GUIDED TOUR OF ENGLEFIELD HOUSE GARDENS
WITH LUCY BAKER, HEAD GARDENER

Wednesday 7th October 2026 from 10.00a.m (AGM 10.30am)

We are delighted to invite you all to join us at our combined 2026 AGM with a special guided visit to the gardens of Englefield House by kind permission of Lord and Lady Benyon. The morning, starting at Englefield Village Hall, will include coffee and cake, with a short AGM, followed by our tour. We look forward to
welcoming many members and non-members on this visit.

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At the end of the AGM we will start the guided tour. We will be met by our guide for the morning Lucy Baker, who has recently joined as Head Gardener for the Estate. As well as benefiting from Lucy’s knowledge we will be able to admire much of the impressive work set in place by the previous head gardener Susan Broughton.

We will be taken first to the private restored walled kitchen garden, which is situated near the Englefield garden centre. There then will be the chance to walk up to the gardens (lifts will be available). We will take a look at the recent tree that King Charles III planted earlier this year.

Along the walk we will be able to admire the magnificence of Englefield House, largely rebuilt in the 1850s, overlooking a historic deer park. We may even identify scenes from several films and series recently filmed here.

An inscription taken from a letter written in 1601 by Sir Edward Norris, the then occupier of Englefield House, shows that a garden was managed and cared for on the Estate over four hundred years ago.
However, the origins of the gardens as they appear today were created in the late 1860’s with the building of the stone balustrades and staircases by Italian craftsmen.

In 1936 the woodland garden on the hill above the house was created by thinning the forest. At the same time the stream was constructed and the area planted by Wallac & Barr of Tunbridge Wells.

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Much of the original planting is still in place and this includes varieties of rhododendron, azalea, camellia, magnolia, hamamelis, parrotia, cornus, davidia and acer. The lower terrace was redesigned in 1974 by the redoubtable landscape architect Lanning Roper.
The grotto at the top of the stream is a more recent addition to the gardens and is lined with a mosaic of pine cones. A walled kitchen garden has recently been restored to produce many varieties of fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers.

The gardens themselves are enclosed by the magnificent deer park and provide stunning views over the lake and surrounding countryside beyond.

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Great British Gardens Guide:
"This garden must be one of the best kept secrets in Southern England... They have managed to balance countryside and classic garden."

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THE AGM AGENDA WILL BE ISSUED SEPARATELY TO MEMBERS AND IS FREE TO ATTEND.

Time: Please arrive by 10.00am for coffee/tea and cake and register your presence on arrival if attending for the AGM. The AGM will start promptly at 10.30am.

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Accessibility: Car parking is available next to the Village Hall. Details will be sent in Joining Instructions a week beforehand to those coming to the event.

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Access to the gardens: The visit to the gardens will involve some walking on different levels, but lifts will be available to take people up from the village hall to the gardens. Please let us know at the time of booking if you will need help.

Queries: Please contact Kim by email at berksgtmembership@gmail.com or phone her on 07752 190391 or Susan Carter on 07711 420 586 for queries about the AGM and visit.

Booking:

Tickets are £18 for members and £20 for non-members. PLEASE BOOK BY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2026.

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There are two ways to book:

1. Book online at Ticketsource

2. First send an email to Kim Hacker at berksgtmembership@gmail.com to confirm that there is space available. Then once you receive a confirmation email, please send the booking form below.