Photographs Claire de Carle & JuG
Link for Wotton House & Estate photography by Bucks GT member www.photographybyJuG.com
Visiting Wotton Estate – if you missed the tour of the grounds of this remarkable estate then they are still available until 6th Septembe 2024
The Capability Brown Pleasure Grounds at Wotton, currently undergoing restoration, are related to the Stowe gardens, both belonging to the Grenville family when Brown laid out the Wotton grounds between 1750 and 1767. A series of man-made features on the 3 mile circuit include bridges, temples and statues. Only the Pleasure Grounds are open to the public, not the House.
Guided Tours: By arrangement, i.e. not obligatory. Parking: Limited parking for coaches. Suitability for Dogs: On leads.
Guide Prices: Adult £10, concessions £5. More information: https://www.visitheritage.co.uk/things-to-do/wotton-house-p683881
Chair’s Report to the Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust, Saturday 20th July 2024 with extra notes
2023 has been another great year for the Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust (Bucks GT) with our work and activities continuing apace, making us one of the most successful county gardens trusts. I will just give a brief resumé of our activities and I would also like to thank the members who volunteer to make all aspects so successful.
Bucks GT Council and Trustees who all contribute by giving their time, efforts and above all their passion for historic gardens.
Jane Bailey – Trustee Sarah Gray – Membership Secretary
Michael Hunt – walk leader and dendrologist Geoff Huntingford – Researcher
Kathy Jackson – Honorary Secretary Rosemary Jury – Bookings Secretary
Deborah Kidd and Darcie Keir – Media Team Gwen Miles – Trustee, Newsletter& website
Sarah Rutherford and Jo Mirzoeff – Planning Officers; Jo is also a Trustee
Christina Thompson – Honorary Treasurer & Trustee Mick Thompson – Vice Chair and Trustee
** Congratulations to Darcie Keir and Louise Keil who have been elected to the Council
In addition, we have started a sub-committee to help organise our extensive programme of summer events. It includes Council members Kathy, Gwen, Michael and Rosemary and members Louise Keil, Liza Wormall and Sue Jennings. Thank you to all for their excellent support. Special thanks to Rosemary Jury, our seaside member, who is now settled in Hove. We are in regular touch, all be it from a distance and she continues to help with organising events, running the on line Ticketsource booking system, and is in charge of Enquiries!
The events programme now includes our Audience Engagement programme and this year we have planned to attend six open days at key sites with the new gazebo. This work is extremely important to spread the word about garden history, with the ultimate aim being to secure new members, who will continue our work for future generations to enjoy. To help run these events we have a team of volunteers including Caroline Abel-Smith, Clare Butler, Oonagh Kennedy, Peter Miles, Sheila Meekum, Joanne Kidd, Louise Keil and Mick Thompson.
Our other big events are the spring and autumn Gardeners’ Network meetings for which we have 30 Head Gardeners/Garden Managers signed up. In October 2023, at Bledlow Manor, our patron Lord Carrington and Head Gardener Mark Thompson hosted the meeting with Dr Sarah Rutherford presenting a talk on The Conservation Plan as an Essential Tool in Planning for Tomorrow’s Conservation World. In March 2024 we enjoyed a visit to Claydon House and gardens hosted by Anna Tolfrey and her National Trust team, a challenging site.
A special mention for Council member David Hillier, who has retired due to ill health. He was a founding member of the Trust and contributed to Council meetings over many years. We wish him well and I have passed on our gratitude on behalf of the Trustees and members.
I think that is nearly all but I would finally like to say a huge thank you to Gwen Miles as without her I would be snowed under with work and the Trust would not run so smoothly, she is a real star.
I would now like to share a short presentation about our Audience Engagement programme, first shown at The Gardens Trust Volunteers celebration in Sheffield on 15 July 2024.
* The presentation showcased the new gazebo the Trust has purchased and the range of events attended to promote the work of the trust.
Claire de Carle, July 2024
