The Head gardener’s cottage (now the Cronin’s home), glasshouse ranges, cold-frames, back-sheds, dipping pool and cutting border have all been beautifully restored and the underground tunnels which house the heating pipes to the glasshouses have been opened so that the public can walk through the 35 metre main tunnel. It also boasts a 100 metre-long free standing heated wall with 5 furnaces which dates from 1806 and which Chris has had fired up on special occasions- it was one of the first of its kind to be built and is one of the gems of the garden.
Chris’ background in engineering and a deep fascination for history and Victorian engineering innovation in particular coupled with Karen’s love of fresh produce and cooking has propelled the project forward and though privately owned, is now open to the public in conjunction with the National Trust.
For more information: www.croomewalledgardens.com
Programme
10.00 Arrivals at NT Croome court car park with tea, coffee and biscuits in the RAF Canteen
10.30 Introduction to Croome’s landscape and history from vantage point of the Church with a member of the Croome Park & Garden Team
11.00 Self guided exploration of Park and House
13.00 Lunch (either bring your own picnic or at the NT restaurant)
14.00 Tour of the Walled Kitchen Garden with Chris and Karen Cronin
15.30 Tea, coffee and biscuits in Walled Garden Visitor Centre
Address details
Near High Green, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR8 9DW
Cost
National Trust members: £9.50 including teas, coffees and biscuits but NOT lunch. YOU WILL NEED TO BRING A VALID NT MEMBERS CARD WITH YOU ON THE DAY
NON National trust members: £19.50 including tea, coffee and biscuits but NOT lunch. The extra cost of £10.00 gives you special group rate access to the house and grounds for the day.
IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL DIETRY or mobility/ access requirements, please contact Steve Elstub as the NT can lay on transport within the site for those with mobility issues.
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