Coach Trip to Little Dartmouth Farm, nr. Dartmouth and Mothecombe House, nr Plymouth on Thursday 7^th July

Our final visits of the season are coming up shortly and there are still some places available for this trip.  Due to the access to both properties being narrow, we are limited to a 30 seater coach which has made it a little more expensive than usual, but it promises to be an interesting outing.  The coach will leave from Taunton at 9.15.  

The first garden, which is not regularly open to the public, is Little Dartmouth Farm.  Designed 10 years ago by Dan Pearson it should be an interesting study of how to “live and evolve” with a ‘designer’ garden.  Right on the coast the garden has a vast panorama of sea and sky.  Curving beds wrap around the sides of a stepped terrace, and below the terrace a ha-ha allows uninterrupted vistas to the sea.  A superb vegetable and cutting garden, large greenhouse space, beautifully wrought dry stone walls and airy, naturalistic planting give this garden the ‘wow’ factor.

In the afternoon we will visit the gardens at Mothecombe House.  Also right on the coast but sheltered from the prevailing south westerly salt-laden winds which allow tender plants to flourish.  The time of our visit is just right for the Bee Garden which was created in 2013.  250 lavender plants in 12 varieties has brought a considerable increase in bumble bees, solitary bees and hoverflies to the garden.  Beyond the immediate gardens are extensive wooded glades lead down to the beach.

Tea and cake will be served at both gardens and we should be back in Taunton by 5.30pm.  Additional information about the gardens can be found on the Somerset HPS site.  To book please contact Penny Berry   p.berry487@btinternet.com or phone: 01278 662720.  Penny deals strictly with bookings only, so if you have any queries about the trip please contact Kate Harris at nunnington@aol.com

Kate Harris, Higher Nunnington Farm, Wiveliscombe TA4 2AE