Last week, residents and staff from Inspired Villages, an operator of later living villages, celebrated 100 years of the Warwickshire Women’s Institute (WI) by planting a commemorative Oak, donated by the WI themselves, in the rural grounds of Great Alne Park, near Alcester and Stratford-Upon-Avon.
The Oak tree was planted within the beautiful grounds of Great Alne Park by Barbara Munton, President of the Great Alne and Kinwarton WI, as well as Great Alne Park Village Manager, Mary Higginson. The planting was supported by over 30 members of the Great Alne and Kinwarton WI, who turned up to mark the occasion. Guests were invited to witness the tree planting and enjoy refreshments in the new Clubhouse, which forms the heart of the village.
Sapling trees were donated to WI groups throughout the county at the Centenary Annual Meeting of the Warwickshire Federation of Women’s Institutes. Each group was tasked with finding the perfect spot to ensure that the WI’s legacy is maintained into the future. Barbara Munton, comments: “I am delighted that we have found a spot which has so many memories for the people of Great Alne and surrounding areas. As this is the Centenary of the WI movement, I am sure that the tree will flourish in its new home and be a lasting bastion to the WI movement.”
Mary Higginson, Village Manager at Great Alne Park, comments: “We are extremely honoured and proud that Barbara and her WI group chose Great Alne Park as a place to plant their commemorative oak tree.
“Getting residents involved in the local community and special events such as this is a really important part of village life - encouraging social engagement and mental and physical activation of our residents, which is at the heart of the core principles of our villages. The tree planting was a lovely way to commemorate 100 years of the Warwickshire WI and we will go out of our way to ensure this tree marks the future, not only for the WI but for our village as well.”
Guests enjoyed tea, coffee and cakes in the newly opened restaurant at Great Alne Park, set in the impressive Clubhouse and open to the local community. It was officially opened by Nadhim Zahawi MP back in July of this year.
Site tours were offered to guests who wished to look around the impressive facilities, which include; a swimming pool and wellness centre, as well as a superb range of country club style facilities that provide plenty of opportunities for maintaining an active lifestyle, socialising and relaxing. The site also boasts an impressive games room, library and even a lavish, art-deco themed, in-house cinema.
Set within 78 acres of parkland, to the north of the picturesque Cotswolds, Great Alne Park occupies an enviable position in the Warwickshire countryside, within easy reach of Warwick, Leamington Spa and Henley-in-Arden, providing a collection of attractive retirement cottages and apartments starting from start from £295,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and from £514,000 for a three bedroom cottage. To find out more about Great Alne Park, please visit: https://www.inspiredvillages.co.uk/villages/greatalnepark
