Following on from the success of our inaugural event to celebrate World Naked Gardening Day at Hunting Brook Gardens last year, where our YouTube video has reached views in excess of 73,000. This year’s event was held at Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon, over the weekend of the AGM where over 40 INA members plus invited guests to the AGM attended the private booking.
One of the main attractions of Strokestown Park is a six acre walled garden that has been restored to its original splendour, giving an insight into horticultural design and architecture from the 1740’s. The walled gardens include features such as the herbaceous border, the fernery, the lilly pond, the Victorian rose garden, pergola, peach house, vinery, fruit and vegetable garden and herb garden to name but a few.
It must be said how wonderfully accommodating the event coordinator at Strokestown Park was in facilitating a private booking for members of the INA. She even arranged for a private lesson and game of croquet from two members of Strokestown Croquet Club (Croquet was played on the lawns of Strokestown Park in the 1890’s).
Everyone seemed to enjoy the croquet a lot, some kept playing it up until the end of the 2 hours while one lady from Galway displayed a competitive streak against a fellow member from Kilkenny – signs of things to come in the championship!
