Gertrude Jekyll Gardens in Hampshire

Saturday 15 June 2002

The first Lutyens Trust ‘gardens focused’ visit programme created and led by Jane Balfour, was indeed both a great pleasure and very informative, even the weather was perfect for the occasion.

Following an introduction by Jane to the delights ahead, the coach arrived at the Manor House at Upton Grey, where a warm welcome awaited us from our hostess Mrs Ros Wallinger. Her enthusiasm and knowledge of gardening and die work of Gertrude Jekyll was infectious. We enjoyed a guided tour of the garden, a display showing the history of the garden, also morning coffee and cakes, before moving on to our second venue.

Tylney Hall is a grand house, now a hotel, set in formal gardens designed by Robert Weir Schultz, and Gertrude Jekyll who was responsible for the imaginative water and wild garden. Jane led a tour of the garden after lunch at the Hall.

Our final visit was to Amport House to see the results of Gertrude Jekyll at work with Sir Edwin Lutyens. It was a privilege to visit Amport House as it is owned and well kept by the M.o.D, but also to see how “Lutyens’s formality of design and Jekyll’s informality of planting” came together. Jane led us on a tour of the garden after tea in the House.

The Tour notes which included copies of garden plans, provided an excellent reference point for all the gardens that everyone found so inspirational during the day.

BJS