Woolley Park Visit, 12th June 2010

By kind invitation of Mrs Kirsten Loyd, some 45 members and friends spent a sunny afternoon in the walled garden of our President, Lady Wroughton, in the far west of the Royal County of Berkshire.

Many took advantage of the weather to picnic in the grounds before the visit, which started with an introduction by Lady Wroughton who told us about the evolution of the garden over the last 30 years and introduced us to her gardener, Clive Tooth. Prior to the Second World War, the extensive walled garden provided fruit, vegetables and flowers for Woolley Park and then fell into decline. The Wroughtons commissioned a young Australian, Geoffrey Bowman, with a passion for roses and a talent for garden design to redesign the walled garden. Geoffrey was assisted by the then gardener, Keith Witt, in the laying out of the garden with a sensitive use of colour, form and fragrance. Lady Wroughton later commissioned a wrought iron gate, which incorporates kangaroos and roses, in memory of Geoffrey, who died in 1988 at only 37.

Both Sir Philip and Lady Wroughton were on hand to answer questions as the afternoon progressed, followed by an excellent tea served to members by Lady Wroughton’s team of helpers. Berkshire Gardens Trust Chairman, Christina Hill Williams, then presented Lady Wroughton with a certificate for honorary life membership of the Trust.