We have an exciting day lined up with this visit to Bowood House and Gardens, home of the 9th Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne. This superb garden, winner of the Historic Houses Association/Christie's 2014 Garden of the Year award, has 2,000 acres of Capability Brown parkland, said to be among the finest he ever designed. Our visit is timed for the early stages of the six-week period when Bowood's famous Woodland Garden reaches its peak.

Our day will start at 10.30am, gathering at Bowood Hotel. We'll then head to the Woodland Garden – originally laid out in 1854 by the 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne. Lord Lansdowne will lead the tour of this outstanding display of rhododendrons, magnolias and azaleas. The Woodland Garden is his particular pride and joy, and in 2013 he unveiled the new four-acre Jubilee Garden within the Woodland Garden, which we'll also visit.

 

We then head back to Bowood House and Gardens where we will have lunch at approximately 1pm in the Stables Restaurant - Lord and Lady Lansdowne are generously providing a complimentary light lunch for us. Afterwards Head Gardener, David Glass, will show us around the elegant Italianate Terraces that front Bowood House and look out across Capability Brown’s sinuous lake.

Please note there will be quite a lot of walking on this visit, so if you have mobility problems this won't be suitable for you.

 

If you are coming by train, the nearest station is Chippenham, which is five miles away by taxi. If coming by car, directions to Bowood Hotel can be found at www.bowood.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Resort-Map-2016.pdf

This visit is free to GMG members; there is a £15 charge for non-members, payable on the day to the garden. There are no restrictions on photography.

Numbers are strictly limited, so please contact Kate @ GMG Admin as soon as possible to book your place.