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Dig in for gardening advice
Horses and history at Homme House
If you’ve missed out on tickets for the Olympic equestrian competitions don’t worry because Herefordshire’s only British Eventing Horse Trials will take place at historic Homme House in Much Marcle again this summer.
It’s the third year that the venue - the home of John and Jocelyn Finnigan and more normally associated with weddings – has hosted the event. Competitors will par- ticipate in the three disciplines of dressage, show jumping and cross country around Homme’s beautiful Capability Brown designed parkland during August 7th and 8th.
In previous years the trials have attracted leading international riders including Zara Phillips, Oliver Townend, Matt Ryan and Bill Levitt as well as local Badminton riders Alice Pearson, Rosie Thomas and Louise Harwood. The event also attracts hundreds of entries from grass-roots riders.
The dressage takes place against the backdrop of the 13th Century St. Bartho- lomew’s Church; the show jumping arena sits below the ha-ha in front of Homme House itself and the cross country winds through the parkland and this year also takes in the adjoining woodland.
The event is only possible through the hard work of some 300 volunteers across the two days and the support of key sponsors Hereford Ssanyyong, Westons Cider and Pegasus Arenas as well as Radway Bridge Nurseries who help provide the flowers, plants and trees that brighten up the three phases of the event. Organisers Anne James and Stella Robertson are already planning next year’s trials which will take place on July 30th & 31st 2013.
Meet Leigh Scotford and Sam Perry who will be joining absolute Herefordshire from next month to offer help with your gardening. They’re co-directors of Anemone Landscapes from Ross-on-Wye and will be writing regularly for the magazine on all aspects of work in the garden.
Sam is a graduate of Pershore College of horticulture who began his working life with a prestigious garden designer, and premier national landscaping company. That was where he picked up a number of Chelsea and Hampton Court flower show gold’s, including the highly prized BBC People’s Choice award, at Chelsea.
Leigh has recently led a team who’ve travelled from Scarbor- ough in Yorkshire to Petersfield in Hampshire to transform gardens for deserving causes working with Diarmuid Gavin the garden designer, and a film crew from ITV’s ‘This Morning’ programme. Their efforts are currently being screened each Thursday.
Leigh said: “I am always pleased to be able to make a difference to the lives of people who are experiencing times of difficulty and delighted that Diarmuid invites us help make this happen.” He’s trained in every aspect of landscaping and construction over the last 12 years and has played a part in building many medal winning show gardens.
The company has also built an exhibit at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, which runs from July 3rd to 8th.
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