Members Visit to Ryewater Nursery, Near Sherborne
10am – 1pm Friday 31st July 2026
Following a brilliant talk from Wren Franklin back in late 2024, we have arranged a visit to Clive Farrell’s impressive nursery, garden and wonderful wildlife haven, 5½ miles south of Sherborne. It is difficult to describe this place, which is not normally open to the Public.
It has a large wildflower meadow, a Plant Prison (containing many toxic and invasive plants most of us would choose to avoid in our own gardens), a large sculptured Dragon, a huge Tree-House – which houses Clive’s office, a Butterfly House, Ponds, Tropical Glasshouses etc. The main purpose of the site is to provide a large wildlife haven in the middle of North Dorset. 39 different species of Butterflies have been counted on site and that excludes the many exotic butterflies in the Butterfly House. It has probably the longest Buddleja hedge in the world (Buddleja davidii ‘Clive Farrell’ syn. ‘Autumn Beauty’).
If you are interested, please put your name & email address (or phone no if you have no email) on the list or email me. Numbers are strictly limited, so please don’t hesitate. Cost £10 cash – donated to Butterfly Conservation. Bring your own liquid refreshments and picnic lunch. Alternatively, you can take lunch after the visit at Round Chimneys Farm Shop & Café about 1mile away. If dry, we should be able to picnic in the Wildflower Meadow. Arrive for 10am start and depart in the afternoon when you have seen enough (1pm?). Prepare to beamused, entertained, inspired and informed. There is a fair bit of walking to do – so please wear appropriate footwear.
This trip is self-drive. Car parking is limited, so it would be helpful to share a car with others if at all possible. Ryewater Nursery is located approx. 1 mile east of the A352 Dorchester to Sherborne Road, between the villages of Longburton and Holnest. At the staggered cross-roads, turn east into Boys Hill Drove, then turn left into Broke Lane. Ryewater Nursery is on the right. Postcode is DT9 5PL.
(Please don’t confuse with Ryewater Farm – there are 2; one is nearby, the other is nature reserve a few miles away near Corscombe!) Priority will be given to members (and partners) as places are limited. I will confirm bookings a little nearer the date.
Martin Young
Tel 01305 814473 martin.plantheritagedorset@btinternet.com
