Due to the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and in line with Government regulations, all Surrey Hills Society outside events have been cancelled.  We hope that all events will be reorganised at later dates as soon as it is safe to do so.  If you are already booked on an event you will receive a separate email explaining the cancellation arrangements.

Gordon Jackson, Chairman

On arrival we were greeted with a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits, always most welcome.

We then had a talk from Vikki Leedham who is the co-curator at the gallery together with Anthony Paul who is married to Hannah Peschar.   

Vikki was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and gave us a potted history of the garden informing us of how Anthony landscaped the grounds but Hannah felt something was missing.  Although not an artist, Hannah has a very good eye for sculpture and on a visit to a friend’s gallery saw some sculptures being exhibited outside and this was the inspiration for the garden to become a gallery.

After the talk we were given a free reign to walk around the garden/gallery which takes around an hour and a half to fully appreciate the grounds and all the exhibits displayed.  Below are a few photographs of the some of the 200 or so sculptures very cleverly positioned around the garden.

It was a lovely visit (except for a hail storm and torrential rain which lasted at least half an hour) but we would definitely go back for another visit perhaps as early as next year.

Sall Baring

It is always good to revisit favourite haunts and so it was a pleasure to go to Gatton again.  Gatton has always had a close association with the Society since its early days.  On this visit, the weather was very wet and windy but the landscape was still there for all to see in the glorious colours of autumn. 

The Capability Brown landscape was magnificent with the trees in bold yellows through to reds.  It is hard to believe that this is a largely man-made landscape.

The Japanese Garden was a highlight with a magnificent Bloodgood acer which was so red that it matched the newly replaced bridge. 

Many thanks to Gatton’s guides for giving up their time to show us round the property – and their enthusiasm for the Trust was obvious.

For the first time visitor, Gatton is a revelation.  Some members are already planning to return at a different time of year and in better weather to see it in its full glory.

Stella and Martin Cantor

Members of the Society enjoyed a beautiful morning at Ramster Gardens on Wednesday 14^th October, which started with some welcoming tea and cake.

These gardens in Chiddingfold extend over 25 acres of woodland, glades, a lake and a formal “tennis court” garden and, at this time of year, are a blaze of autumn colours. In particular the wide variety of Acers, planted throughout the gardens, display a rich palette of colours with deep reds and orange framing the pathways.

Huge Gunneras enjoy the moist soils adjacent to watercourses whilst there are plenty of tranquil spots to stop and admire the beauty of the surroundings.

We hope to return in spring when the bluebells, daffodils, rhododendrons and magnolias will be at their magnificent, colourful,  best.

A wonderful gem hidden away in the far south west corner of our county.

Martin and Stella Cantor

Photos courtesy of Gordon, Chris, Sall and Stella

Today’s walk was led by Ken Bare, Chris Howard and Keith Chesterton.

We were warmly greeted by Emily Caröe on our visit to Vann House Garden and by her brother Oliver, an architect and the grandson of the eminent Arts and Crafts architect W.D. Caröe.  Oliver gave us a very informative introductory talk about the history of the house and its occupants including some of its illustrious visitors.

The house which is Tudor in origin (c. 1540) has undergone many alterations and additions since when it was formerly a yeoman’s house built on heavy Wealden clay but later made into a comfortable house for country house parties.

W.D.  Caröe originally leased Vann House in 1906, before eventually purchasing it in 1930. He and his wife, the actress Grace Rendall, proceeded to lay out the garden in 1907-1908 and in 1911 their friend Gertrude Jekyll came from her home in Munstead to design the water garden. In 1948 the property passed to the next generation of Caröes in whose ownership it has been for 5 generations.

After coffee and delicious home-made cookies we were then left to explore the wonderful 5 acre garden at our leisure. Features included the yew walk, a Bargate stone pergola, superb vegetable garden, woodland glades of cyclamen and much else. The family have always had little help in the garden with now only two part-time gardeners.

Our visit here was a most enjoyable event at a unique venue (ours was the only group visit this year), not only because of its garden but also because of the architectural interest in the house itself.

Mark and Virginia Turner

Friday produced yet another perfect day for our Walkfest walk in the Pirbright area. This walk started at the Royal Oak and cut across Cobettshill Common before joining a short section of the Fox Way through the Leapingbar Copse towards Henley Park House. The Fox Way is a 39-mile circular walk through the beautiful and varied countryside around Guildford devised by RichardFox – it can be completed in 7 easy stages and more detail can be found here

This was a delightful woodland walk taking in some beautifully maintained ancient deciduous woodland, where we admired an old oak that is thought to be nearly four hundred years old. 

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We then crossed to the statuesque pine forest, managed by the Forestry Commission, that borders Henley Park Lake.  The glittering sunshine showed off the lake to its best advantage and our walkers were fascinated to hear about the history of Henley Park that dates back to 727 AD and Baron Lord Pirbright, a conservative MP in the late 19^th century, who was a great benefactor to the local village and leased Henley Park House as a country retreat. 

Gordon Jackson