The Troutbeck Garden Trail

On This Page…
About Our Garden Trail
2011 Photos
2009 Photos
After four highly successful years (2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009) the Garden Trail is now a well established biennial fixture in Troutbeck's calendar.
For a small village such as ours it's a major undertaking, and our success is not just measured in how much money we've raised, but in the way almost everyone in our community gets involved, working together for this very enjoyable and successful village event.
Our grateful thanks to Val Corbett, Katharine Brown and Brian Liddell for all the lovely photographs below…
2013 Garden Trail Report…
Our 2013 Garden Trail was held on Spring Bank Holiday, Monday May 27th – which unfortunately turned out to be one of the wettest days of the year! • All this rain didn't deter Troutbeck villagers from opening their gardens to the few dozen visitors who braved the elements. • Full waterproofs, wellies and umbrellas were the order of the day, and the Institute was kept full of people enjoying the fabulous food, great atmosphere, and shelter. • Even though the number of visitors was much lower than previous years, the event was pronounced a huge success, despite the weather, and once again a great example of our community working together. • We raised almost £2,000, an extremely good result for such a wet day. • Once again Katharine Brown was out with her camera, and you can see (lots of) her pictures here.
2011 Garden Trail Photos…

Barn Cottage at the top of the village was the highest of fourteen gardens opened in 2011

Judith Cochrane awaiting visitors (and customers!)

Judith's potting shed was filled with crafts…

…including Jayne Musson's famous chicks !

Brollies were out for the first hour (but luckily the weather soon brightened)

Judith's plant stall was well stocked (and watered)

The Donsons welcoming visitors to High Green House

Fifteen Heritage Information boards were displayed throughout the village

Visitors on the lawn at Yew Tree Cottage

A beautiful stone planter at Yew Tree Cottage

Jan and Tony Ashton welcome visitors to Jawnie Wife House

Jawnie Wife House has a variety of trees, shrubs, flowering and non-flowering plants …

…and a wildflower meadow…

…leading down to a pond and boggy area

Some of Birkhead's many visitors

A few of Birkhead's eclectic collection of 'found' objects

Birkhead's lovely view towards Froswick

Bright sunshine soon dried the early morning showers

Ticket and raffle sales in the Institute

The plant and produce stall was a great success again

Maime Pearcey and Anthony Close arranging the plant display

Peter Froggatt celebrating another plant sold!

Kathleen France and friends awaiting visitors to Green Acres

Green Acres' lovely borders looking over Lake Windermere

The sweeping lawns at Beck Lodge

More sweeping lawns at High Cross Lodge

Visitors enjoying the sunshine at Townfoot

Looking across to The Toft's galleried garden from Townfoot

Rosemary Griffiths at Townfoot

Walking down into the steep garden at The Toft

Looking back to Town Foot from The Toft

Townend's curator Cathrien van Hak very kindly opened their gardens and car park

Ulla Elias demonstrated spinning in the sunshine outside Thwaite

Garden Trail signs showed the way along the trail

A sunny corner at The Cragg

Anne and Steve Kelly outside Shepherd's Cottage

Steve's beautiful water fountain and flower displays

Steve's productive (and well-defended) vegetable plots

Trees in the sunshine at Shepherd's Cottage

Working hard behind the scenes in the Village Institute

Where traditional home-made teas were served all day

A mouth watering spread!

A well-earned cuppa at the end of the day …

… and a glass of wine …

… to celebrate a great community event …

… our most successful Garden Trail ever!
2009 Garden Trail Photos and Report…

We raised almost £6000 (a huge figure for a one-day event in such a small village) for South Lakes First Responders, Jesus Church, the Village Institute, and Trouteck Village Association

A perfect sunny day helped to attract almost 600 visitors

Our new plant sale and ice
cream kiosk outside
the Institute
– VC

The plant sale was a huge success
– VC

… thanks to lots of work in the potting sheds by Anthony and Mary Close and their many helpers

Twelve gardens took part this year including
three new ones, and many 'regulars' like Matthew How
– VC

Also new this year were:
• our Famous Gardeners Quiz
• a new Beatrix Potter Children's Competition
• and ten beautiful new Heritage Info
notice boards
– VC

We even had a minibus to help with the climb up from the carpark, courtesy of High Borrans and Alan Mitchinson

Our famous all-day teas were even busier than
ever this year
– VC

… with good natured queues right
to the door at lunchtime
– VC

It's no surprise with baking as good as this!
– VC

Jane Booth's many helpers had been baking all week

John Wharton was also ready for the rush for teas

Ticket sellers smiling at the door
– VC

Angela Pratt had a warm welcome for visitors …

… exploring Yew Grove's beautiful and productive garden

Simon Berry on his new lawn at Yew Tree Cottage

Christine Tinn leads the way at High Fold
– VC

Birkhead's gardens keep on getting better each year …

… despite having owners with 'very little knowledge'

Exploring The Cragg in glorious sunshine

Rosemary Griffith's bird bulletin at Matthew
How
– VC

The whole village was at its most colourful

Shepherds Cottage in Robin Lane
– VC

Visitors exploring outside Jawnie Wife House

… welcomed by the super-relaxed Tony and Jan Ashton

Judith Cochrane chatting to visitors to Barn Cottage

The stunning views from Barn Cottage down to Lake Windermere

… And finally, yet another beautiful picture of our Garden Trail by Val Corbett