Brendoncare Rocks/National Gardens

Residents and staff at Brendoncare Froxfield enjoyed their very own music festival in the beautiful grounds of the nursing home. Sharing a love for music, they were disappointed that the Froxfield music festival was postponed, so decided to hold their own. There were a variety of performers visiting during the week, including Music Therapist, Arash, who played the keyboard for a singalong. The grand finale on Saturday saw music from Robbie Robinson who performed tunes from the 50s, 60s and 70s. The residents and staff were dancing in their seats! The duo ‘It Takes Two’ closed the festival, harmonising to some hits from the past few decades.

Some of our gardens require booking, but at all times please check out the web site before leaving for your visit, to make sure the details have not changed due to any circumstances. www.ngs.org.uk/wiltshire is the easiest route to all the Wiltshire gardens open for the National Garden Scheme.

BROADLEAS HOUSE GARDENS Sunday 1st August

A special opening - The garden is opening as a pop-up and as part of the Radio 2 Big Bee Challenge on Sunday 1st August. Broadleas’ professional beekeeper, Graham Davison, will be on hand - he has 8 hives in the garden and visitors are welcome to ask questions as well as buy Broadleas Honey and honey from the local area. Devizes, SN10 5JQ. Mr & Mrs Cardiff, 07584 119362, robwaller76@gmail.com. 1m S of Devizes. Turn L from Hartmoor Road onto Broadleas Park. Follow the road until you reach grassed area on R with red brick wall, stone pillars, grey gates, cattle grid. That is the entrance. Home-made teas. 6 acre garden of hedges, perennial borders, walled rose garden, secret garden, bee garden and orchard stuffed with good plants. Well stocked kitchen and herb garden. Mature collection of specimen trees incl oaks, magnolia, handkerchief, redwood, dogwood. Overlooked by the house and arranged above the valley garden crowded with magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, cornus, hydrangeas etc. Wheelchair access to upper garden only.

To accompany the music, the residents enjoyed a barbecue, a glass or two of Pimms and strawberries and cream. There was much singing, dancing, laughter and sunshine too! Resident Margaret, said: “It was the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon – sunshine, music and Pimms, a delight.” And resident, Julianna, added: “It was a lovely afternoon with lovely company.” Hazel Ringor, Senior Care Assistant, at Brendoncare Froxfield, commented: “It was an incredible day for all our lovely residents. The music lifted spirits of everyone in the home. There was lovely food for all. The residents enjoyed dancing and singing along. It’s finally started to feel normal again.”

THE OLD MILL - Sunday 22nd August

As featured in the July issue of Whitton Ways Ramsbury, SN8 2PN. Annabel & James Dallas. 8m NE of Marlborough. From Marlborough head to Ramsbury. At The Bell PH follow sign to Hungerford. Garden behind yew hedge on R 100yds beyond The Bell. Sun 25 July, Sun 22 Aug (1.30-5). Adm £6, chd free. Tea. The River Kennet runs through this garden with a millrace, a millstream and small channels to walk across and watch the reflections in. The planting is relaxed and colourful near the house and gets more naturalistic further out into the meadows beyond. Gravel and grass paths wind through controlled wilder areas with seating for visitors. There is a more formal and productive kitchen garden. Partial wheelchair access as gravel paths and bridges and very soft ground in places.