Wednesday 14th July 2010 10.00am to 4.30pm

Loseley Park
Guildford
Surrey
GU3 1HS

Booking required: £32 per head (cheques payable to The Hong Kong Society) this includes a pre-packed lunch, entry fees, coffees, teas, talks and lectures and also the travel to Loseley from Guildford station (and back). Members can travel by own car or train (we will pick up at Guildford mainline station (3 mins) at 10:15).

Rosemary Alexander, founder and principal of the English Gardening School, will guide members of the Japan and Hong Kong Societies around the gardens and Manor at Loseley Park.

More details of the visit will be sent nearer the time but the programme will allow a walk in the gardens with Rosemary who will describe certain aspects, plants and planning considerations, a tour of the house and a 30 min illustrated talk by her on “Reducing the workload in your garden”.

The Loseley Estate was acquired by direct ancestors of the current owners at the beginning of the 16^th Century and Loseley House was built in the 1560s for Elizabeth I to stay in. The Great Hall is the magnificent principal room; it contains exquisite panelling from Henry VIII’s Nonsuch Palace and his banqueting tents, a minstrel’s gallery, carvings by Grinling Gibbons, and a fine collection of royal and family portraits. The beautifully proportioned and furnished Drawing Room has a gilded ceiling decorated for James I’s visit, a quite magnificent chalk fireplace and some exceptional paintings and pieces of furniture.

The walled garden at Loseley is considered to be one of the loveliest in the South East of England. The 2.5 acre Walled Garden, from the mulberry tree, reputedly planted by Queen Elizabeth 1, through to the recently developed Organic Vegetable Garden will give an insight into the development and management of Rose, Herb, Flower and Vegetable Gardens. There is a Moat Border and Terrace, from which members can view the developing Wild Flower Meadow. We will be shown round by the Head Gardener and advised by Rosemary Alexander.

Provisional Programme for the day

10:00am – 10:30am Assembly at Loseley Park. A map will be sent; there is plenty of parking.

10:15am Those travelling by train will be picked up from  Guildford Station.

10:30am Coffee/Tea in Chestnut Lodge. Brief history of Loseley Park.

11.00am Guided tours of the house.

12:00pm Return to Chestnut Lodge for pre-packed lunch during which
Rosemary Alexander will give a talk “ Reducing the workload in your garden”

1:30pm-2:30pm Guided tour of the Walled Garden with The Head Gardener.

Until 4:00pm Free to wander.

More detailed information on arrangements for the day will be sent to those who tell us they want to come.  To book your place, please contact the Japan Society office on 020 7828 6330 or email events@japansociety.org.uk