The Fledgling Friends group started in 2002 and, by 2004, it had received its formal constitution from the National Trust. Its aims from the beginning were to promote the work of the National Trust, encouraging knowledge and better understanding of Croome Park and to initiate social activities and fund-raising, the major focus being upon the property itself. In this, we are a rare organisation amongst the Trust’s Supporter Groups.

In 2009, when Croome Court was opened to the public, a whole new area of interests became available for the Friends to absorb and enjoy, though we decided to leave our founding name unaltered!

Our membership is diverse including those who simply love the place, families whose forebears worked on the Croome Estate and NT Volunteers involved with exciting projects to clear undergrowth, plant, prune and welcome visitors to the Park in ever increasing numbers. With no café facilities at the start, the Friends offered teas and homemade cakes in a tent – an extremely popular asset. With the funds raised, the Friends felt able to concentrate amongst other things, on the provision of handsome benches, maintenance machinery, a camcorder and plants.. We have recently opened a second-hand bookshop in the basement of Croome court, as a further means of fund raising.

By becoming a friend, your enjoyment of the whole property will be enhanced by a feeling of belonging and involvement and by the enthusiasm of fellow members.

The Events Committee is lively and provides a programme of really entertaining and informative talks, walks and visits specifically for the Friends’ membership and we have links with the Defford Airfield Heritage Group, another fascinating aspect of Croome’ history. We are proud of the high standard of our Newsletter produced twice a year for members, containing informative articles and the latest on restoration projects.

'In 2009, when Croome Court was opened to the public, a whole new area of interests became available for the Friends to absorb and enjoy, though we decided to leave our founding  name unaltered!

The Oral History Project, borne out of the Friends, has burgeoned into a remarkable modern record of recollections of life at Croome during the time of the Coventry family and after the Second World War to the present, along with photographic records for display. With Lottery Grant assistance, a booklet was produced and still the work of interviewing and recording goes on.