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Members' Events 2009
Goodwood House Connoisseur Day, near Chichester, West Sussex .
Wednesday 13th May 2009 at 2pm
Cost £22 to include a cream tea
Goodwood House is a magnificent regency mansion set in beautiful wooded parkland at the foot of the South Downs . Home to the Dukes of Richmond for over 300 years, the house contains a fabulous art collection – one of the finest and most representative of English art collections. Since the recent restoration the walls are fully hung with both British and European paintings and the rooms furnished with French and English furniture of the finest quality.
On a Connoisseurs' Day, Goodwood House is not open to the general public. Our group will be given a 1.5 hour tour of the richly coloured State Apartments by an experienced and knowledgeable Guide. The Curator will also be on hand to give detailed information in certain rooms and to answer specialist questions. In addition, an arrangement has been made to visit the rarely opened and fascinating 18th Century Shell House where a 30min tour will take place.
The visit will end with afternoon tea at which our guide will be available to answer any questions.
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Town Place, near Sheffield Park, West Sussex
Tuesday 23 rd June 2009 at 2pm
Cost £10
Town Place is a private garden which is open for charity as part of the National Garden Scheme. Open only in June and July, the owners will give us a tour of their gardens which at this time of the year will be boasting beautiful rose beds and herbaceous borders. There are two rose gardens – the English Rose garden with 400 mainly David Austen roses and the Sunken Rose Garden with its pergola. The long border is 45 metres in length with a purple colour scheme whilst the short border has a blue and yellow theme. In addition there is a Hornbeam Walk, a potage with fruit and vegetables, an herb garden and a fishpond.
Although the owners do not provide refreshments it will be possible, if you wish, to visit the attractive café at Trading Boundaries (near Sheffield Park ) which is nearby.
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Sarah Raven's Garden at Perch Hill Farm, near Brightling, East Sussex .
Wednesday 8th July 2009 at 2pm
Cost £16 to include tea and cake
Sarah Raven and her husband Adam Nicholson moved to Perch Hill Farm fifteen years ago during which time they have transformed a rather ramshackle dairy farm into a thriving organic farm. In addition, Sarah has created a very intensive, productive 2 acre working garden with different garden rooms full of annuals and biennials. There is a large dedicated cut flower garden, plus two areas for vegetables and salad, and separate gardens for herbs and fruit. There are also two purely ornamental gardens at Perch Hill – the Oast garden with an extravagant mix of colour and structure and the front farmhouse garden designed to create a feeling of calm.
Our visit will include an introduction and guided walk around the garden with Beata Burke, Head Gardener, lasting approximately one hour. Tea/Coffee and cake will be provided.
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Carr Taylor Vineyards. Near Hastings , East Sussex
A family estate producing fine wines since 1971.
Friday 7th August 2009 at 2pmm
Cost £14 to include afternoon tea
Located in the beautiful 1066 countryside of East Sussex, Carr Taylor Vineyards is well known for their high quality still wines and the makers of England 's first commercial “Methode Champenoise.”
Your visit begins with a tour – approx 1hrs 30mins - around the vineyards with an experienced guide who will give you a brief history of English wine, an insight into some of the problems encountered in growing vines and a discussion on the basic differences between our vineyards and those in Europe . Whilst inside the Winery you will be able to see the vats and presses used and learn about some of the wine-making techniques used. In the bottling room you will learn about the specialist production of “Methode Champenoise,” which has won many international awards, including two gold medals in France . Finally, you will be given a tutored tasting of some of their wines and there will be the opportunity to ask any questions.
There is a licensed shop where visitors can buy wine to take home. Afternoon tea will be served.
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