18th February 2018

Kennet Valley TR Group - February Mid Monthly - Welford Park Snowdrops

Kennet Valley TR Group mid monthly for February 2018 is a visit to Welford Park, it is renown for beautiful displays of snowdrops.

Snowdrops are nearly always found in abbey ruins and graveyards, and were planted by Norman monks as a symbol of purity and the cleansing of the earth after winter. Some of the greatest snowdrop displays in England were all originally monastic sites ie Walsingham Abbey, Hodsock Priory, Anglesey Abbey and Welford Park.

Welford Park think the snowdrops here were planted by the Norman monks to decorate their Church for the feast of Candlemas, and also for medicinal use. The monks harvested snowdrops and used to rub them on the temple of people suffering from "mal au tete". Close to the snowdrop woods they have also found wild aconitum, petasites and mistletoe all of which have strong healing properties, each year Welford Park make donations to West Berkshire charities.

The entrance fee is for £7 adults, £6 for concessions including OAP, £3 for children and children under 4 free. Admission from 10:30, park gates open at 11:00.

We then are arranging a pub lunch at 13:30 at the Five Bells, Wickham, they have offered Sunday lunch (English Lamb, Topside of Beef, Lion of Pork or Vegetarian Nut Roast) at £14.50 per head. Because of the size of our group and it being a Sunday when they are really busy, they can only offer our group the roast options, KVG members are not able to order off the Five Bells web menu unfortunately (also, the Sunday menu is different to that which is on the website). The Five Bells can, however, add the following roast option: Roast breast of Chicken.

FYI, They preferential meal rate of £14.50 is for the main course of roasts – Beef, Lamb, Pork, Chicken or Nut Roast. If you would like to have starters, an additional charge of £6.00 per person would be added and they will need to send me through a list of 2-3 options. Sweets can be ordered on the day again for extra cost.

For Your booking we require a £5.00 deposit and your menu choice, by 4th February 2018, so please contact Phil Horsley at Group Leader Email

Booking Form: Welford-Park-Mid-Monthly-18-02-18.pdf

Pub Address: Five Bells Baydon Road Wickham West Berkshire RG20 8HH

We look forward to seeing you there