Little Waltham Gardening Club
Dear Members (and other gardeners)
Little Waltham Gardening Club is looking forward to welcoming everyone who has an interest in growing plants to its new programme of events for 2026
Best wishes Margaret Williams (Hon. Sec and Chair)**
Report of Visit to Beth Chatto’s Garden on June 3rd 2026
On Wednesday 3rd June eleven intrepid explorers looked around the beautiful garden that once belonged to Beth Chatto. I say intrepid because we all braved the rain and the wind, but the weather didn’t dampen our spirits! The garden is in five sections – the famous dry gravel garden, a water garden, scree, reservoir and woodland garden.
They are planning a sixth section, and at the moment they have 6 adorable Berkshire pigs (who we met!) clearing an area so that new woodland can be planted to block off a planned housing estate, some new stock beds for propagation and a wildflower area. The plan is to make the new area simpler gardening not high maintenance.
All of the sections were beautifully planted and everywhere there was an abundance of different species of flowers, trees and shrubs, offering a variety of colours and scents.
After the garden was explored we enjoyed a look around their plant nursery and a few purchases were made! The final stop was the tearoom to enjoy a sit down, a natter, and tea and cake.
Below are reports on our visit to Cooksmill Green Garden on 18th May from 2 of our members
LITTLE WALTHAM GARDENING CLUB VISIT TO COOKSMILL GREEN
From the moment we entered this beautiful garden we were enthralled by the unique layout, the planting, and the undulating form of the land. Around every corner there was a different vista, a different feature, all enhanced by the thoughtful planting and maturity of many of the trees and shrubs.
The chicken run featured a little ‘chapel’ as the henhouse and the decorative fence posts around it were from an old church organ. A little greenhouse turned out to contain a beautiful alpine garden. Round the corner and down some steps was a secluded pergola with wisteria climbing over it under which was pretty seating and another bubbling water feature. There was an area of sunken lawn, which is apparently often flooded as it was historically a large wild pond and as the land rises again there is a beautiful water feature with Koi carp and a little trickling waterfall – and all this is part of the ‘front garden.
When you enter the rear garden there are secluded little areas with seating and beautiful planting, although how they find time to sit anywhere is amazing. Approached by an area with tree ferns and a rare Australian pine tree there is a beautiful little Japanese garden with Acers, rocks, ferns and hostas and a Japanese style structure.
Everywhere is absolutely immaculate with not a weed in sight. Lydia and Tony obviously dedicate a great deal of time to their garden and they have achieved absolute perfection. They don’t open the garden to the public now as they did for many years to raise funds for the little Chapel in the community. Lydia did say it relieves them of a lot of pressure.
Our thanks to them both for making us all feel so very welcome and the weather was kind to us too.
When all then drove to The Bakery, attached to the Fox & Goose on the A414 where we were all seated together to catchup and enjoy our refreshments. Some of us just had to visit Greenbrook Nursery, right opposite.
Thank you again to Caroline for arranging this visit and to Lydia and Tony for sharing their stunning garden with our gardening club.
Visit to Cooksmill Green Garden 18th May
Today 14 members of our gardening club visited Lydia and Tony’s garden in Cooksmill Green.
It is a beautiful garden with lots of hideaway secret places, one of which is a Japanese garden with 2 beautiful acer trees.
The garden had it all – fruit trees, vegetable plot, chickens!! Water features, a pond, gazebo – all planted up with such a variety of plants – peonies, allium, roses, geraniums to name just a few. Not a weed in sight!
A variety of trees had been planted in the garden but Tony’s favourite was his Yew tree which had been trimmed to an oval shape and dominated one of the spaces. Tony and Lydia are great fans of the Chelsea flower show and had bought many plants from there over the years. One of their favourites was a white Rhododendron which had a really strong perfume which you could enjoy sitting on the bench next to it.
We said our goodbyes and headed to The Bakehouse for tea and cake. A nice end to a lovely afternoon.
New members and visitors very welcome.
LITTLE WALTHAM GARDENING CLUB
For more information, please contact M Williams 01245 360042 or see website
littlewalthamgardeningclub.co.uk
or on Facebook
Maggie Williams (Chairperson and acting secretary)
A full programme of events is listed under 2026 Programme
**General Club Information**
The Club was formed in 1983 with the object of providing members with the opportunity to meet and discuss items of gardening interest. (Club History)
Members enjoy free entry to all our evening meetings. In April we hold our Spring Show and garden visits are arranged for the summer months.
Members also enjoy the opportunity to purchase seeds and horticultural sundries from a well known seed catalogue up to 50% discount.
We are a friendly bunch of amateurs who are always learning about gardening in all its forms. Whether you have a window box or a vast area of land, please come and join us and share our passion.
Meetings held on 1st Wednesday of the Month at 7.30pm (Doors open 7pm)
Venue – Little Waltham Memorial Hall CM3 3LN (Opposite LW Doctors’ Surgery) Car Park at rear of Hall (Little Waltham Memorial Hall)
Contact Margaret Williams 01245 360042 or email info@littlewalthamgardeningclub.co.uk
Annual subscriptions from March 2025 £10.00
Visitors £3 per visit