On a showery day in August a coachload of members travelled first to Barnstaple for lunch and a quick look round then on to Marwood Hill Gardens Despite travelling through several heavy showers our time in the garden was blessed with dry weather and crowned by a cream tea served in what used to be the owner's front room.

At Marwood Hill there are over eighteen acres of landscaped gardens with a large collection of trees, shrubs, herbaceous and alpine plants. The gardens were started in the 1950s Dr Jimmy Smart. At that time they consisted of a neglected walled garden and its immediate surround. Over the years many new areas have been planted and new features added such as the Folly and the Scented Arbour. Today, with many genera planted in close association (Eucalyptus, Betula, Sorbus, Malus etc.) and most plants clearly labelled, there is much of the botanic garden about Marwood Hill.

They hold three National Collections: Tulbaghia, Japanese Iris and Astilbe. We visited the garden just as the Astilbes were going over but still a magnificent sight. It is one of the biggest collection of astilbes and occupies a large area by the middle lake as well as being planted by the streams. The moist soil provides ideal growing conditions for the 140 different kinds in the collection.

The magnificent Pannier Market in Barnstaple.	Getting off the coach in sunshine.
At Marwood Gardens we were met by ...	... the head gardener who told us ...
... a little about the gardens ...	... and warned us that ...
... it was addictive.	Members listened with interest ...
... before heading out to ...	... see for themselves ...
... that it certainly is a ...	... beautiful and fascinating place ...
... which deserved longer than the two hours ...	... we had in which to enjoy it.