ONCE again the weather was very kind to us on our first outing of 2015 when on April 16 the Society visited two tranquil gardens in Birmingham, both being located only a few minutes from the busy City centre. The first, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, designed by J.C. Loudon and opened to the public in 1832, is a beautifully landscaped park spread over fifteen acres and has something for everyone. Relying on visitor numbers, patrons and business enterprises for its funding, the park features some seven thousand plants, shrubs and trees; a large lawn with shrubberies; four glasshouses containing plants from tropical rain forests to arid climates; the National Bonsai collection; a bird house; a bandstand; children’s play areas; educational facilities, and most importantly, a café where lunch was enjoyed by the members.

Our next port of call was Winterbourne House, a rare Grade 11 listed example of an early twentieth century suburban house and garden. Restored to its Edwardian Arts and Crafts splendour, this hidden gem of a house is set within seven acres of beautiful gardens containing some six thousand plant species from around the world; a woodland walk; 1930’s Japanese bridge and small alpine and cacti glasshouses. Built in 1903 for John and Margaret Nettlefold, part of the GKN family who were the largest manufacturers of screws, nuts and bolts in the world, the house, which is full of beautiful Arts and Crafts furniture and antiques, features exhibitions in different rooms depicting the daily lives of a wealthy Edwardian family. The last private owner, John Nicholson, bequeathed the house and garden to Birmingham University in 1944 and since then new areas for teaching and plant conservation have been developed within the historic layout. At the end of our visit and in typical Edwardian style we all had the pleasure of taking tea on the terrace!

The Society’s next meeting is on Thursday, May 21, when Dr Colin Harris will present a talk entitled “The Merrie Month of May.” Visitors are always very welcome to join us at meetings which are held on the third Thursday of the month at 7.45pm in the Crawford Memorial Hall, Bidford on Avon. Admission is £3 including refreshments. For further details, please contact Annette Haines on 01789 268974 or visit www.bidfordgardens.com

Bidford On Avon & District Gardening Society