Our annual coach this year was to Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire. Following an uneventful trip up the M6 we arrived at the Trentham Estate just before 11:00 am.  

As we entered the Gardens we saw the first of the fascinating wire fairy sculptures which were scattered throughout the gardens.  A short walk took us to the café to get some welcome refreshment.  We were very interested to discover that this lovely building was designed by our own u3a member, Howard Price more details from Howard.

There was plenty to see including the Italian Garden by Tom Stuart-Smith, the Floral Labyrinth and Rivers of Grass by Piet Oudolf and vast wildflower and woodland meadow plantings by Nigel Dunnett.  We spent time exploring the gardens where the ornamental grasses were looking magnificent. Sadly some of the late summer flowers were past their best.

Some more adventurous members set off around the lake designed by Capability Brown. This was a three-mile walk with another café at the far end of the lake. Unfortunately, the boat trips on the lake were not running on the day we visited. 

After visiting the Gardens many people spent time in Trentham Shopping Village where some visited the variety of shops and others enjoyed some more refreshments.  We were very lucky to have enjoyed a dry and reasonably warm day and we returned to Harborne by 6:00 pm after a very enjoyable day.