This is a special garden visit arranged to make the most of gardens that partner with the RHS. This enables RHS Members to enter the gardens free of charge. EBTS members are free to arrange their own accommodation while Stephen Fenny and Roger Last will guide the garden visits.
There are two student tickets available for entry to Old Manor Farmhouse.
Thursday the 9th July Sandringham Gardens
This visit has been organised especially to see the new Topiary areas in the garden installed by the King but also to explore the rest of the gardens, and to see other areas that he has replanted and redesigned.
Our guide around Sandringham will be Roger Last. Roger is familiar with and highly knowledgeable about both gardens. In relation to Sandringham, he directed a six-part TV series on Royal Gardens for the BBC and made a film for them about Geoffrey Jellicoe who was involved in remodelling part of the garden for George V1.
The afternoon will be spent at Houghton Hall where you will be able to purchase a light lunch in the stable block restaurant.
We will then be visiting the extensive ‘formal gardens’ created within the original walled area, after which we can then take full advantage of the extensive landscape around the house. For several years Lord Cholmondeley has been hosting annual events celebrating known international artists who have exhibited their work in the gardens and interior of the house. He has subsequently purchased several works which have remained in situ, such as James Turrell’s Skyspace (lined by Box as you walk up the spiral to enter it!) This year’s featured artist is Lynn Chadwick.
Stephen and Roger are equally familiar with Houghton having both visited it on many occasions and know the Head Gardeners well.
The following morning we will be visiting the 2025 Henchman award winning garden.
Friday 10th July Old Manor Farmhouse, at Swanton Abbot
(closest town North Walsham)
The owners of this delightful garden are Drs Paul & Sian Everden, hands-on gardeners, who will be showing members around.
RHS Members
As both Houghton Hall & Sandringham are RHS partner gardens, EBTS members who are also RHS members can gain free entry to the gardens at Sandringham and the Walled Garden area at Houghton, however, if you wish to see the house and landscape you will need to purchase tickets at the kiosk as you arrive at the carpark.
The idea for the rest of the trip is to allow members to pay for their own entries where applicable, further details and timings etc will be provided closer to the visit.