Tony has contacted me to say the event on July 4th has now been postponed.
You are invited to spend a day at Barnards Farm gardens and car collection in West Horndon, Brentwood Road (A128), CM13 3LX.
We (MX5OC) have been kindly granted exclusive access to the gardens and car collection on Saturday 4th July 2020.
The 22 hectares of gardens at Barnards Farm range from landscaped walks through young woodland to the precise detail of the Japanese garden. The more formal gardens including a parterre, herbaceous borders, a living wall and the vegetable garden are found nearer the house. A walk through the managed landscape will take in the long avenue, a stream, ponds, and the Euro wood. A striking feature in the SW corner is the belvedere, planted largely with roses providing a blaze of colour in summer. In addition, there is a collection of approximately 70 sculptures arranged in two different walks.
There is a collection of around 40 veteran cars, trikes, quads and motorbikes on site.
The gardens are part of the National Garden Scheme and are open to the public on Thursdays during the summer. However, on those days there are many other people visiting and the cars are not available for viewing. So, this is an exclusive opportunity just for us.
The proposed format for the day is to arrive at the Farm around 10:30hrs so that we can meet and have tea/coffee and cake in the main barn at 11:00hrs and get a briefing.
Free drink, £1 for cake.
After the briefing you will be free to wander through the gardens and car garages.
If you would like to bring your own lunch/picnic, please do so as there are no other food facilities. This can be eaten in the main barn if the weather is unkind or anywhere throughout the gardens of your choosing. There are a number of benches and picnic benches throughout the gardens. You can bring your own alcohol and glasses if you wish to. Tea/coffee will also be available later in the day.
We will need to be away from the Farm by 16:00 hrs.
The price for admission is £10 per head. All proceeds go to charity.
If you’re coming north to south on the A128 it’s on your right, conversely, it’s on your left if travelling south to north. There is a yellow NGS sign on the grass verge opposite the entrance.
Indicate and slow down in plenty of time because the road can be a bit of a race-track.
The Farm is the private home to Bernard and Sylvia Holmes and although they welcome visitors to the gardens and car collection, please respect their privacy when on site and particularly near the house.
Please email if you would like to come along – milno800@hotmail.com
Payment to be made in CASH on the day please.