On 28th September, 18 members from Brockenhurst WI were taken on a tour of the kitchen garden of The Pig Hotel in Brockenhurst.
Alex, the head gardener took us on a tour, starting with the herb garden. This included some herbs that were new to some of us!
We saw the range of apple trees that the kitchen garden has.
We then went through into the area where the vegetable beds are. We were informed that everything in the garden was edible and used in the kitchen, including the flowers. We were in awe of the range of vegetables and how wonderful they looked!
Those of us who grow veg were very envious of the greenhouse! Alex told us about the garnishes that are grown and showed us the chilies and the squashes that had been harvested.
We saw the wildlife area, the pond, the bee hives and learnt how the bees help to pollinate the apple trees and the garden. It is wonderful to see such a symbiotic approach to gardening.
We delighted at seeing the pigs and quails.
We asked Alex lots of questions and gained a lot of knowledge. The gardeners amongst us were inspired and took away many ideas for their own gardens.
The tour was especially poignant for our member Maureen who’s Grandfather was the head gardener here years ago when it was called Whitley Ridge Lodge and owned by the Bowes-Lyon family.
After the tour, we were taken inside into the Green Room and were treated to a glass of fizz and some delicious nibbles.
We all agreed that we had learnt a lot and had a truly wonderful afternoon.
Brockenhurst WI would like to thank The Pig and their excellent and knowledgable team for the tour, their time and their hospitality.
Brockenhurst Women's Institute 
Dear Julie
Thank you so much for organizing the tour to The Pig to look round their Kitchen Garden.
I found it fascinating and sentimental when walking around thinking about how the house and garden must have been when my Granddad worked there in the 1920’s, and he and his family lived there in one of the cottages.
The Bowes-Lyons lived there from 1922 to 1927, and during that time Malcolm Bowes-Lyons’ niece Elizabeth, later the H.M. Queen and Queen Mother, came and stayed with them on visits.
The house, now a hotel employing restaurant, kitchen and room service staff, and the garden now supplying so much food for the restaurant, and employing several gardeners and nursery staff is so different than how it must have been in the 1920’s!
Many thanks for organising this tour, and I look forward to going back to The Pig again with WI.
Best Wishes
Maureen
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Thank you for your kind comments Maureen. We are pleased that you enjoyed the Kitchen Garden Tour, especially as it had such a sentimental meaning for you.
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