What do you do when somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit is too far away for a day trip. Moleside combines it with something else completely different, turns it into a two day visit – and delivered just that in early May.
Sir Harold Hillier estabished his now renowned
Gardens and Arboretum near Romsey in 1953 – and for the last 60 years or so his comprehensive collection has been maturing ready for 38 of us to explore. And we couldn’t have chosen a better time with the rhododendrons and azalaeas in their brightest prime. Recognised by English Heritage 25 years ago as a Garden of Special Historic Interest, Sir Harold’s family moved here in 1953 and his gathering of plant samples includes examples from Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and America as well as species already well established here in England.
Now in the care of Hampshire County Council we can report that the collection for which he laid the foundations certainly remains an inspiration and encouragement to all of us who seek to make the most of our own more humble plots of land.
Our thanks to Paul & Britt Tiller and to David & Daphne Jeffs who joined forces to set up our visit.
And when the time came to leave Hillers we knew we had much more to come in our two day programme – and our next report will follow very soon.
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