Hundreds of glorious gardens will open to the public this summer – and it’s all for a good cause. From now until September, you can visit gardens around the country from Cornwall to Cumbria – including some never previously open to the public – for the British Red Cross Open Gardens scheme.
There is something for everyone, whatever your age or interests. Some arrange activities to entertain the whole family, while others offer visitors the added charm of live music in their glorious surroundings. All provide plenty of inspiration and ideas for the horticultural enthusiast.
Most gardens are open for afternoons only, but check all details including opening times, ticket prices, car parking and refreshments before you visit by looking on the Red Cross website:
http://www.redcross.org.uk/Opengardens
So start planning your garden visits with these suggestions:
FAMILY FRIENDLY
Many gardens offer special family attractions or activities:
22 May The Old Vicarage, Great Staughton, St Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 5BB
29 May Thornley House, Thornley Gate, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 9NH
12 June Styford Hall Stocksfield, Northumberland, NE43 7TY
18 June Grundle Farm Walsham Road, Wattisfield, DISS, Norfolk, IP22 1PB
26 June Callipers Hall, Chipperfield, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, WD4 9BP
24 July 42 Falconer Road Bushey Hertfordshire WD23 3AD
14 August Maenan Hall, Maenan, Llanrwst, Gwynedd, LL26 0UL
21 August Englefield House, Theale, Berkshire RG7 5EN
MUSIC AND MERRIMENT
Listening to live music against a stunning natural backdrop is a real treat not to be missed:
29 May The Old Manor, White House Green, Sulhamstead, Reading, RG7 4EA
19 June Bayford Musical Gardens Day near Hertford, Herts SG13 8PX
3 July North Mymms Park Welham Green near Hatfield Herts AL9 7TN
6 July Fulbeck Hall, Fulbeck, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG32 3JW
17 July Wargrave Court, Station Road, Wargrave, Reading, Berkshire, RG10 8EU
SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY
From a sub-tropical delight in suburban Hampshire to a healing garden in Northumberland – many gardens offer something a little bit unexpected:
9 June The Barn, The Hill, Westleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 3AN
21 July Dilston Physic Garden Dilston Mill House, Corbridge, Northumberland, NE45 5QZ
July – August, (by appointment) 8 Birdwood Grove, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 8AF
14 Aug Clare College Trinity Lane Cambridge CB2 1TL
BE INSPIRED BY BOTANICAL BEAUTIES
Plant-lovers everywhere will enjoy these gorgeous gardens:
14 May 54 West Lane, Hayling Island, Hants PO11 0JL
15 May Watcombe, 92 Church Road, Winscombe, Somerset BS25 1BP
12 June Braddocks House, Oxbridge, Dorset, DT6 3TZ
10 July Glemham Hall Little Glemham, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 0BT
7 Aug Thwaite Hall Gardens, University of Hull, Cottingham, E.Yorkshire, HU16 4QX
28 August Polemonium Plantery 28 Sunnyside Terrace, Trimdon Grange, Co. Durham, TS29 6HF
4 Sept Caro’s Garden, 79 Church Lane, East Finchley, London N2 0TH
VILLAGE COLLECTIONS
When entire streets or villages join forces to open their gardens together, the effect can be spectacular:
22 May Mill End, Bradwell-on-Sea, Southminster, Essex, CM0 7HL
29 May Datchworth Village, near Stevenage, Herts SG3 6ST
29 May Chiswick Mall Chiswick, London, W4 2PJ
5 June Pebmarsh Trail The Street, Pebmarsh, Halsted, Essex CO9 2NH
18-19 June Caistor in Bloom 14 Coach House Court, Caistor, Market Rasen, Lincs, LN7 6BX
19 June Letchworth Arts & Leisure Group, Herts SG6 4AA
26 June Ashley and Culkerton Village Gardens, The Ox Barn, Culkerton, Tetbury, Glos, GL8 8SS
3 July Gardeners’ Cottage, Mill St, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1BG
3 July Llanfair Talhaiarn Village Gardens, Llanfairtalhaiarn, Abergele, Conwy, LL22 8SP
17 July Rhyd-y-Foel Village Abergele, Conwy, LL22 8DY
14 Aug Flint Cottages, 30-31, High St, Wherwell, Hampshire, SP11 7JG
RARELY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Some private gardens are rarely open to the public, so make the most of their Open Days while you can:
15 May Weacombe House, West Quantoxhead, Taunton, Somerset TA4 4EB
22 May Church House Oast Garden, The Street, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2JL
22 May Belcombe Court, Belcombe Road, Bradford on Avon, Avon BA15 1LZ
19 June The Manor House, Hinton St Mary, Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 1NA
26 June Gaston House, Gaston Green, Little Hallingbury, Bishop’s Stortford, Essex CM22 7QS
There are open gardens across England and Wales, and more will be announced over the following weeks. Details of all gardens are available on the Red Cross website:
http://www.redcross.org.uk/Opengardens
Your entry fee or donation will go towards the British Red Cross and its UK and overseas work to help vulnerable people.