On a bright sunny day, with the Galanthus atkinsii lining the driveway in full bloom, 105 people came on Monday, January 30, for an event for the Friends of the Great Dixter House and Garden Charitable Trust in Northiam. Warmed by local apple juice heated with spices, and delicate and delicious biscuits, the friends team and some willing volunteers welcomed everyone to the house. The fires were lit in the Great Hall and the Yeomans Hall, to welcome everyone in.
In the house itself, the archivist had photo albums laid out, papers of interest, including the Lutyens house plans, and he was there to talk about them all. These items are not usually available in this way, except at special events like these.
The main focus was the construction of a wooden ladder by Fergus Garrett, head gardener and CEO of Great Dixter’s charitable trust and members of the gardening team. You can see some photographs in the gallery below.
The ladder was raffled at the end and all proceeds will go to the charitable trust to fund the garden and the educational programmes run here.
The garden itself is waking up again and will reopen on Tuesday, March 28 with the nursery open all year round. See for yourself all the events happening at Great Dixter on the website.
If you would like to support the friends and come to some special events organised just for the members, contact Linda Jones on 01797 254048, or look on the ‘Support Us’ section on the website.
Image Credits: Gillian Roder , Great Dixter Charitable Trust .