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WEST SUSSEX GARDEN HOLIDAY TOUR Garden enthusiasts, both novice and experienced, will gain inspiration from our midweek gardening breaks.  These 3day/4 night holidays combines garden and nursery visits with lectures and demonstrations from gardening experts.  Different themes are selected for each holiday to ensure that guests experience maximum value from learning while relaxing and enjoying a few days amongst fellow enthusiasts.  This is, after all, a holiday as much as an opportunity to learn. Visits will be made to local private and heritage gardens to illustrate the lectures and demonstrations.  Whilst not promising to solve all your problems, guests will have opportunities to air their own gardening queries. The lead lecturer will be John Marder.  He has over 25 years' experience as a practitioner and lecturer in horticulture.  He is a Corporate Member of the Institute of Horticulture and a Committee Member and Examiner for the Royal Horticulture Society.  Following six years of training in horticultural craft and technology he attended Reading University where he gained a Masters of Science degree in Horticulture. John has a number of articles published and trade journals and has been interviewed on television as an expert on garden planting.  In 2003 he left his post as Head of Horticulture and Agriculture at Chichester College in order to pursue his own work as a freelance lecturer and gardener. He continues to lecture regularly to adult groups at the college while, at the same time, engaging in design and planting projects in domestic and public gardens, including the lovely cottage gardens at Copyhold Hollows. April So many different plants can be grown in the Sussex climate and in April, they're all up to something.  Bulbs and woodland perennials are in full flourish beneath the awakening tree canopy of the great woodland gardens. Camellias and magnolias will accompany them on the acid soils at Wisley, Leonardsley and Wakehurst. On the chalk hills at Highdown, daffodils and hellebores take centre stage amongst the clematis and various lime loving trees and shrubs. With the emphasis on contemporary design, we’ll also visit the gardens of the great John Brooks, at Denmans where elegant shapes and textures of plants and materials are used to maximum effect. May The rhododenrons are at their peak now beneath stately trees of the great estates. All the gardens we visit are on acid soils so boast fine collections of these dramatic trees and shrubs. But that’s not all; the great borders at Nymans and Wisley will be entering their first flush of colour with paeonies and euphorbias amongst the early perennials. July The sunny mixed borders and walled gardens of Wakehurst Parham, Nymans and Wisley are alive with plants, bees and butterflies. Lavender, roses, honeysuckle and hollyhocks hold their own amongst the fashionable new plants of our day. It's the peak of the English gardening season and where better to experience it but in the wonderful estates of Sussex. The long border and other delights of the late Christopher Lloyd’s Great Dixter, as well the demonstration gardens at the wonderful Marchant’s nursery, are special features of the five day holiday. The garden compartments of Sissinghurst, bursting with roses and perennials will be a real highlight of the 3 day holiday. October The trees that earlier played second fiddle to camellias rhodos and magnolias in the great wooded gardens, now come to the fore with their glorious autumn leaves and berries. Further enhanced by the lakes at Sheffield Park, and the great drifts of late perennials and grasses at wisely, it is an unforgettable finale to the gardening season    4 nights/ 3 days Arrive Sunday, 13 April 2008 Depart Thursday, 17 April  2008 Day 1: visit Leonardslee & Wakehurst Place Day 2: visit Wisley Day 3: visit Highdown & Denmans 4 nights/ 3 days  Arrive Sunday, 25 May 2008 Depart Thursday, 29 May 2008 Day 1:  visit Wakehurst Place and Borde Hill Day 2 : visit Wisley Day 3:  visit Sheffield Park and Nymans  4 nights/ 3 days July 2008 (dates to be advised) Day 1: visit  Sissinghurst and Batemans Day 2: visit Wakehurst Place and Copyhold Hollow Day 3: visit Parham and Fittleworth 6 nights/ 5 days July 2008 (Dates to be advised)  Day 1:  visit Great Dixter and Marchants Day 2:  visit Nymans and Copyhold Hollow Day 3:  visit Wisley Day 4:  visit Borde Hill and Wakehurst Place Day 5:  visit 2 privately owned gardens Arrive Sunday, 26 October 2008 Depart Thursday, 30 October 2008 Day 1: visit Sheffield Park and Wakehurst Place Day 2: visit Wisley Day 3: visit Leonardslee and Copyhold Hollow.   Want to spend more time in Sussex to explore more of the eastern area of England?  Extra nights can be added on request along with a private driver guide. Why are our garden holidays better than anyone else's?  There is a  maximum of 7 people in the group, a highly qualified and exceptionally knowledgeable guide who is very enthusiastic about his subject.  Chance to ask questions about the plants in the gardens being visited and to raise any horticultural queries about their own gardens or general horticultural practice.  TARIFF The tariff includes three course home cooked dinner followed by coffee served by the fire in the inglenook, bed and breakfast, lectures/demonstrations, and transfers to and from gardens and nurseries. Copyhold Hollow does not have a liquor license but guests are welcome to bring their own wine, etc. The tariff does not cover entrance fees, lunch and refreshments away from Copyhold Hollow. 4 nights/ 3 days Holiday:  Guests arrive Sunday, 27 July and depart Thursday, 31 July 2008 Per person, sharing a double or twin ensuite room: £561 based on 4 guests £543 based on 5 guests £532 based on 6 guests £523 based on 7 guests  Single person ensuite room: £605 based on 4 guests £588 based on 5 guests £577 based on 6 guests £567 based on 7 guest 6night/5 day holiday Guests will get Dinner, Bed and Breakfast 6 times Guests arrive on Sunday, 13 July and depart on Saturday, 19 July 2008 Sharing twin/double, per person ensuite room £891 based on 4 guests £860 based on 5 guests £839 based on 6 guests £825 based on 7 guest For a single person: £957 if 4 guests £926 if 5 £905 if 6 £891 if 7 Note:  If on chance the  itinerary has to be changed for any reason-- the gardens change the days they are open, there is something special to see in a garden, the guests decide they want to substitute one garden for another, or even a guest is not being fit enough to tramp round a hilly garden -  changes can be done!