Old Thatch Gardens

[Francis]

Yes it would be great to see the photos, Tony - very much appreciated.

[Lucky Star]

Me too. What a pity some of the gardens were sold off. Reality I suppose.

[John Pickup]

Hope you can find the photos, Tony.

[sixret]

Yes, I would like to see the photos too, Tony.

[Courtenay]

Do you ever feel you're being nagged by multiple voices, Tony? Hope you do find the photos.

[Tony Summerfield]

Do you ever feel you're being nagged by multiple voices, Tony? Hope you do find the photos.

Nah! I don't pay any attention to it, Courtenay! The photos if I have them won't appear in a hurry as I don't think I have seen them for about twenty years!!

[Moonraker]

Yes, I wouldn't hold your breath, folks!

Gardens are open to the public under the NGS for at least one day a year. Maybe this will apply to Old Thatch. Many gardens in Bourne End participate, so we can keep our fingers crossed! The website is still up, but just says, "Gardens Now Closed."

[Jack400]

The website is still up, but just says, "Gardens Now Closed."

Which is no surprise as they always are at this time of year.

[Sally]

I too am hugely disappointed as well but guess that the ongoing activity must have been a huge intrusion on their lives and kept them tied to the house for most of the summer. I have some lovely photos taken in June last year and will try and download these for everyone to share.

We will have to think of somewhere else to meet up next year! How about the Blyton exhibition which is heading for Plymouth?

[Daisy]

Some of us are already considering the Exhibition when it is in Canterbury - from mid January to mid April. Nicer weather when it's in Plymouth though! (well probably!)

[walter raleigh]

I would definitely like to meet up with some of the other forum members in either Canterbury or Plymouth. Can you keep me posted when dates and venue have been decided.

[Julie2owlsdene]

Plymouth is the venue I'd head for as it's much nearer. Canterbury is quite a distance for us really. We could have two groups, those going to Plymouth and those going to Canterbury.

[Chrissie777]

Yes Julie,I'm so glad we had the opportunity to visit there.It has a magical,special feel the minute you walk through the gate....
I went twice.I thanked Jackie each time so much for opening up her house and garden to strangers.
I have a private dream that Jackie may one day every so often allow a special visit just to members of the Enid Blyton Society.
We know how it works - we could take her cakes and drinks and fuss over her and her hubby!

Pete, I hope your dream will come true!!!
I just read this blog to André and he said that we were lucky to have it visited once this May and it was magical. And I want to add that we enjoyed to have met the other forumites at the Spade Oak and in Old Thatch Gardens which was the perfect ending to our European vacation.
We attempted to visit Old Thatch shortly after I joined the Yahoo Blyton Group in the summer of 2008 and heard more about Old Thatch which I only had read about at that point just like I read about Green Hedges and EB's other homes. But as it was September, Old Thatch was already closed for the season. A really remarkably beautiful and special place. Jacky and David, in case you can read this, a big thank you to you for having created all this beauty and enabled the public to admire it.

[Chrissie777]

I first visited Old Thatch 21 years ago in a group of about 20 people that included both Gillian and Barbara Stoney. If I can find any of my photos of that occasion I will post them in this thread.

Oh please, Tony, try to find and post those pics!

[Chrissie777]

Do you ever feel you're being nagged by multiple voices, Tony? Hope you do find the photos.

Such a cute new avatar, Courtenay !