barnsdale gardens

I believe my Tea Room manager telephoned you the morning after you phoned us on our main office number - unfortunately the lady who took the call did not realise the Tea Room Manager was not at work on that day. All I can do is to refer you to the post of 15th and 16th Feb who also visited with vouchers.

Thank you. I really can't add anything to all of the things you have pointed out as this review really does show us as we are. The only thing I will point out is that my younger brother Chris has been pulling my leg badly since you posted this review. I'm Nick and I'm the gardener, whereas Chris could never describe himself as a gardener, although he is an incredibly talented potter, as the bust of my father in the Gardens shows. Although I suppose we both deal with mud, just in a slightly different form!

Thank you. I really can't add anything to all of the things you have pointed out as this review really does show us as we are. The only thing I will point out is that my younger brother Chris has been pulling my leg badly since you posted this review. I'm Nick and I'm the gardener, whereas Chris could never describe himself as a gardener, although he is an incredibly talented potter, as the bust of my father in the Gardens shows. Although I suppose we both deal with mud, just in a slightly different form!

I'm glad you enjoyed the Gardens, but obviously disappointed that you did not enjoy your afternoon tea so much. I am very surprised that you had to wait so long as I have not noticed this to be the case on any other day. As you would no doubt expect, we use the same range of fillings in our afternoon tea sandwiches as we do in our normal sandwiches, thus giving our voucher afternoon tea visitors a taster of what we serve.As far as our Tea Room building is concerned, it is a purpose built wooden building made to look like a shed from the outside, we are a Garden after all. I have to say that shed does spring to mind, but not tacky. We are not a glitzy garden centre but a Gardens and nursery open to the public and still run as a small family business - I have come across many visitors who like it like this and just yourselves who don't!

With the amount of council tax we pay the sun needs to be shining every day in Rutland! Very pleased to hear you enjoyed your visit. You must return on a less windy and warmer day!

People after my own heart. It is fantastic to hear visitors extolling the virtues of shapes and structures throughout the winter, as well as the colours and fragrances of the flowers, stem colours, etc. Not only that, in the Tea Room you found the best seat in the house!

I'm so pleased you enjoyed your day and made the most of your voucher. It is great to hear that getting visitors into the Garden at a time of year they wouldn't normally expect to come has worked - mind you I suppose the tasty afternoon tea helped!

I am very sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy your visit, but am wondering quite what you were looking at. As with most gardeners and gardens, we have odd weeds coming through in odd places in the Gardens but never to the level you are suggesting.

I'm very pleased to see that you got maximum value for your winter visit, as well as making the most of our tea room. It does really sound to me like both are down for a return visit soon!

Very pleased you enjoyed the Gardens so much and got value at a time of year when most people will incorrectly think there is nothing to see in gardens. My father Geoff was very much of the opinion that gardens should be an all-year-round experience, with enough in them to satisfy your interest at any time. By the sounds of it you're definitely going to be getting far more than your entry fee the next time you visit!

It's a real pity that you didn't feel your visit was worthwhile, but you were most certainly right about the spring. It is very unfortunate to miss out on the really different aspects to a garden during winter, as most gardens at any time of year shouldn't really be all about just the flowers. When you visited there were not only winter flowers bursting forth (mostly small, but also very highly scented!), evergreen leaves, berries, shapes, structures and designs just to give you a taster as to the amount out there when you search it out. Seeing the Gardens at different times of the year may give you a different view in the winter.

Glad you enjoyed your visit so much. As you noticed, the Gardens show such a wide range of different things when you look for them, which you most certainly did! I like every season, purely because they are so different, but with the Gardens bursting to life in the spring it changes on a daily basis.

Pleased you enjoyed the Gardens as well as your afternoon tea. They look good, but different during the winter months, so a visit in spring to see everything bursting forth would be a good idea.

I'm obviously very pleased to hear that you enjoyed the Gardens but very disappointed that you felt the Afternoon Tea was not good value for money. It is a great surprise to me, not just because we use only the best local and fresh ingredients but also because of the comments we get from other visitors. It is always very important to mention to a member of staff at the time if you feel something has not matched your expectation. It is far easier to deal with than doing it electronically - we're are all very nice people here and deal with everything in a very professional and courteous manner. I hope this does not prevent you from coming back and seeing the Gardens during, what is always a spectacular time of year, the spring.

Can't really think of anything else to say but - thanks!