[Departure from Stanborough Green, Welwyn Garden City at 9.00am]

Our first visit is to Deene Park in Northamptonshire, the home since 1514 of the Brudenell family, whose most famous member was the 7th Earl of Cardigan, who led the Charge of the Light Brigade. The contents and furnishings of Deene Park are exceptionally interesting, so after coffee we start the day with a private conducted tour of the house. Deene Park’s grade II historic gardens, which enjoy extensive views over the lake and parkland, include a parterre designed by David Hicks with fine topiary, long borders providing a profusion of colour, a four season garden with statuary, a white garden and the latest addition, a gold garden.

After lunch in the Old Kitchen we drive a short distance into Rutland to visit Redhill Lodge, featured last November in Country Houses and Interiors. This is an exciting contemporary garden, the home of Susan Moffitt, herself a garden designer, who planted gardens at Chelsea in 2016 and 2017 for the sculptor James Parker. Features include a Japanese garden, an avenue of “Winter Orange” lime trees, a natural swimming pond, a viewing mound and clever use of water and sculpture. Tea and cakes will be served before we return home.

Reservations for a place on this garden visit should be made to Mrs Sonja Fillingham using this form.