Gracious Grayswood Gardens Gaze

While most of us in ODL are probably perfectly happy experiencing the vibrancy, opportunity and anonymity of the city, some might yearn for the calmness, spaciousness and neighbourliness of a village. If you come on this event, you'll sample the latter for one idyllic summer afternoon.

Ian Nairn, writing in The Buildings of England: Surrey, briefly describes Grayswood as: " A trim, triangular green, largely Victorian, in picturesque hilly country near the Sussex border." The National Open Gardens website additionally invites us to "Visit Grayswood's gorgeous gardens - all very different, [from] informal cottage style, [to] larger more formal and varied village gardens. Visitors will have an illustrated garden trail to follow through the village [and] there will be homemade cakes and tea at the Village Hall." There is also a modest display of classic cars at Grayswood garage, and a plant sale.

There will be no set plan for visiting the 10 or so gardens and we won't go round in a big group: you're welcome to go wherever and with whomever you choose. You're also welcome to leave earlier or later, but there will be an agreed meeting place and time should you wish to depart as part of a group, perhaps to catch a particular train. In fact, you don't even need to book on this event to see the gardens of course; we'll just happily bump into you in the village! If you do come by train (or car but want a little more exercise), Haslemere Railway Station is a hour's walk from the village, so we'll have a pleasant walk through the swish suburbs and rough heaths while viewing Hindhead Common to get there. (Please see the route here.)

Dogs:

I love having dogs on my walks and this one is somewhat suitable for them. I have asked the organiser and most gardens admit them on leads. They'll enjoy the walk to the village along lanes and through woodlands.

IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement

You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend. 

(Picture credits: Footpath through Swan Barn Farm, Haslemere: Photo © Derek Voller (cc-by-sa/2.0); Stoatley Cottage, Haslemere, Surrey: Photo © Peter Trimming (cc-by-sa/2.0). A Perfect Summer's Day (1 to 4): Photos © Basher Eyre (cc-by-sa/2.0). These pictures are copyrighted but are licensed for reuse under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 2.0 and are here attributed to their copyright holders.)