Flowers in Fittleworth - A Horticultural Constitutional

Fittleworth, between Petworth and Pulborough, is a collection of small groups of cottages that together make up quite a sizeable village. The groups are separated by some of the most verdant and varied countryside around, from heaths to pine forests and arable fields to pastoral riverbanks. The famed Fittleworth building stone (a honey-coloured sandstone) abounds, along with brick and timber-framing.

According to the website, The Fittleworth Garden Trail links up 'gardens open with something for everyone, ranging from large country houses to smaller village cottages, from the formal to the informal, wild gardens to walled gardens. In addition, the Fulling Mill, an ongoing restoration of a 14th century cottage and garden project will be open, along with Wynkcoombe Arboretum forming part of the trail, with over 800 trees and shrubs, including many rare species from around the world'.

There will be no set plan for visiting the 14 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; parking is either £6 or £2.25 on a bank holiday), Pulborough Railway Station is 5km away from Fittleworth, so we'll have a pleasant short walk through woods and fields and heaths, including passing Norman Stopham Church with its unsurpassed collection of memorial brasses, and crossing its 15th-century bridge to get to our destination. The route will be 'spoon-shaped' with some of it the same in both directions. Please see the route here.

Dogs:

I love having dogs on my walks and this is mostly suitable for them. They are welcome in the gardens on leads, but may get bored hanging around while you discuss peonies. They will certainly enjoy the walk to the village.

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: View SE from Woodcote Lane: Photo © Ian Cunliffe (cc-by-sa/2.0); View SSE down the path from Fittleworth Wood to Stopham: Photo © Ian Cunliffe (cc-by-sa/2.0); Stopham War Memorial and Church: Photo © Robin Webster (cc-by-sa/2.0); Stopham Bridge over River Arun: Photo © Robin Webster (cc-by-sa/2.0)); Footpath685, Fittleworth: Photo © Robin Webster (cc-by-sa/2.0); Cottages, Upper Street, Fittleworth:Photo © Simon Carey (cc-by-sa/2.0); Limbourne Farm House: Photo © Ian Cunliffe (cc-by-sa/2.0); Cottage in Bedham Lane: Photo © Paul Gillett (cc-by-sa/2.0); Lower Street, Fittleworth: Photo © Colin Smith (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.)