Includes TRIPS and OUTINGS. Recent items of interest from the Wantage and Grove u3a please visit our Events Page for future activities - we are a busy group!
Have a look at our 2025/26 adventures
Gardeners Group Visit to Denton House March 2026
Nine members of the Gardeners Group enjoyed a visit to Denton House on 5 March 2026. Mrs Waveney, her sister and two others welcomed the group, and off we went on an informal but informative tour of the walled garden, topiary, woodland areas, many interesting mature trees and large lawns*. (*complete with a robot mower - Mr Waveney's new toy). We learned about the estate’s history of obtaining the stone windows in the wall from Brasenose College Chapel and Library, and how they managed with just one gardener once a week. Pretty impressive for a couple in their 90s!
The weather was very kind to us, sunny and mild, which made the tour very pleasant. We were served refreshment in a lovely room overlooking the garden and were spoilt with bone china crockery and a choice of homemade cakes.
Feedback from the group was very positive, all expressing a wish to return at a different time of year. This was despite getting lost in Garsington . . . twice . . . until a very kind lady on a horse said 'follow me' and led us to the correct road out of the village.
Lyn Toms
October 2025 Walking Group's walks around Oxford
Members enjoyed 2 short walks around Oxford using the Liz Woolley book "Oxford's Working Past". There were readings from the book whilst looking at buildings in Oxford. The first walk was a 2 miles along the Thames, looking at buildings on the way. Then a walk up to St. Aldates for the second walk of the day which was route 1 from the book (0.6 miles). This was the last walk of the season for the group.
June Grunwald
October 2025 Gardeners Group visit to Burford Garden Centre
Seven of the Gardeners went to Burford Garden Centre on 2nd October. There was an earlier start to make sure there was plenty of time to enjoy lunch. Afterwards, some time was spent independently wandering around the Nursery - a good selection of bedding and spring bulbs for winter pots. Additionally, many took the opportunity to explore the extensive indoor offerings.
Lyn Toms
September 2025 Walking Group Ridgeway walk
The walk on Sat 27 September was led by Jill and Pauline and was about 7 miles from the Ridgeway at Scutchamer Knob.
Fabulous circular walk today taking in the Ridgeway and paths to the south. Views of tree formations 'Big and Little Aliens' with story telling from Jill, snack stop at The Monument, a Betjeman poetry reading with reference to Ann's grandfather at the memorial stone, views of Richard's Tree and a ramble over and information about Scutchamer's Knob from Jill. Good conversation, brilliant views and so much more than a walk.
Ann Gregory
September 2025 Gardeners Group visit to Buscot
6 members of the Gardeners Group went to visit the gardens at Buscot. We had a pre-arranged talk from a member of staff, Amy. she told us some of the history of the house and grounds and explained the relationship between the National Trust and the Faringdon family. The family still live on the grounds in a smaller house nearby, but use the main house as often as they need to. She also told us about the relationship between Buscot and Kelmscott, William Morris and the then Lord Faringdon, who were friends. After the talk we wandered round the Walled Garden admiring the mixed planting of fruit, vegetables and flowers. Then on to the Italian Water Garden via the Terracotta Warriors. We had time to see only a small part of the extensive grounds. We finished up with a cup of tea bought in the interestingly decorated tea rooms. Do go if you haven't been, but look up opening times as they are variable to fit in with family requirements, and do go to the house. We didn't have time for the house, you need at least a day for the house and grounds.
Hazel Townesend
August 2025 Walking Group visit circular walk along the Ridgeway
This walk on Sat 23 August was about 6.5 miles. The walk went along the Ridgeway from a car park where the Ridgeway crosses the Childrey to Lambourne Road (B4001). We then turned south to the natural burial ground and finally back to the start. The final short section is along the B4001. Led by Diane and David Coates.
August 2025 the Gardeners visit to Kelmscott Manor
18 members of the Gardeners Group spent a pleasant afternoon at Kelmscott Manor on 7th August. Despite the hot weather, there were several plants to admire, pink day lilies, sea lavender, a medlar tree, the old mulberry and, of course, the topiary dragon created by Morris himself. The weather was kind and the teashop had lovely cakes!
Lyn Toms
July 2025 What's On, Let's Go group visit to the convent of St. Mary the Virgin in Wantage
12 members of the group were welcomed with coffee and home-made biscuits by members of the Community, who told us something of it's history. We then visited the 2 lovely chapels, both very different in style and atmosphere, and heard about the former and very talented Mother Superior, who carved 12 beautiful wooden panels depicting the Stations of the Cross. The visit ended with a stroll round the colourful gardens and apple orchard.
Linda Thompson
July 2025 Gardeners Group visit to Rousham
9 members of the group visited Rousham to enjoy the herbaceous borders and dovecote in the 18th century walled gardens. A stroll through the trees took us eventually to the seven arched colonnade called Praeneste modelled on the ruins at Palestrina in Italy, which is set into a steep bank overlooking the river Cherwell and the Heyford bridge. Here we rested from the heat and had the refreshments we had brought with us. We saw pools, a rill, cascades and statues on our stroll back to the entrance. Thank you Kate Hancock for organising!
Sue Bailey
July 2025 Walking Group walk from Grove to Wantage via Denchworth
On Saturday 26th July the Walking Group embarked on a walk of around 6 miles from Grove to Wantage, via Denchworth led by Alan Grunwald
June 2025 Walking Group circular walk around Buscot and Kelmscott
The group enjoyed a sunny and breezy walk along the Thames Path from Buscot Weir to Kelsmcott. We spotted a family of swans with 6 cygnets on the way and enjoyed refreshments in the garden area of lovely Kelmscott Manor. A pair of secateurs came in handy on the return route as the brambles had gone into overdrive in the kissing gate areas. Help with my sense of direction ensured we made it back to the car park at the Weir. A good team effort!
Sue Bailey
May 2025 Walking Group circular route around Farnborough.
On Saturday 24th May the Walking Group enjoyed a circular walk around Farnborough led by Heather Wells.
May 2025 Gardeners Group Visit to Rooksnest, Lambourn
The visit to Rooksnest went well with 20 members attending. We had lovely weather and a talk from Kevin the head gardener. The paths were
easy to navigate and the plants were beautifully maintained.
There was lots of dappled shading and benches to sit on as we walked around. They have 2 open days a year, the next one on June 25th when the roses should be out.
Well worth visiting again.
Wanda Clarke
April 2025 Walking Group circular walk to Ardington
The walk on 26th April started from Holy Trinity Church, taking in Kingsgrove, Lockinge and Ardington and was around 6 miles led by Ann & Andrew Gregory.
April 2025 Gardeners Group Visit to Linnet's garden in Fawley
It was a lovely warm and sunny day. We walked round the pond with its marsh marigolds (mollyblobs) and snakeshead fritillaries, saw the moorhen’s nest with 7 eggs. The moorhen bolted but happily came back later. There were lots of primroses and the magnolia was in full flower.
Some people looked round the house as it was The School House in Thomas Hardy’s Jude The Obscure, a depressing novel, not recommended. Fawley is Marygreen in the book.
There was a lot of plant swapping and we had tea outside.
Linnet McMahon
March 2025 Walking group circular walk around Harwell
First walk of the year. Down Winnaway, through Wellshead and back through Holloway to Curie Avenue. Weather kind to U3A walkers who made the best of a lovely Spring Saturday morning. Many thanks for your company as usual.
Val & Rowan
February 2025 Gardeners Group Visit to Welford Park
20 members of the Gardeners’ Group set off for Welford Park on a glorious sunny but crisp day at the beginning of February to look at the snowdrops. We enjoyed a leisurely walk around the park, some taking a shorter route, others the longer route to admire the clumps and carpets of snowdrops which were peeping out. Aconites were also peeping through. Looking up some of us also admired the bundles of mistletoe hanging from the trees. Many of the paths had been recently laid with new bark chippings. Some of us indulged in refreshments from the tent in the grounds and persuaded the staff to point out where the Bake Off challenge takes place. A very enjoyable outing made better by the lovely weather.
Chris Lavery