SOMME 80
On the road linking Maricourt with Longueval there is a haven of blooms and greenery where you can pause a while, slake your thirst and mooch around discovering the manifold aspects of this unusual garden.
The current owner of the property has named the garden after a lady who used to live there. Félicie is now dead and lies in Maricourt cemetery, having witnessed three wars in her lifetime:
1870-71, 1914-1918 and 1939-1945.
The concept of Felicia's garden is that visitors can walk through the gate, explore the garden with or without the owner, choose one of the many curious corners to sit down in and then order refreshments. The garden is seemingly endless and is a very a curious shape. I particularly like the unusual decorative aspect to it - which is always unexpected. You just don't know what is around the corner. It is a good place to take children as they can explore quite happily while you take the weight off your feet and sip a cup of tea (made up of very interesting blends ie. black tea with poppy, almond and biscuit) or gulp down some organic pear or apple juice from the orchards in nearby Suzanne.
My daughter was fascinated by the cute chalet shop where you can buy souvenirs made from natural products (blackcurrant flavour sugar for example) and decorative objects for your garden. Equally fascinating was the organic toilet that incites us to teach our children about ecological issues.
My French husband, who thinks we British spend too much time sitting in cafés and tea rooms drinking tea (and who has to be dragged to a table), was very impressed, no doubt seduced by the very rural setting.
Le Jardin de Félicie is open from May 1st to 31st August
Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday from 2pm until 7pm
Friday / Saturday / Sunday and Bank Holidays from 10am until 6pm
TEL: 0322831579
EMAIL: Grisette80lejardin.defelicie@orange.fr
You can combine a visit to the garden with a trip to the new Maricourt monument, put in place by the Somme Remembrance Association, marking the exact point on the frontline in 1916 where French and British troops joined up for the attack which formed the onset of the Somme offensive.
It is worth adding that walking groups are welcome, with their packed lunches, but I encourage you to purchase something to drink and visit the shop.
