On Wednesday 17th June we visited Woolscott Barn near Rugby, over the county border in Warwickshire. We woke to rain in the morning but by the afternoon the weather was dry and pleasantly warm. We were made very welcome by the garden owner Neil and his wife had left us delicious home-made cakes to have with our refreshments.

In the NGS (National Garden Scheme) brochure the garden is described as a 'plantsman's garden'. It is set in one and a half acres which, 10 years ago, was a field but Neil works there 4 hours a day assisted by Nathan and has completely filled it with plant material. There are herbaceous beds, vegetable beds, rockery and pool and a woodland area. He has some unusual plants such as Euphorbia Abbey Dore and some rather large Aeonium 'black rose' and we walked along little paths through all the greenery surrounded by catmint, geums, roses, salvia and sedum, to name but a few.

It was a very pleasant afternoon and money raised for nursing and dementia charities. We are looking forward to our next visit in July to Foxtail Lilly, Oundle.

Debi Hoare