The Savill Garden and Valley Gardens
We are fortunate to have a line-up of experts with us – including Her Majesty’s Keeper of the Gardens, John Anderson and gold medal winning garden designer Andrew Wilson – to give us unrivalled behind-the-scenes insight into two wonderful Grade I listed gardens within easy reach of London.
Both look spectacular at this time of year – the Valley Gardens are an idyllic expression of English woodland, set within a naturally undulating landscape featuring rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias. The Savill Gardens, also created by Sir Eric Savill in the 1930s, feature a marvellous collection of plants, threaded through interlinking spaces, including the Spring Wood, Spring Meadow, New Zealand Garden, Azalea Walk, two lakes with associated bog garden and the Temperate House.
Expert plantsman John is responsible for both, as well as Her Majesty’s Private Garden at Frogmore, and after morning coffee, we’ll be joined by Patricia Craven, Supervisor of the Valley Gardens, to tell us about some of the latest projects and challenges in managing such a large woodland garden, which extends to over 250 acres.
Following a delicious lunch on the estate (in a marquee if weather permits; otherwise in the restaurant) John Anderson will take us on a guided tour around the 35-acre Savill Garden with its Supervisor, Michelle Cleave. Gold medal winning garden designer and former RHS judge Andrew Wilson will show us around the contemporary Rose Garden, which he designed here with his former business partner Gavin McWilliam, and explain how it was conceived and developed.
We will end our day with a delicious afternoon tea followed by an opportunity to explore the shop and plant nursery.
Tickets £135, Friends £120
10.00am start at Egham train station OR at 10.15am at The Savill Garden car park (TW20 0UJ). Please advise at time of booking if you require collection from the train station or if you require a free parking space at The Savill Garden, which must be booked in advance through us. The day includes morning coffee, a seasonal two-course lunch with wine and afternoon tea.
Finish time: 4.30pm*
*Finish times are approximate – please allow for flexibility at the end of the day.
This event has been organised by the Garden Museum’s Garden Visits committee. We recommend you read our Garden Visits Attendee Charter and Refund/exchange policy before booking your place on any of our Garden Visits.