Those of you who didn’t manage to visit the gardens at the Coombes missed a real treat. Professor and Mrs. Hamlin very kindly opened their home and woodland gardens for us to enjoy afternoon tea in an environment seldom come across these days. Two charming cottages, one with a thatched roof, nestling on the edge of a beautiful valley covering 3.5 acres provided the backcloth to this wonderful event.
Garden is not really the best word to describe this oasis as guests found themselves walking through natural vegetation and by ponds filled with tadpoles to see an abundance of wild flowers and trees growing as nature intended. A magnificent display of bluebells greeted you on arrival and to see Red Campions, Wild Garlic, Bugle, Buttercups and Cow Parsley in their masses was a sight to behold.
As the older cottage had recently been rethatched, Roy Jones, the thatcher, demonstrated how he carried out this highly skilled craft and also told several and sometimes dubious anecdotes to keep us all amused.
Tea, freshly made sandwiches and home made cakes were once again provided by Kath Bills and her helpers and we have come to realise that Kath has created quite a following for her cuisine which certainly helps when it comes to raising funds. A cake stall, tombola and raffle provided further attractions and altogether Maramba became better off by another useful £310. We are very grateful to the Hamlins for allowing us to venture into their secret home and garden and for arranging such glorious weather on the day.