WHAT a wonderful time the club is enjoying! Successful and enjoyable open gardens.

Again very many thanks to all those who worked so hard to open their gardens on behalf of the village which has enabled us to give generous donations. We are excited about all the trips arranged for us over the summer. Hopefully we are all busy propagating plants and collecting seeds in anticipation of the new sharing and swopping programme starting soon.

Our speaker this month was Steve Quinton who spoke on Painswick Rococo Gardens.

He gave us a brief history of the gardens leading up to the restoration.The Hyatt family built the house and lived there for many generations, each one adapting and adding to the gardens. They entertained their friends lavishly but also welcomed the surrounding villagers and established an annual show which ran for many years in the grounds.

The house and gardens fell into disrepair during the second world war and it was only in 1980 when serious restoration began which is still ongoing.

Painswick is not a flower garden, it is a verdant haven of peace and tranquility boasting hundreds of trees and the best snowdrop display in the whole of England. Well worth a visit!.

ANN WHITE