We did not only indulge in looking at old castles, old chapels and old villages. Occasionally, we switched to looking at parks and gardens.
As far as the term "arboretum" implies, this is supposed to be a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants. The Westonbirt National Arboretum in Tetbury is within easy access from Hare & Hounds Hotel which is situated less than a kilometer away. Planting started in the mid-19th century. This arboretum has one of the finest tree collections in the world. At the time of our visit, this has just undergone another major upgrading work.
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Hidcote Manor Garden in the village of Hidcote Bartrim near Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire is one of the best known Arts and Crafts gardens in Britain.
The Hidcote Manor Estate was first purchased by an American lady, Mrs. Gertrude Winthrop in the early 1900's. Her son, Lawrence Johnson soon became interested in turning the fields around the house into a garden. By 1910, he begun to lay out the key features of the garden. By 1920's, he had 12 full-time gardeners working for him. In 1947, he entrusted Hidcote to the National Trust of England.
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Topiary Garden in Levens Hall is situated in the southern edge of the English Lake District. This is reckoned to be the finest, oldest and most extensive topiary garden in the world. Hundred of pieces of plants are clipped, trimmed and sculptured to unusual and individual shape and design.
With plants soaring to height exceeding 30 feet, it takes great skill and heavy machinery to do the trimming and sculpturing!
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