A NATIONAL Trust site near Pershore is inviting visitors to its brand-new shop and gallery.
Chris and Karen Cronin, along with their daughter Victoria, have opened up a shop full of art and gifts at the historic Walled Gardens at Croome.
The ‘Capability Brown’ designed gardens, which are situated next to Croome Court estate, are privately owned by Chris and Karen, who have been taking care and restoring the site for the past 17 years.
The new shop, housed alongside the garden’s visitor centre, offers a showcase of carefully chosen, mostly handmade, cards, gifts and art.
The family’s keenness to support and promote artists has led them to offer a selection of hand-screen printed bamboo scarves by renowned local artist Carice Green, baskets by Worcestershire Guild of Designer Craftsmen member Jenny Pearce, work by glass artist Alison Bowyer and outdoor art by sculptor Barney Yendall.
Visitors to the walled gardens can explore the site’s restoration journey, travel through the recently restored underground tunnels and view the large allotment plots.
Karen said: “We’re really pleased to be offering a selection of gifts, cards and art for our visitors. The main focus will always be the gardens, but the shop and gallery is a natural fit and the response so far has been hugely encouraging.
“We’ve worked hard to source art-based greetings cards, gifts and garden products that are befitting to the surroundings, and we’re keen supporters of the arts, so to invite artists to exhibit their work here also makes sense.”
The Walled Gardens open from 11am to 5pm every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday until the end of September.
Entrance costs £5 and is free for children, with all proceeds going towards the ongoing restoration of the gardens.
Croome’s park and lakeside are open from 10am to 5.30pm and Croome Court is open from 11am to 4.30pm every day.
Call the National Trust site on 01905 371006 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croome to apply or for more information.
