Two charming gardens in the undulating landscape of Walloon-Brabant

A 1,5 ha garden on the edge of the Waterloo battlefield, behind Le Caillou, where Napoleon had his HQ and spent the night before the Battle, Les Vieux Manants contains over 700 plants, trees and shrubs. This garden is superbly well maintained and especially lovely in spring thanks to a stunning collection of mature rhododendrons, azaleas and pieris. The owners, Mr and Mrs André Oldenhove de Geurtechin will give us a guided tour of the garden – assisted by our members, Ginny and Jon Caldwell.

After the visit we drive via the N5 and N25 to La Tourelle in Ways for lunch and the AGM.  La Tourelle is a former mill in the heart of a typical Walloon Brabant village.

From La Tourelle, we drive to Bousval for a visit to “Fleurisart” – Ginny and Jon’s garden. Sart is an old Walloon word meaning “cleared land” – and it took a year to clear this 1ha of abandoned farmland before they could begin making a garden – long before they built their house. They call it a “Gourmet’s Garden” because it has a bit of everything: roses, rhodos, water, a wood, a potager and lots of colour. It also provides food and shelter for birds, butterflies, bees, insects, red squirrels and hedgehogs.   The sart has been transformed into Fleurisart – a garden filled with flowers, scents and colour. A paradise for flora and fauna – as well as the owners!

Lunch: 1 course l incl. aperitif, wine and coffee. For vegetarian meals please indicate at registration..
Drink at the AGM and farewell drink in Ginny and Jon’s garden.

From Brussels and Antwerp join Brussels Ring and pass Groenendaal in direction of Waterloo. Take exit 26 Mont-Saint-Jean, pass Waterloo and at second roundabout take 4th exit N5 direction Genappe (Charleroi). After about 5 to 6 km (passing Plancenoit) you reach “La ferme Du Caillou” (Rue de Bruxelles 66, 1472 Genappe ). Turn sharp left into a small road which is “ Les Vieux Manants”. Park cars along the road. NB the road is a dead end. For Ways we drive back to N5 and after having turned left we continue on N5 for 3km. Approaching Genappe go right along the N 25 (Direction Namur - Leuven – Wavre). After 2 to 3 km take exit Ways. Cross N237 and continue for 500 m for la Tourelle, rue Emile Hecq 20, 1474 Ways. For Ginny and Jon’s garden, Chemin du Champ Mahou 10, 1470 Bousval a routing will be handed out to participants after the AGM.