The day before our visit to Thenford Gardens and Arboretum, the weather forecast had predicted showers, so we were delighted when we woke up to sunshine and a more favourable outlook. After an hour’s journey by coach we arrived at the Thenford estate near Banbury at 2.00 pm and entered the wonderful English garden created by Lord and Lady Heseltine. The variety of plantings and designs within the garden was superb. The wonderful walled garden with its tropical greenhouses, reflecting pools and parakeets, together with vegetable and cut flower beds artistically arranged. The fabulous statue garden with contrasting styles from modern contemporary British art to a huge brutalistic bust of Lenin. The rill of flowing water and fountains leading to a stream and a series of pools and finally to the large lake at the back of the house. Those who managed the long walk around the lake, enjoyed the Autumn colours in the large arboretum where the Heseletine’s had planted over 30,000 new trees amongst older trees and created new lakes. A welcome tea and cake was waiting at the lovely Barn Café before we went back to the coach at 5.00 pm to set off for home. Thenford is only open to a limited number of the public on 8 occasions during the year and we were very fortunate to be able to take such a large group. We had fine weather all afternoon and the garden was a really truly wonderful. We will make sure we go to see it again and at a different time of the year.
