Strong winds and heavy cloud in the morning didn’t promise a pleasant afternoon for our visit to a garden designed by Thomas Mawson situated close to Jenny Brown’s Point at Silverdale. However, when 21 of us arrived for the visit, it was still windy but the sun was shining.

We were welcomed by Eve, secretary of The Friends of Mawson’s Garden and by Linda, one of our u3a members and Treasurer of the Friends group. We were introduced to Brian Smith, the owner, and then entered the walled garden through Amanda’s Gate, a beautiful wooden gate in which there is a circle of pink-stained glass. It felt like entering a secret garden.

Thomas Mawson was born at Scorton into a poor family but rose to fame in his day, becoming a landscape designer of national and international fame. He used the natural features of the garden, geology and situation in his design. Some of the trees in the original plantings are still living and beautiful but many trees, such as ash and sycamore which had grown during its neglected years have had to be removed to open up the vista. On a cool breezy day, it felt as though the garden had its own climate as it was calmer and warmer within it.

Fernhill Coach House is set amongst a delightful collection of old stone buildings surrounded by flower meadows and its own one acre garden. Our cars were left by one such building, Bull House, overlooking wildflowers everywhere. We were met by Adele and Mike Watford and left to wander freely after a brief introduction telling us organic methods were the only ones applied over the last 20 years. The farm has a live and let live approach that obviously works judging by the uneaten hostas! I loved how the foxgloves grew abundantly in all the vegetable patches.

On 14th May 22 of us visited the Japanese themed garden of Mrs Linda Kidd in the village of Treales, near Kirkham. Linda has made the garden over the last 10 years, entirely with her own hands. We split into two groups for the tour and Linda explained the various sections of the garden to us. We then changed places and had tea whilst the other group did the tour. Everything was immaculate, even the many hostas had hardly a nibble from the slugs. The number of plants in a relatively small area is amazing. Each section of the garden has a theme and is very effective. The garden opens under the National Garden Scheme and by appointment and is well worth a visit.

Twenty nine of us ventured to the college on an awful day in April. It had rained all night and morning but did finally clear up as we arrived, although there was a cold wind. Our guides were Jenny, for the glass houses, and Louise, for the outdoor grounds. We split into two groups and were shown some fascinating plants in both areas and given tips on growing and taking cuttings of unusual plants as well as common ones and of propagating some cacti. Both guides are involved in training students for a career in horticulture and the gardens are managed to protect and encourage wildlife.

On 13th February 2024 16 of us visited Holehird Gardens at Windermere mainly to see snowdrops of which there were many different varieties. We particularly enjoyed the lovely scent of two Daphne bushes and the winter gardens with the heathers and flowering shrubs. We were about a week too early for the daffodils but nevertheless enjoyed looking round this garden which is the home of the Lakeland Horticultural Society and run entirely by volunteers. No charge but suggested donation of £5 min.