Events
The member events we organise include visits to gardens in Somerset and beyond, many of which are only open to private groups.
Past events have included supper lectures, plant sales and garden parties; we’ve also enjoyed garden tours to Wales, Ireland and abroad. All these events are a fun way to raise funds to be used in the SGT’s education and conservation work.
2025 EVENTS PROGRAMME
Lee Ford Spring Woodland Garden, Budleigh Salterton, Devon, EX9 7AJ
Wednesday 30th April, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Lee Ford is a small country estate close to the sea near the picturesque town of Budleigh Salterton where the Lindsay-Fynn family welcome visitors to wander around their extensive, formal and woodland garden. Largely developed in 1950s, the garden has recently been much extended with mass displays of camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas, including many rare varieties. There is a traditional walled garden filled with fruit and vegetables, herb garden, bog garden, hydrangea collection, greenhouses for ornamentals, conservatory with pot plants including pelargoniums, bougainvillea and coleus.
Tea and Cakes. No dogs.
Ashington Manor, Ashington, Mudford, Yeovil, BA22 8ED.
Friday 16 May 2025, 10.30 a.m.
A tour of Isabel and Julian Bannerman’s newly established garden, and an Elizabethan Manor, in the charming village of Ashington. You could take a deep dive into the house’s history and the creative process of making the garden at Ashington in Isabel’s superb book, Husbandry: Making Gardens with Mr B or just come along and enjoy a lovely morning visit. They founded their own design firm, in 1991, which has since become famous for its garden designs. They were commissioned to design a stumpery at Highgrove House by King Charles in the late 1990s. They have created 4 of their own private gardens; The Ivy, Chippenham, Hanham Court, Bristol, Trematon Castle, Cornwall and now this one.
There will be light refreshments. Level gravel paths. No picnics permitted in the garden. No Dogs allowed. Ample parking.
Cadenham Manor, Foxham, Chippenham, Wilts. SN15 4NH.
Wednesday 11 June 2025, 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Explore this glorious 4-acre garden which surrounds C17 Cadenham Manor. It was initially laid out by the current owner in the 1950s and has “rooms” which are divided by yew hedges and moats. In June there are stunning displays of old roses and specimen trees. Other areas include a white garden, a peony walk, a phlox walk, a water garden and a spectacular avenue leading to a folly.
Tea and cake. No dogs allowed.
Yews Farm, East Street, Martock, TA12 6NF
Friday 20 June 2025, 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.
A seven-acre site, the south facing topiary garden surrounded by ham stone walls, featuring about 50 Buxus interspersed with dense perennial plantings, a separate self-seeded gravel garden and the big leaf garden. Walk beyond the walled garden to the organic vegetables, more self-seeding, cider orchard, cider barn and greenhouses.
Pugin Hall, Rampisham, Dorchester DT2 0PR
Thursday 10 July 2025, 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Pugin Hall was once Rampisham Rectory and was designed in 1847 by Augustus Pugin. It is surrounded by 4 1/2 acres of garden including a large front lawn, a walled garden filled with topiary and soft floral planting, an orchard and a woodland walk.
Tea and cakes. No dogs allowed.
Avalon, Higher Lane, Chillington, Ilminster, TA19 0PT.
Wednesday 23 July, 2.30pm
Secluded hillside garden with wonderful views as far as Wales. The lower garden has large herbaceous borders, a sizeable wildlife pond and 2 generous greenhouses filled with RSA succulents. The middle garden has mixed borders, wild spotted orchids on the lawn, allotment area and a small orchard. The upper garden has a spring fed watercourse with ponds and many terraces with different planting schemes.
Tea and cake. No dogs allowed.