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Heritage Tour - Lake Windermere & Holehird Gardens

4th August 2018

8.30am from Northwich Memorial Court - other pickups available.

Northwich Memorial Court
Chesterway
Northwich
Cheshire
CW9 5QJ

£22.00

The town of Windermere grew around the railway station, about a mile and a half from the lake. The village was originally called Birthwaite, but the railway company decided to call the station after the lake. Over the years, the little town has become merged with the older lakeside town of Bowness-on-Windermere, though the two have quite separate centres.

Take a Winderemere Cruise, the most popular attraction in the Lake District. At the World of Beatrix Potter you can explore a magical world where enchanting tales are brought to life, recreating the beautiful Lake District countryside complete with sights, sounds and smells. Meet your favourite characters including Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy-winkle and Jemima Puddle-Duck and step into Peter Rabbit’s Garden to see the cos lettuces that Benjamin Bunny nibbled on and the gooseberry bush where Peter got caught in a net as he tried to escape Mr. McGregor!

After lunch we visit Holehird Gardens.

Holehird Gardens has been home to the Lakeland Horticultural Society since 1969. However, written records of Holehird go back to the 17th century when a large part of the area was owned by Thomas Hird and his family. In 1885 the Manchester industrialist John Macmillan Dunlop laid out formal gardens and had the present Walled Garden built with a range of heated greenhouses against the north wall, where Visitor Reception and LHS Members' Rooms now stand. The Groves family moved to Holehird in 1897 and continued the development of the grounds and garden, designing a rock garden and introducing many water features, including damming streams to form the tarn below the Mansion. In 1945 Henry Leigh Groves gave the estate to the County Council, to be held in trust.

The Walled Garden is the centrepiece of Holehird Gardens. Its north-, east- and west-facing borders, and south-facing wall, plus five island beds showcase a range of planting styles. The West Border is planted to provide year-round interest and colour with a wide variety of bulbs, herbaceous perennials, roses, climbers, shrubs and small trees.

The Upper Garden is the most diverse area of Holehird Gardens. It occupies the full width of the Gardens, across the slopes of the fellside, with the upper parts accessible by bark and stone paths which are steep in places. Here you will find the rhododendron and magnolia beds, as well as the autumn and winter borders. Rose beds and ornamental grasses can be found closer to the tarmac drive. The large Rock Garden was the first area to be developed by the Lakeland Horticultural Society when we came to Holehird in 1969. Nearby you will find the alpine and tufa houses, providing an opportunity for a close-up look at alpines.

The Upper Garden is also home to our four national collections - the national collections of astilbe, daboecia and polystichum each have their own location within or close to the fellside area, chosen according to the conditions they require, while the national collection of meconopsis can be seen growing in trial beds in the Paddock.

 

Coach leaves Winsford @ 8.00am through to Northwich Memorial Court @ 8.30am
Full list of pickup points and times here - schedule (b).
£22 (entry fees extra) - book online
or phone Carol on 07932927694 to reserve your ticket


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