'The Best Tea in Hampshire'
Chris and Shirley Stanford of Oakdene, Sandleheath, Fordingbridge are welcoming visitors to their garden on Sundays 15, 22 and 29 June.
This is how they describe their garden in this year’s Yellow Book:
Think of a picture postcard country garden with its croquet lawn, rose garden and herbaceous borders; think of lavender, clipped box and the scent of 400 roses, an orchard with hens foraging under apple, pear and plum trees and with resident white doves murmuring by a children's village shop. Add a mature walled kitchen garden with an abundance of vegetables, soft fruits and flowers for cutting, then enter a tea garden to enjoy in Joe Swift's words 'the best tea in Hampshire'. This is Oakdene, a joy for everyone.
Says Chris: ‘Last year the roses were out in May because of summer arriving in April, while the year before they were held back by late frosts. This year our timing is spot on.’
So do come and enjoy Oakdene’s garden and its famous cream teas, open from 2-5.30. Oakdene is 1½ miles West of Fordingbridge, adjacent to St Aldhelm’s Church.