Lower Withington WI by Gwen Hayhurst

The recent mystery evening out at Lower Withington WI was spent at Arley Hall in the company of Gordon Baillie, Arley’s head gardener. Gordon had been the speaker at the January meeting and talked about the wonderful gardens at Arley. Members were very pleased to find that a visit had been arranged there for their summer outing.

The weather was very kind, it was a bit cool and windy but the sun appeared a few times and it was lovely to see the gardens in the evening light. Gordon gave members some of the history and the development of the gardens into what we can be seen today. Arley’s famous herbaceous borders were lovely even at the end of a very wet and dull summer.

After the tour of the garden they had a welcome cup of tea and sandwiches in the barn. They had a lovely time and they all decided to return in the daytime to have a more in-depth look around.

The next meeting is on September 23, when it will be cake decorating with Sam Coupland. The competition will be a decorated cup cake.