It was a privilege to greet the Friends of Croome as they gathered outside the recently restored ‘secret’ garden gate. The weather was particularly kind, favouring us with a warm and sunny day. After taking in the view of the Malvern Hills, from our unique vantage point, we conducted a detailed inspection of the 100m long ‘Hot Wall’ with its five underground furnaces. An informal stroll along the borders provided ample opportunities for questions ‘and occasional answers’ about the history of the gardens.
The recently restored Melon and Fig Houses attracted considerable interest amongst the group. Heritage melons in raised beds and intricate winding mechanisms, designed to open and close groups of sash windows, gave more than just a glimpse of 19th Century life at Croome. The heat inside the glass houses was quite intense and we were soon ready for shade and refreshments.
After a welcomed pause and some very kind words from Mr. Eric Jones, we concluded the tour with a walk through the recently trimmed yew tree woodland beyond the south facing wall. Like before, it was a great pleasure for us to share our appreciation for Croome with some like minded friends. We do hope you enjoyed the visit and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.
