North Nottinghamshire Association of National Trust Members is open to all National Trust members and holds monthly evening meetings at the Crossing from October to April and organise five full day outings during the summer months. These outings include visits to both private and National Trust properties and gardens. The last visit was in July, when members visited Arley House and gardens in Cheshire which was well supported and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.
There has been a family owned house at Arley for over 500 years. The present Hall was built in the mid-1850s and features wonderful oak panelling and doors and an amazing staircase and elaborate ceilings in most of the rooms. The house is not too big and is very different from so many stately home-type properties. It has many interesting features and has a wonderful sense of it having been a family home where the present owner Lord Ashbrook was brought up as a child. The design, architecture and history of the hall makes fascinating reading. There is also an excellent, but busy, restaurant although some members took picnic lunches.
The gardens in particular were superb, covering a large area with different areas planted out for different shrubs and plants and breath-taking herbaceous borders which were a riot of colour and had to be seen to be believed. The visit was worthwhile for the gardens alone and there was the opportunity to purchase plants in the nursery shop as well. Even the weather was kind.
There was an outing to Sudbury and St Giles Church in August and the September visit is to the Spode Potteries and all outings are open to association members. Membership is presently £6 per year and visitors can pay £4 to come to a monthly meeting. The first meeting of the 2017/18 programme is on 18th October. More information can be obtained from Bryan Morgan on 01909 474423 or Jacky Walsh on 01909 474326 or email nthnottsntassoc@gmail.com.