Trip to Chelsea
/On Thursday 26th May 2106 two coaches with 23 members of the BRHS plus groups from Caldy Valley Church, Ellesmere Port Flower Club and NARPO set off for a four-day trip, which included the Chelsea Flower Show.
The itinerary was well planned and luckily the weather was great, which helped.
Hampton Court
Hampton Court was stunning, if a little formal. There was nothing out of place and everything was clipped to within an inch of it's life. Well worth a visit. The fact we were only visiting the gardens worked well; we have visited the house previously, and know that this is a trip in it's own right.
Chelsea
Chelsea was an eye opener. I didn't realise you could get so many displays and so many people in such a small space! The displays and plants, again, were stunning... but a lot smaller than they appeared on TV. The six hours we spent there flew by, but it was a memorable visit.
Wisley
Wisley was our favourite. After the hustle and bustle of Chelsea, it was relaxing to see groups of people and plants with spaces between them. The lush expanses of vegetation hid surprises round every corner, with a sight or scent of something different, and the constant backdrop of birdsong added to the overall picture. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The selection of plants in the shop was excellent... good job we had plenty of room on the coach!
Windsor
As we only had a short time before returning to the coach we settled on a trip on the 'hop-on, hop-off' bus, which took us round the old and new parts of town and supplied a commentary of some of the history; well worth the money. Again, the weather was great.
Kew
Kew was an experience and visits to the various houses were both fascinating and eye opening. We did not manage to explore too much of the extensive grounds as we had been recommended to visit the nearby 'Maid of Honour' Tea Rooms where we enjoyed High Tea for two.
