Three coffee mornings have been arranged this year and we are grateful to Lyn Maile, Roger Smith and Becky Dale who have offered to host them. The coffee mornings start at 10:00am and finish at 12:00pm or 12:30pm. The cost is £2 (includes coffee), but you may also be asked for a contribution to, or to buy plants to support, the host's favourite charity.
Lyn Maile, Hatfield Mount, Hatfield Lane, Norton, Worcester. WR5 2PZ
My garden is just under an acre. We have lived here since 1990; the garden was neglected and overgrown when we moved in. It was originally owned by the Estate Manager of Spetchley Park in the 1930’s. He built our house after the Second World War in the kitchen garden and orchard of his first house; there are still several mature trees planted by him in the garden. We have planted the trees in the field at the back of the house; they are underplanted with daffodils and bluebells. The borders around the house contain roses, shrubs and perennials. You will see the garden in the spring when there is the most flower: trees in blossom, spring bulbs and flowering shrubs. I grow a succession of flowers and foliage for cutting for the house throughout the season. I enjoy growing a wide variety of plants and try to have something in flower in each season of the year. I look forward to welcoming you here in March.
The easiest way to find the house is from Junction 7 of the M5. If you are coming from the North or South on the M5 follow the signs for Worcester city centre at the large roundabout as you come off the motorway. At the next roundabout turn left down the hill, the sign reads Worcester/Malvern/Hereford/Leominster. You will come to another roundabout: go left for Norton. Follow that road to a mini roundabout, go straight ahead (signpost reads Hatfield/Kempsey). You will pass St Peter’s Garden Centre on your left. Follow the road which goes down a left hand bend and take the next left, signposted Hatfield/Pirton/Stonehall Common. This road will take you up over the M5, go straight ahead up Hatfield Bank, the road narrows between steep banks then the road forks, go left into Hatfield Lane. Our house is about 60 yards along the lane before the bend and up a tarmacked drive on the left, there is a sign on the wall. The house is not visible from the road. Please park on the left hand side of the road if possible as parking in our drive is limited. If you can share a car with friends, that will help the parking situation. My husband will be outside to assist with parking at the start.
If you are approaching on the B4084 from Pershore about one mile before J7 of the M5 you go over a railway bridge, take the next left. This road is called Woodbury Lane, signposted Littleworth/Norton. Go past “The Retreat” pub on your left, go straight ahead and take the next left by the oak tree and war memorial up Hatfield Lane. The Lane is narrow but has passing places, follow it to the top of the hill. It will become level and sweep around a right hand bend with a timber framed house, then a modern house on your right. Our drive is tarmacked on the right between two hedges. Please park on the road if possible and walk up the drive.
Mr and Mrs Roger Smith, 12 Three Springs Road, Pershore, WR10 1HH
The garden is about 45 yards long and 25 yards wide with a gentle slope from the top to the bottom and the house. The garden is divided into two separate parts – that nearest the house is more formally planted and includes four parterres in white, red, yellow and blue. The top part comprises a lawn and more informal beds with established trees throughout. Low hedges round the parterres suffered box blight and had to be ripped out last year and replaced with yew and pyracantha.
This is not a winter garden and Roger changes some of the planting every year. In his own words, the garden will never be ‘correct’ or ‘finished’! Roger looks forward to spending time in the garden which he finds both therapeutic and invariably highly relaxing!
Travelling from Worcester on the B4084 turn right at the bottom of the hill on entering Pershore (sign posted A4104, Upton on Severn/Cheltenham). No. 12 is 120 yards on the right opposite a BP garage. Parking will be either in the drive or layby or in the garage opposite.
If approaching from the Evesham direction, turn left onto the A4104 after passing through the centre of the town and follow instructions above.
Becky Dale, Thorneloe, 14 Stephenson Road, Worcester WR1 3JE