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DIARY

Summer en pleinair programme for 2024

                                      PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.                                            Please note:

Non members are welcome to join us however due to the numbers being limited at most of the private locations  please contact the club either on 07795803122 or via the contact us function on this website, .

                    Most venues are on Saturdays however some Thursdays have been included.               (private venues start at 10:30am, public venues at 10:00 am).

April 27th Blakenham Woodland Gardens IP8 4LZ .

 April 27th  . Blakenham woodland gardens: Little Blakenham IP8 4LZ. Fantastic display of bluebells etc. Take B113 towards Bramford, turn left signed Little Blakenham. After 1.5 miles turn right at Woodland Garden sign. Follow up the hill for half a mile. OAC car park signed (last part is a track across a meadow to the car park entrance) A suggested donation in box on entrance gate of £3.00

May 4th Broom Heath Woodbridge .

.  From A12 at the first large roundabout take the B1438 to Woodbridge. (Straight over the mini roundabout). Take second exit on right into Sandy Lane. Turn first left into Broom Heath Drive. Within 200 yards turn right into car park at Broom Hill. Interesting views of river Deben. (No facilities, but reasonably close to Notcutts)

May 11th Martlesham Creek Boatyard IP124PQ .

. Church Lane Martlesham. River Deben. Very narrow lane, sign marked boatyard on left. Parking in church car park marked further on.  cars can drop off materials etc in boatyard but only two to park there. Limited spaces. Toilets in Portacabin at marina. Interesting views of river and surrounding woods. Not before 10:30

May 16th The Old Rectory Nacton IP10 0HY.

The Old Rectory Nacton  by kind permission of Mrs Elizabeth, Wellesley - Wesley ,This is a beautiful large award winning gardens ,something for every one , toilets available in house ,but parking outside near / on the side road by the church .see OAC signs .please do not arrive before 10.30 am, leaving by 4pm 

May 18th Martlesham Creek Boatyard IP124PQ .

. Church Lane Martlesham. River Deben. Very narrow lane, sign marked boatyard on left. Parking in church car park marked further on.  cars can drop off materials etc in boatyard but only two to park there. Limited spaces. Toilets in Portacabin at marina. Interesting views of river and surrounding woods. Not before 10:30

May 25th Snape Maltings IP17 1SP

. Free parking. Wide ranging river/reed marsh views and interesting buildings etc. Refreshments and WC’s available.

June 1st Place for Plants Garden Centre CO7 6UP

From A12 take A137 towards Manningtree. At the roundabout in Brantham/Catawade, take the third exit to East Bergholt. After approx. 1.2 miles keep right at the sharp bend. Place for Plants is signed on the right. Car park at the centre by the OAC signs. Toilets and refreshments available. Collect a garden map at the till allowing you to enter the grounds free of charge. Please do not arrive before 10:30am.

 June 8th Holbrook Creek, Lower Holbrook. IP9 2RJ

 Quiet creek with beach and boats. Take Wherstead Rd B1456 out of Ipswich. Go along The Strand, beneath Orwell Bridge. Up the hill past the Freston Boot pub, onto crossroads on dangerous bend. Turn right to B1080 to Holbrook village. Just after the Compasses pub, (now closed), take left turn marked Lower Holbrook (Fishponds Lane). After approx. 1.5 miles look out for concealed car park entrance on right. Small car park, no charge but gets full. (Arrive early) Walk along track to the left, the creek is approx. 500 yards away. No WC’s

June 13th HMS VALE Dock Lane Melton IP12 1PE

 No arrival before 10:30. Parking at the end of Dock Lane in sideroad, Fern Hill Close. Walk over level crossing and through boatyard.  OAC signs on the right at footpath in 70 yards. (Can paint on the boat or on towpath benches) Refreshments and WC available on board. Leave by 4:00pm

June 15th Manor Farm, Tuddenham St Martin. IP6 9BT

 Old barns and farm machinery. Take the Tuddenham Rd out of Ipswich. Just past the Fountain pub on the right, Manor Farm is on the left. Take the next left signed Witnesham, then the second entrance on the left into a farm field for parking (on rough ground). Parking (2 cars) At farmhouse. WC available, no muddy shoes please!

June 22nd Levington Marina and Loom Pit Lane: IP10 0LN

 THIS VENUE MAY BE CHANGED AT SHORT NOTICE & WILL BE CONFIRMED NEAR TO THE TIME.    Take Nacton Rd (A1189) out of Ipswich and go over the roundabout at the A14 and continue along Nacton Rd/Ipswich Rd for approx. 1.2 miles (from A14) keep to Ipswich Rd and Levington Rd and go through Levington. Approx ¾ mile past the Ship Inn, turn right to the marina. WC’s available (Christine Thompson will have the key code)

June 27th The Old Rectory Nacton IP10 0HY.

The Old Rectory Nacton  by kind permission of Mrs Elizabeth, Wellesley - Wesley ,This is a beautiful large award winning gardens ,something for every one , toilets available in house ,but parking outside near / on the side road by the church .see OAC signs .please do not arrive before 10.30 am, leaving by 4pm 

June 29th Levington Marina and Loom Pit Lane: IP10 0LN

 THIS VENUE MAY BE CHANGED AT SHORT NOTICE & WILL BE CONFIRMED NEAR TO THE TIME.    Take Nacton Rd (A1189) out of Ipswich and go over the roundabout at the A14 and continue along Nacton Rd/Ipswich Rd for approx. 1.2 miles (from A14) keep to Ipswich Rd and Levington Rd and go through Levington. Approx ¾ mile past the Ship Inn, turn right to the marina. WC’s available (Christine Thompson will have the key code)

 Thursday July 4th Long Reach, Stratton Hall Drift, Levington: IP10 0LL

 Private garden with views across the Orwell to Pin Mill in the distance. Take Nacton Rd A1189 out of Ipswich and go over the roundabout at the A14 and continue along Nacton Rd/Ipswich Rd for approx. 1.2 miles (from A14). Keep to Ipswich Rd and Levington Rd. Go through Levington village and Long Reach is approx..1/2 a mile past the Ship Inn pub. OAC signs for entrance and where to park. (No parking in front of the house please). WC available.

Thursday July 6th Snape Maltings, Snape IP17 1SP.

. Free parking. Wide ranging river/reed marsh views and interesting buildings etc. Refreshments and WC’s available.

July 11th HMS VALE Dock Lane Melton IP12 1PE

 No arrival before 10:30. Parking at the end of Dock Lane in sideroad, Fern Hill Close. Walk over level crossing and through boatyard.  OAC signs on the right at footpath in 70 yards. (Can paint on the boat or on towpath benches) Refreshments and WC available on board. Leave by 4:00pm

JuLY 13th Place for Plants Garden Centre CO7 6UP

From A12 take A137 towards Manningtree. At the roundabout in Brantham/Catawade, take the third exit to East Bergholt. After approx. 1.2 miles keep right at the sharp bend. Place for Plants is signed on the right. Car park at the centre by the OAC signs. Toilets and refreshments available. Collect a garden map at the till allowing you to enter the grounds free of charge. Please do not arrive before 10:30am.

 July 20th Felixstowe Ferry IP11 9RZ

 Fishing huts and paraphernalia, cafés and public WCs available. River Deben views to Bawdsey. Parking is available near café (expensive) Free parking adjacent to road but not directly in front of the Ferry Boat Inn.

July 27th Manor Farm, Tuddenham St Martin. IP6 9BT

 Old barns and farm machinery. Take the Tuddenham Rd out of Ipswich. Just past the Fountain pub on the right, Manor Farm is on the left. Take the next left signed Witnesham, then the second entrance on the left into a farm field for parking (on rough ground). Parking (2 cars) At farmhouse. WC available, no muddy shoes please!

 August  3rd Cragpit Farm Tattingstone IP92 NX 

 Take Wherstead Rd out of Ipswich, up Wherstead Hill and along A137 exit to Manningtree and Brantham. After approx. 2 miles look for sign “fresh veg” and “Crag Pit Farm” sharp turn left, then immediately right. Follow track down to farm. Park with care, this is a working farm. Look for OAC signs. Good views, veg fields and farm machinery. WC, bring picnic.

 AUGUST 10th Witnesham Church IP6 9JD

Witnesham Church. IP6 9JD. Take B1077 through Witnesham village past the Barley Mow pub. In approx. half a mile, at the bottom of the hill, turn left to the church/car park. Interesting church and trees. Also short walk along road to the ford, and to left down footpath to another interesting ford and meadows.

August 17th Holbrook Creek, Lower Holbrook. IP9 2RJ

 Quiet creek with beach and boats. Take Wherstead Rd B1456 out of Ipswich. Go along The Strand, beneath Orwell Bridge. Up the hill past the Freston Boot pub, onto crossroads on dangerous bend. Turn right to B1080 to Holbrook village. Just after the Compasses pub, (now closed), take left turn marked Lower Holbrook (Fishponds Lane). After approx. 1.5 miles look out for concealed car park entrance on right. Small car park, no charge but gets full. (Arrive early) Walk along track to the left, the creek is approx. 500 yards away. No WC’s

 August 24th St Mary's Church Wherstead IP9 2AG 

St Mary’s church Wherstead. IP9 2AG. Take A137 from Ipswich towards Manningtree. Turn left at Wherstead village. At sharp bend take third exit signed public footpath to church and river. Drive carefully down narrow road and park on the verge by the church. (DO NOT BLOCK DRIVE) Fantastic views of the Orwell river and bridge. NO WC’s But only short walk to Suffolk Food Hall

 August  31st Cragpit Farm Tattingstone IP92 NX 

 Take Wherstead Rd out of Ipswich, up Wherstead Hill and along A137 exit to Manningtree and Brantham. After approx. 2 miles look for sign “fresh veg” and “Crag Pit Farm” sharp turn left, then immediately right. Follow track down to farm. Park with care, this is a working farm. Look for OAC signs. Good views, veg fields and farm machinery. WC, bring picnic.

 September 7th Felixstowe Ferry IP11 9RZ

 Fishing huts and paraphernalia, cafés and public WCs available. River Deben views to Bawdsey. Parking is available near café (expensive) Free parking adjacent to road but not directly in front of the Ferry Boat Inn.

 September 14th Landguard fort Felixstowe IP11 3TW

 Pay and display parking. Café with toilets. Views of the fort, over the estuary to Harwich and container port adjacent.

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