Friends of St Lawrence Church Bradfield . Our very popular Gardens Open day will be taking place on Sunday 29th June 11am-5pm. Programmes, £5 per adult (accompanied under 16 free ) may be purchased from the Village shop from mid-June and from St Lawrence Church on the day. All profits from this event will go towards maintaining our ancient church building. There are 17 venues opening, several with wonderful views of the River Stour. Details can be viewed below. Light refreshments will be available in various gardens and there will be plant and cake stalls. The Knit and Knatter group, which meets at the church, will also be running a stall.
Parking is available at the Village Hall carpark and Garden no 4. (See map) Bradfield has narrow roads, and we would ask that people parking on the roads do so with care and consideration for others.
1)St Lawrence Church, The Street – God’s Own Acre.
The proceeds from Gardens Open Day are going towards the repair and maintenance of the church, which will be open for you to visit. Special flower arrangements . Programmes from 10.45. Toilet
2) Ballister House, via Ship Lane - Mrs Bullimore
A sculptural approach to gardening has created curved rolling banks, a natural approach to planting and the installation of ponds to encourage wildlife. Extensive views of the river. It is anticipated that the garden railway will be working on the day. Please check www.foslbradfield.org events tab or Bradfield Buzz Facebook Page on the day for times.
Access: Single track lane. Gravelled drive to garden.
Light refreshments available - Toilet
3) Nether Hall, via Ship Lane – Mr and Mrs Mathias
A riverside garden. Roses and fragrant plants. Wonderful river views.
Access: Single track lane. Different levels and stairs.
Refreshments available. Toilet
4) Emsworth House, Station Road - Ms Linton
Overlooking the River Stour estuary, Emsworth House garden features mature plantings and well-maintained lawns.
Access. Uneven patio - care needed, sloping garden.
Parking at your own risk is available on wide grass verge.
5) Shoregate House, Station Road – Mr and Mrs Webb
The garden faces the estuary and is mainly filled with shrubs that will withstand the winter and easterly winds. The garden is sloping with two ponds and a stream. Toilet in summerhouse
6) 2 Squires Cottage, The Street – Mrs Cotter
A wonderful use of pots, full of interesting plants, make this front garden an inspiring example of what you can do in a small space.
7) Bradfield Glebe Allotment Association, Mill Lane -Mr Osborne
An allotment community of keen gardeners embracing all ages and abilities. Nestled in Mill Lane, the land comprises about two and a half acres has been used as allotments for over 100 years.
Access: No parking available. Visitors are requested to use the grass paths which are uneven. Wheelchairs might find paths difficult, depending on ground conditions.
8) Appleford, The Street – Mr and Mrs Birchley
Shrub and Herbaceous flower bed, Rose Garden, Scree Dry Garden, Herbs and small vegetable area, Greenhouse. Access: Good. No walking on the scree garden please!
9) Rossmoyne, The Street - Mr and Mrs Ablett
Enjoy the beautiful vistas of Bradfield from this garden.
No Dogs - ice cream available.
10) Teasels ,The Street - Mr Clark
A garden developed over 28 years with paving, small pond, mixed borders, fruit and vegetables. A gate leads to a half-acre meadow with trees, pond and ditches to encourage wildlife and flowers. (Accompanied children only in this area please.) Access: Not wheelchair friendly
11) Plas y Coed, Heath Road - Mr and Mrs Barrow
Gardens are never finished, and we continue to try to improve those areas that just seem to want to do their own thing! The latest efforts are with the raised bed beyond the pond. The large tree has been carefully thinned to let in more light, and we are trying a new planting of mainly ferns, hostas and Japanese Anemones, around some of the existing plants. Time will tell!
Refreshments, Toilet, Knit and Knatter stall.
12 ) Finials, Front Garden only, Heath Road. - Mrs Bowen
A very colourful mixed front border and an area of small shrubs. Best of all--- this is where you will find the cake stall full of delicious things to buy.
Cake Stall
13) Rowan Cottage, Steam Mill Road - Mrs Coe
Small garden, planted with shrubs, perennials and annuals. No lawn, just plants! Views over the fields.Plant Stall
14) 3 Fieldley Close (Private Road) - Mr and Mrs Smith
On the first occasion in 2023 that we opened our garden its development was in its 8th month from a metaphorical blank canvas. Another 2 years on we have a more established garden with stronger hedges of hornbeam, hawthorn, Portuguese Laurel & Photinia. Our shrubs, bulbs, corms, small plants and trees are more established in terms of size and therefore maturity. We have now added a small orchard for fruit, an arbour & small footbridge. The squirrels and local garden birds appear extremely happy to stay, feed and play.
Access: Blue badge holders’ cars only please. The stone drive is not wheelchair friendly.
15) Plum Cottage, Straight Road - Mr and Mrs Cooper
A 10-year-old garden that started as bramble, bracken and builders’ rubble is now densely planted with shrubs, perennials and annuals, mostly by the owners. Some plants have reproduced themselves with no assistance at all from the resident gardener. Others have arrived as if by magic, or the birds or wind. No Dogs. Good access.
16) Duetae, Straight Road - Mr and Mrs Simpson
Long garden divided into areas with lawns and borders, a gravel seating area, vegetable plot and hay meadow. All done with the intention of making it as wildlife friendly as possible. Access: Uneven areas of lawn
17) Berllan, King Street (Windmill Road) - Derek and Lorraine
Mixed garden with Japanese themed pond area . Access: Large gravel drive
