The Shropshire Rose

26 June 2023

4 days from £2,795pp

Join us for a celebration of the rose, doyenne of the English Garden, as we tour the beautiful county of Shropshire, home of our expert rosarian Michael Marriott.

Accompanied by an expert rosarian throughout
Exclusive visit to Michael Marriott's own garden
Visit the award-winning rose garden at Coughton Court
Lunch at romantic Preen Manor with beautiful views towards Wenlock Edge

Shropshire is a wonderful pastoral county, edged by the distant blue hills of Wales and home to some fine rose collections. Accompanied by rosarian Michael Marriott, indulge your senses as you stroll from rose to rose, discussing cultivation, design, perfume, colour and indeed even the name of the rose in the company of a great enthusiast and expert.

Please note:

This tour commences at 11:00 if you wish to park at Brockencote Hall, or at 11:50 at Wolverhampton Railway Station for those planning to travel by train.

Day 1: Wollerton Old Hall Gardens & Hodnet Hall
After meeting, we travel together by coach to Wollerton Old Hall Gardens, a delightful 20th-century garden around a 16th-century manor house. The garden boasts wonderful borders and a nursery where plants can be purchased, and is often described as one of England's best gardens. Following a light lunch at Wollerton, we visit the nearby gardens of Hodnet Hall, home of the Heber-Percy family, which feature a large border of hybrid musks as well as an extensive collection of roses used for cutting

We then drive on to Brockencote Hall Hotel to settle in before an evening meal together.
Day 2: Preen Manor, Gardeners’ Cottage & Stokesay Flowers
In the heart of Shropshire, we find Preen Manor. Set in the ruins of a Cluniac priory, this beautiful garden is divided into numerous areas each with their own distinct character. Much of it is enclosed in a classic Arts and Crafts walled garden with superb views over towards Wenlock Edge. There follows an invitation to lunch.

Near Ludlow we discover Gardeners’ Cottage, home of Michael Marriott and his partner Rosie Irving, where a wide range of roses are grown alongside many other plants. Tea and cakes will be served.

Next, we visit Stokesay Flowers. Set in a walled garden belonging to a large Arts and Crafts house, it contains a wide range of plants including many roses sent off daily to some of the country's top florists.

We return to Brockencote Hall Hotel for dinner.
Day 3: Coughton Court & Morton Hall Gardens
We start the day with a special visit to Coughton Court, home of the Throckmorton family. The walled garden was presented with the Award of Garden Excellence by the World Federation of Rose Societies and boasts over 75 different varieties of rose, beautifully grown in mixed borders. Here we are invited to lunch with an organic rosé wine tasting.

In the afternoon we visit nearby Morton Hall Garden, a wonderful and newly restored garden surrounding a Georgian house. The garden is divided into different areas, most having a generous helping of beautifully grown roses. We then return to Brockencote Hall Hotel to dine together.
Day 4: Cruckfield House & Hatton Grange
The romantic garden of Cruckfield House, our first stop today, has a rose and peony walk as well as a great variety of unusual herbaceous plants. Following coffee, we travel to Hatton Grange for lunch together before visiting the gardens, which were built for Plowden Slaney in 1764 by Thomas Pritchard, architect of Ironbridge. The bridge, incidentally, was built by Abraham Darby, who David Austin named a rose after. Hatton Grange remains within the same family today. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens including a rose walk, given to the present owners as a wedding gift by David Austin.

Return to Wolverhampton Railway Station for 15:30 and to Brockencote Hall for 16:30 for those who have left cars.

Please note

David Austin’s Rose Nursery is currently not open for groups due to redevelopment. If you are keen to visit as part of your trip to Shropshire, you can arrange your visit before or after the tour by visiting their website: www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/pages/garden-booking

TRAVEL

Private coach transfers and excursions

ACCOMMODATION & FOOD

3 nights’ dinner, bed, and breakfast in the 4-star Brockencote Hall Hotel
3 dinners and 4 lunches

SERVICES

Services of your Tour Host and Tour Manager
Detailed programme and garden notes
All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities for coach drivers and waiters

VISITS

Wollerton Old Hall Gardens
Hodnet Hall
Preen Manor
Gardeners’ Cottage
Stokesay Flowers
Coughton Court
Morton Hall Gardens
Cruckfield House
Hatton Grange

Michael Marriott

Michael Marriott has recently retired having worked at David Austin Roses as a senior rosarian, and remains as one of the world’s most-respected rose experts. He is also well-known for his rose garden design and his common sense approach to gardening. In his work he travels the globe, often sharing his expertise in lectures and workshops.

Sophie Piebenga

Trained with the National Trust and qualified at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Whilst working as head gardener of a private estate, she developed a particular interest in the conservation of historic gardens. This eventually led to a doctoral study at the University of York, researching the work of the early Victorian landscape gardener, William Sawrey Gilpin. She has since worked freelance, mostly in the field of historic landscape conservation. Born in The Netherlands, now based in the Cotswolds, Sophie has lived most of her life in the UK. For the last 25 years, Sophie has regularly led tours for Boxwood to Ireland, France, Spain, The Netherlands and within the UK.

Meet us at our hotel in the UK

Picture of - Meet us at our hotel in the UK

Travel to our hotel is not included in this package. If you require any further information to assist with your travel plans, please contact our friendly reservations team who will be happy to help.

Parking is available for those wishing to drive.

Meet us at Wolverhampton Railway Station

Picture of - Meet us at Wolverhampton Railway Station

Make your own travel arrangements at your convenience to join this tour.

This tour starts at Wolverhampton Railway Station where we will be collected by coach at 11:50 and taken to your first visit.

Overview

Brockencote Hall Hotel is a beautiful Victorian country manor house hotel set in 70 acres of stunning Worcestershire parkland, complete with a scenic lake, tennis court, restored dovecote, and a 3 AA Rosette restaurant.