Adult Courses

The Wiltshire area boasts some of the fi nest gardens in the country. On this course, you will visit a selection of these Glorious Gardens, some open to the public, others private, but all with wonderful design and planting. On the way, you will be driven through the beautiful countryside of the Marlborough Downs, South Oxfordshire and then into the Cotswolds. From 17th century Dyrham Park to a 21st century garden at Hanham Court created by Julian and Isabel Bannerman, garden designers best known for their work at Highgrove, there will be a garden to appeal to everyone.

Wiltshire and its surrounding counties not only has outstanding natural beauty, but an impressive range of wonderful gardens.In this, my second selection of gardens, we will drive through the Wiltshire and Oxfordshire countryside and up into the Cotswolds to find lovely gardens in which to spend time, learning about the history of the garden and enjoying the design and planting. Where possible we will meet owners and gardeners and have talks or guided walks around the gardens.

During the week we will visit as many gardens as possible taking our picnic lunch with us and some afternoons enjoying a cream tea in the gardens.

Though of course I hope we will blessed with lovely weather we will continue come rain or shine, so please be prepared with waterproofs and good footwear.

Some of the gardens are quite extensive and involve narrow paths and steps and have wilder areas that are worth exploring. We should have time to absorb the atmosphere of each garden as well as looking at the planting and design.

A selection of the gardens that we plan to visit in 2020;

Waterperry Gardens

Dyrham Park

Hannam Court.

Miserden Gardens

Painswick Rocco Gardens

Bourton House

Sezincote

Rookwood Farmhouse

PLEASE NOTE THAT ON SOME DAYS, TO ALLOW US TO ENJOY THE GARDENS FULLY, WE MAY NOT RETURN TO THE COLLEGE UNTIL 5.30PM

I hope you will be able to join me this summer.

Patricia Rowell

BSc MPhil

About Patricia

Patricia was born and brought up in Canterbury by parents who were keen gardeners. One of her first gardening memories is driving off with her mother in her original mini in search of plants recommended by Percy Thrower on the early days of 'Gardener's World'!

After studying Agricultural Botany at Reading University she then worked on a research degree in Plant Pathology at London University's Wye College.

This led to research jobs on various horticultural crops, from lettuce to beans including a few years in Canada trying to control blight on onions.

Patricia married a fellow plant pathologist and they returned to England and settled in Wiltshire where she ran a business growing and selling dried flowers while she renovated their derelict cottage and garden and had three children. She was fortunate to get offered the job of gardening correspondent for the local paper, this opened lots of doors including looking after the Master's garden at the College for 14 years and teaching at Wiltshire Adult Education College.

Patricia now enjoys running a garden design and advice business as well as teaching at Summer School and organising her own courses and workshops on gardening subjects.