Norfolk NGS Host International Garden Tour
A group of twelve garden enthusiasts from Vienna visited the
private garden of Jan and James Saunt at Plovers Hill on the 22nd
August 2008. This was part of a Norfolk gardens visit
organised by tour operator Petra Gmainer. This is the second
visit Petra has arranged to Norfolk. Petra read an article
about Plovers Hill and the NGS in The English Garden
publication. The tour included a mixture of private and public
NGS gardens and nurseries. They included Blickling Hall,
Felbrigg Hall, Oxburgh Hall, Mannington Estate, East Ruston Old
Vicarage, Chestnut Farm, Holme Hale Hall, Pensthorpe Nature Reserve
and gardens as well as some nurseries including Peter Beales Roses
and Hoecroft Nursery. The group stayed in Bed and Breakfast
accommodation in Wells.
Petra said ”It’s the fifth year of my garden tours. I am a garden
designer by profession. This is my third visit to Norfolk, the
first time I was on holiday. This is the second Norfolk garden
tour. The tours started with one in 2004. This year there are seven,
and I just love it. It has grown by word of mouth. I’m
able to visit England a lot, where I feel very at home. I am
able to see fantastic gardens and get a lot of inspiration for my
designs. We do not have the climate to cultivate the gardens
that Norfolk and England hold. The soil is not as fertile and
is full of clay. I also meet a lot of lovely people.
Some of them are friends now”.
For more details of the garden tour website of Petra Gmainer
visit: http://www.gartenreise.com/
County Organiser Anthea Foster said” The Norfolk National Gardens
Scheme are honored that an international garden designer and tour
organiser has chosen the Norfolk gardens to visit. It also
illustrates how the Norfolk leaflet and website provides a
comprehensive and diverse representation of the great Norfolk
horticultural product and that it has spread outside the county.”
Petra is third left front row, Jan and James Suant right
hand side.
Images can be obtained from Archant , EDP pictures.
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