Bookings are now being taken for tables of 6

Limited number of tickets available. Please contact Norma or use the message facility on contacts page.

Cheese and Wine Evening - Friday May 10th 7.15 for food at 7.30 limited numbers so book early from norma.barrow@keme.co.uk .Tickets £15 including first drink and buffet of cheese and charcuterie.  This was a very enjoyable event last year so please come and join us. Raffle.

Curry Evening. In previous years there has been a curry evening at the Moghul with £5 of the ticket price being returned to the Friends. This year we are going for an in-house event! On Saturday 23rd March 7 for 7.30pm we will be holding a Curry Evening with 4 different curries, plus saag aloo , poppadoms, naans , chutney etc. There will also be a sweet course. Much of the food is being donated by our generous trustees. The tickets for the evening are £15 (BYO drinks, but we will supply glasses and water). Maximum number of places is 40 people, so you need to book early. See poster for details.

Ploughman’s Supper and Quiz Night Friday 27th October 2023 7pm for 7.30pm Bradfield Village Hall. Maximum of 6 per team - £10 per head (14 and under £5) . Bring your own drinks/glasses

How to book for the quiz: One person from the team to book in with me norma barrow via contact page messages and then supply me as soon as possible with the names of the 6 members . If you wish to attend and can’t find a team let me know and I will do my best to help. There are no tickets issued, so please book in to confirm attendance. Fees will be collected on the night. Correct cash, if possible, please.

This is always a very popular event and as always, I promise to make the questions reasonable, and the Ploughman’s is always great. There will be a raffle. We have room for a maximum of 19 tables and people are already informing me they are getting a team together. So, get your teams organised and book in so you don’t miss out on this fun event.

Friends of St Lawrence AGM Saturday 9th September 3pm for 3.15pm in the Church Room. The meeting will be followed by tea and cakes . Could members please inform Norma by 2nd September if you are attending this meeting. Thank you.

Below is a list of the gardens which will be open on 25th June.More details of the gardens can be found in the programme, which is the entry ticket for each garden. The programmes will be on sale at the Village Shop leading up to the event and also at the Church from 10.45 on the day. Adults £4 accompanied under 16 free. There are various places selling light refreshments, but no set lunch provision. There will also be an excellent plant and cake stall. Ballister House hopes to have the garden train running. Please take note of the gardens which have requested no dogs and also any access problems. Parking is available at the Village Hall. Please be aware that the roads in Bradfield are narrow, so please park with consideration to others. Enjoy your day!

1)    St Lawrence Church, The Street – God’s Own Acre.

  Programmes. Toilet The proceeds from Gardens Open Day are going towards the repair and maintenance of the church, which will be open for you to visit.

 2) Ballister House, via Ship Lane - Mr and Mrs Bullimore

No dogs. It is anticipated that the garden railway will be working on the day.Access. Single track lane. Gravelled drive to garden. Light refreshments available - Strawberries and cream. Toilet

 3) Nether Hall, via Ship Lane– Mr and Mrs Mathias

Access. Single track lane. Different levels and stairs. Refreshments available. Toilet

 4) Allotment Association, Mill Lane – contact Mr Osborne

If you have never been to the allotments –now’s your chance! Access. No parking available. Wheelchairs might find paths difficult, depending on ground conditions.

5) Rossmoyne, The Street - Mr and Mrs Ablett

No Dogs. Chips and ice cream

 6) Teasels ,The Street - Mr Clark

Access. Not wheelchair friendly

 7) Plas y Coed, Heath Road - Mr and Mrs Barrow

Toilet Refreshments

 8) 2 Hope Cottages, Heath Road - Mr Ford

Access. Gravel drive

 9) Chippins, Heath Road - Mr and Mrs Leese

Guide Dogs only. Access. Some uneven areas but mainly accessible by wheelchairs.

 10) The Cottage, Crow Hall Lane - Mrs Ellis 

No Dogs Access Narrow paths and entrance down gravel track not suitable for wheelchairs

 11 ) Finials, Heath Road -  Mrs Bowen

Front Garden only. Cake Stall

 12) Rowan Cottage, Steam Mill Road - Mrs Coe 

Plant Stall

 13) 3 Fieldley Close (Private Road) - Mr and Mrs Smith

Access . Blue badge holders’ cars only please. The stone drive is not wheelchair friendly. Refreshments 1-3 tea/coffee /cakes

 14) Duetae, Straight Road - Mr and Mrs Simpson

15) Morrits, Windmill Road - Mr and Mrs Price

Access: Gravel drive might cause problem for a wheelchair. Toilet

Saturday 25th May 7pm St Lawrence Church Room

Cheese, wine (or soft drinks) and good company -  what more could you want? Tickets £10 from Norma Barrow Book early to secure your place!

Update: Following a request from ticket holders, the Trustees have agreed to supply a small table so that groups can bring their own snacks, drinks and glasses for the interval. Tea/coffee and biscuits will still be supplied at the interval. Please let me know if you wish to use a table.

This is the 4th time we have set a date to perform this play, the previous 3 times cancelled due to Covid! We have simplified the evening to avoid anymore problems (or is that tempting fate?) The evening will be a radio style performance, with scripts in hand, scenery, costumes, props and acting. There will interval refreshments but no meal. I can promise it will be a fun evening so please come and cheer the actors on. Tickets £5 from Norma Barrow norma.barrow@keme.co.uk

Plot Outline.

We join the Baldock Allotment Growers inside their clubhouse/potting shed as they prepare for the annual flower and produce show.  Bob is relying upon Alex, a local councillor, to agree planning permission for a make-or-break building project.  Alex is desperate to steal gold from Bob in the root vegetable category, having already stolen Deb, Bob's wife.  Alice, on work experience from horticultural college, observes quietly, waiting for the right moment to reveal her true identity.  Rachel, Alex's wife, is in charge of judging, along with Inspector Penny Hart, who also shares a dark secret with Alex. Who dies? and…….who dunnit?  

The cast having fun at rehearsals. Which one dies? Who is responsible?

A short meeting will be followed by a social event . Details to follow

The Friends’ next Annual General Meeting will be held at 3.00pm on Saturday 21st August 2021, outdoors, at Plas y Coed, Heath Road, CO11 2UZ. The meeting will be followed by tea and cake, with a chance to chat. So that we can plan refreshments and seating, we would politely ask members to confirm their attendance at the meeting

Bradfield Gardens Open Day Sunday 27th June 2021 11am -5pm See list of gardens below

Covid 19 please check back here for updates as we move forward

Update 26th June.

Garden 18 will be serving tea and cakes through out the day due to the threat of rain from 3pm (it isn't going to rain!!!)

Updated 16/6/2021

Covid restrictions have not been lifted and remain the same as 17th May. However, as a registered charity the Friends of St Lawrence Church can run this event having completed a covid risk assessment taking into account the safety of:

1.    Visitors to the gardens

2.    Garden Owners

3.    Volunteer helpers

 Visitor information for Covid compliance

We need to remember, the virus will not have gone away, and some people will still not be fully vaccinated. We are asking you all to help us keep the day safe by observing the following points.

1.    Do not visit the gardens if you have any symptoms, have tested positive or have been in contact with a positive case.

2.    Social distancing please observe rule of 2m. This may mean some garden owners will restrict the number of people in their garden at any one time. Please be patient.

3.    Hand sanitiser Each garden will have a hand sanitiser station. Please make use of it.

4.    Money. There are no card payment facilities so please try to have the correct change when paying for programmes etc.

5.    Toilets Masks and hand sanitising will be required.

6.    Church. Due to continuing restrictions the church will only be partially open for selling programmes and the use of the toilet. If entering the church, you will need a mask and either log in using the NHS test and trace QR code or leave contact details. Only 6 people are allowed on premises at any time.

7.    Refreshments. Please follow the rules set up in the individual gardens. NHS QR check in required where there is table service.

8.    Dogs (guide dogs excluded) Some of our owners have requested no dogs. Due to the social distancing rules and restriction of numbers in some gardens, we politely ask you to leave the dogs at home this year.

9. Parking It is easier to walk or cycle, but if you are in a car The Village Hall car park may be used and there is parking on the grass outside Emsworth house. In other areas please park with consideration to others and not on the paths.

Thank you for your cooperation. We hope you have a safe and enjoyable day.

The Event. Entrance is by programme, which can be obtained from the Village Shop from mid-June and St Lawrence Church on the day. Adults £4 accompanied under 16 free

This is the 25th Gardens Open Day! The first was in 1991. At the start it was run yearly and is now held every 2 years. . The event will be run by the Friends of St Lawrence Church, with the proceeds going towards church maintenance projects. Over the years the event has raised over £33,000 which has been used for various projects to maintain and improve the local church

Our local gardeners have been busy during lock-down and are keen to show you their gardens. There will be 18 gardens of various sizes, plus the church open. There will be light refreshments in various venues.. There will also be a plant and cake stall and the local history books will be on sale too. It is hoped the garden train will be running at Ballister House.

1. Ballister House - Station Road (Via Ship Lane) train rides, light refreshments,toilet No Dogs please

2. Nether Hall -Station Road (Via Ship Lane) refreshments, toilet

3. Emsworth House- Station Road. Parking on outside grass. Art exhibition Douglas Page

4. 2 Squires Cottage - The Street

5. St Lawrence Church- The Street Programmes, Toilet

6. Bradfield Place, Harwich Road Parking Blue Badge holders No Dogs please

7. Rossmoyne ,The Street — chips,ices,tea, coffee

8. The Brambles, Wix Road

9. Plas-y-Coed, Heath Road

10. 2 Hope Cottage, Heath Road

11. Chippins,Heath Road No Dogs please

12. Springfall Heath Road

13. Finnials Heath Road — Cake Stall

14. Mooltan, Barrack Street — Local History Books on sale

15. Rowan,Steam Mill Road— Plant Stall

    Extra Garden 15B Benvidia ,Windmill Road - Mr King

16. Berllan Windmill Road/King Street

17. Cherry Plum Cottage, Straight Road

18. Thornfield, Windmill Road — Tea and Cakes from 2.30 to 4.30

Cncelled due to Covid 19 restrictions

The annual Christmas Craft Market will take place at the Bradfield Community Centre on Saturday 28th November 2020 10am -5pm More details later

This event has been cancelled due to Covid 19 restrictions.

The Friends’ Annual General Meeting will be held at 3.00pm on Saturday 22nd August 2020, outdoors, socially distanced, at Plas y Coed, Heath Road, CO11 2UZ. So that we can plan a Covid compliant meeting, we would politely ask you to confirm your attendance at the meeting via email normabarrow@btinternet.com or phone 01255 870681 by 11th August. Further details about the meeting will be supplied when the agenda is circulated. Sorry there will be no refreshments this year

A table has been booked for the Friends of St Lawrence Church to take part in the Bradfield Sale Trail which is taking place on Saturday 15th August 10am – 4 pm. The tables will be set up in the front garden of Plas-y Coed. Norma is now looking for some items to sell and would be pleased to receive donations of cakes, plants, books or good quality bric a brac (Nothing electrical). Please contact her if you are able to supply anything, normabarrow@btinternet.com 01255 870681. Do come along on the day there are approx. 25 selling points around the village.

Gardens Open Day will be resting this year, but will return.

Murder Mystery Evening and Supper  Saturday 18th April at Bradfield Village Hall. 7pm for 7.30 prompt start.

This year’s play is called “The Allotment Plot” by Emma Northcott. Baldock Allotment Growers meet in their shed prior to their annual competition. With jealousy, rivalry, secrets and a shed packed with pesticides and sharp implements, what could possibly go wrong? Hmm I can think of a few things……!

Why not get a group together to solve the murder mystery presented by our group of performers? Tickets £14 including supper can be ordered from normabarrow@btinternet.com phone 01255 870681.There is no bar so please bring your own drinks and glasses.

Friday October 11th at the BVA hall. 7.15 for prompt 7.30 start. Teams of 6. £7.50 per head which includes a ploughman’s supper. Bring your own drinks and glasses. Book your teams with Norma Barrow. As always I promise the the questions will be doable!

  This is the list of the 14 gardens opening on Sunday 30th June 11am to 5pm. The list also shows some of the various stalls and refreshment points. Entry is by programme (Adults £4 accompanied under 16 free) which can be bought from the local shop from mid-June or St Lawrence Church on the day. The church will be open to visit.

1) Ballister House, via Ship Hill Lane - Mr and Mrs Bullimore A sculptural approach to gardening has created curved rolling banks, a natural approach to planting and the installation of ponds to encourage wildlife. Extensive views of the river. It is anticipated that the garden railway will be working on the day..Access. Single track lane. Light refreshments available.

 2) Stour Lodge, Station Road – Mr and Mrs Appleyard The garden at Stour Lodge was mainly planted and landscaped just over thirty years ago shortly after we moved in. We had to clear a fairly substantial apple orchard and transport many many tons of soil around the garden before starting planting. It is unfortunately now beginning to show its age (rather like its owners) and a number of plants have died, some replanting has just started. What has not changed however are the splendid views over the Stour.

 3) Shoregate House, Station Road – Mr and Mrs Webb Garden with a fabulous view of the estuary. This garden faces the challenges of a north east wind which can be very cruel during the winter months. The garden slopes down and can be hard to keep moist for plants; it is mainly laid out to shrubs that survive these conditions with winding paths and ponds, with some summer bedding plants for colour. Always evolving.Access.. Wheelchair access is possible via a sloping driveway and path to the garden, it requires a sturdy push back up again!

 4) Bradfield Place, Harwich Road – Mr and Mrs HobartA crinkle crankle walled garden by the church in Bradfield. The garden and house was totally redesigned when Christian and Ursi moved into the property in 1999. The walled garden is a simple design of formal and informal, incorporating a small orchard Access. Blue badge holders cars only in drive please

 5) Rossmoyne, The Street - Mr and Mrs Ablett  Take the weight off your feet at Rossmoyne whilst enjoying the Bradfield Gardens Event. Bradfield vistas to enjoy.The garden at Rossmoyne is only 3 years old. It is gradually transforming into a peaceful, relaxing setting. Come and see how far we have got. We look forward to welcoming you. Chips and Ices, available.

 6) Teasels, The Street - Mr Clark A garden developed over twenty two years from new with paving, small pond, mixed borders, fruit and vegetables.  A gate leads into a half acre meadow with trees, large pond and ditches to encourage wildlife and flowers (accompanied children only in this area please).

 7) Brambles, Wix Road - Mr and Mrs Griffiths A cottage garden planted with wildlife in mind, including trees, shrubs, roses, perennials, topiary, a small pond and a tiny pond, with plenty of seats for you to relax and rest. There is a wide path along the back and side of the cottage. Access. One step up to the grass. Parking can be found in the road along the back.

 8) Plas- y- Coed, Heath Road - Mr and Mrs Barrow  Even after 36 years this garden is still evolving. The raised bed at the bottom of the garden has been replanted this year. The edge of the garden woody walk continues to be developed. Water, shrubs, perennials, vegetable area. Quirky garden ornaments. How many different creatures can you find?  Care. Uneven grass area

Light lunches 12 to 2.30 - Plant Stall - Friends History Books

9) No. 2 Hope Cottage, Heath Road - Mr Ford Renovation of this garden has continued over the last two years with careful pruning and removal of shrubs creating more light. The large flower borders are newly planted. Wander round and enjoy the beautiful mature trees and roses. Book stall 

 10) Chippins, Heath Road - Mr and Mrs Leese   A NGS Yellow Book Garden. Plantaholics paradise with herbaceous geraniums, hostas and alliums. Stream and wildlife pond brimming with bog plants. Explosion of colour - abundance of tubs, hanging baskets.(Over 60 pots in the front garden!). Wide borders featuring hemerocallis and swathes of lilies. Exotics include cannas, aeoniums and agaves.The garden has surprises around every corner, with plenty of places to sit and contemplate, or just drink in the peaceful atmosphere!

Kit is an artist and there are paintings to see in the conservatory / etching studio/greenhouse.

 11) Twin Poplars, Heath Road - Mrs Butler A family friendly garden with a pond, shrubs and small vegetable plot.

 12) Finials, Heath Road - Mrs Bowen A mature secluded garden with a variety of shrubs and pots. Cake Stall

13) Holt Tye, Windmill Road -  Mr and Mrs Reeve. This recently built bungalow has a new garden evolving from the old and contains Fish, Flowers and Fruit. Tea and Cakes available 2- 4.30 pm

14) Thornfield, Windmill Road - Mrs Grinyer  The garden at Thornfield is at the Mistley end of the village but it is worth a visit. You could always come here first. Our organic cottage garden covers around a third of an acre. It is well established and comprises large herbaceous borders and roses, apple trees in meadow grass, rectangular vegetable plots interspersed with red brick paths and some fruit bushes. There is a woodland corner canopied by an ancient oak tree.It is at its best in Spring and early Summer. Access There are steps down to the house and a slope to access the lower level of the garden. You could probably get a wheelchair down the slope. Sweet Stall - Cream teas from 2 – 4.30

The annual Christmas Craft Market will be taking place at the Bradfield Community Centre from 10am to 4 pm on Saturday 24th November 2018.

How you can help

Tombola: This stall always raises a lot of money; however we do need to collect about 200 prizes. We are looking to collect tins, bottles, small gifts, beauty products anything that is in date and in new condition. A box will be placed at the back of the church for these items 2 weeks before the event. No electrical items please.

Cake stall: Please let Christine Bowen or Barbara Coe know if you are able to make cakes. They would prefer large cakes, but if you are making small please package in 4/6.

Help: This is needed in three areas. Please let me know if you are able to help with any of them!

1. Friday evening. We would appreciate some help moving tables from the church and setting up, putting up lights, decorating tree etc.

2. Door and stalls need to be manned all day. Can you spare and hour?

3. Clearing up at 4pm on Saturday and returning equipment to church.

Please contact me if you are able to offer with these 3 areas. normabarrow@btinternet.com 01255 870681

Curry Evening at the Mogul Manningtree Wednesday 10th October 7pm for 7.15. The meal will consist of a starter, main course of mild/medium curry, vegetables, pilau rice and naan bread. The cost will be £20 per head. If you would like to take part in this evening, please book your place with Sue Cunningham email: sue.cunningham1@btinternet.com  tel: 01255 870154

The Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 18th August at 3.30 in the church room at St Lawrence Church. The meeting will be followed by tea and cakes. For catering purposes please let Norma Barrow know if you are attending. Apologies for absence should be sent to Bob Coe bob.coe@btinternet.com