15 30 EVENING POST www.lep.co.uk Saturday, March 28, 2015 GARDENING Easter gardens to inspire Hannah Stephenson talks to the NGS chief executive George Plumptre on garden visits

hen school’s out for Easter, it’s nSpetchley Park Gardens, Worcs time for the (www.spetchleygardens.co.uk) family to venture outdoors - and there Open for NGS Good Friday, April 3 Ware some great gardens to visit over the holidays, with the added bonus of raising money for charity while you do it. With the National Gar- dens Scheme Yellow Book 2015 in hand, you can leaf through a plethora of pri- vately-owned gardens which open their doors at certain n The gardens in Eng- times of the year and give vis- land and Wales can be itors a chance to view garden owners’ individual creations, found in The Yellow with proceeds going towards Book 2015 (Constable, £12.99), a guide to nursing, caring and garden- n 61 Fountainhall Road, almost 4,000 gardens ing charities. Edinburgh open to the public on More than 70 gardens in (www.scotlandsgardens.org) and Wales will open behalf of the NGS. A Open for during Easter in aid of the similar publication for Scotland’s Gardens on NGS, as well as some Scottish Scotland’s Gardens can Easter Sunday, April 5 gardens, served by its sister be found at www. organisation Scotland’s scotlandsgardens.org Gardens.

Weekend Walk: The dreaming spires of Preston Earlier this year we pub- delightful walk along the River that crosses the car park to a and stile noting a finevi ew of scent lished a walk connecting Brock, one of Lancashire’s hid- footbridge crossing the rail- Beacon Fell to the right. Cross to a two bus routes from Pres- den gems. Second, after a rela- way. Continue on a footpath the stile which puts you onto wood- ton between Bilsborrow and tively short climb, a traverse that follows the Brock Mill Lane. Turn left. en Longridge. of fields with a marvellous under the M6 motorway. Keep on the lane past the next gate It was an interesting route but open aspect, giving a wonder- 300yds beyond the motor- junction to the leftwh ere it be- in the for many readers access to ful panorama of the Fylde and way cross a footbridge on the comes Gonder Lane. Pass the field Preston Bus Station is not con- Preston. right and continue on a path junction with Lane corner. venient. With this in mind, we Directions: From the en- leading up to a lane by New on the right. ¼ mile further on Through the gate a very muddy Grange won the prestig- offer this route, starting close trance to Barton Grange cross Bridge. Keep ahead, crossing turn left onto the farm drive track leads to Clarkson’s farm ious Destination Garden Cen- to Barton Grange Garden Cen- the A6, turn right and walk to a stone squeeze stile and fol- of what you will soon discover (this may be best avoided by tre of the Year Award from the tre on the A6 north of Bilsbor- down to the Landrover deal- low the path that edges along- is the well named High House entering the adjoining field Garden Centres Association row. It has two aspects. First a ers. Turn left on a footpath side a property at the far side of Farm. As the track bends to the through a convenient gap and for the fourth year running. which cross a stile into a large left, take a footpath on the right walking parallel to the track). Pleasantly situated between field. Still with the river to the through a metal gate. Cross the Cross over a stile into the the River Brock and the Lan- NEWLANDSCAPING leftth ough obscured by trees, field to a stile by a metal gate on driveway of Clarkson’s Farm. caster Canal, its extensive keep ahead until you arrive at the far side. Once over the stile Turn right onto a lane and then range and friendly staff no Walmsley Bridge. doubt contribute to its prize PRODUCTS IN STOCK! Cross the bridge and turn winning formula. However I right onto a footpath taking particularly commend a visit you back alongside the river. to the (male) toilets where an After ½ mile, the path enters imaginative, witty and colour- a large long field and bears left ful design will make the expe- to meet a track on the edge of rience memorable (sorry I woodland. Turn right on the cannot possibly comment on track and follow it through the female toilets!) woods. After passing a sign- l Walk devised by Lynda post for Brock Bottoms Mill Battarbee and described by pointing right, the river bends Bob Clare of www.lancashire- northwards while the path en- walks.com. Stepping Stones•Decorative Gravel ters a less wooded space after turn leftalongsi de the hedge to soon after lefton to Walmsley l Bob’s book “100 Walks a coin studded log. another gate and stile. By now Bridge Lane. When you arrive in Lancashire” published by Walling • Paving •Planters • Features 300yds further along turn you will be experiencing a re- at the bridge cross it and turn Crowood Press is now on sale. lefton to a footpath leading up markable sense of elevation, right onto a footpath to retrace ______BUILDERS SUPPLIES through trees. This steep slope all the more surprising be- your outward steps. Start/finish: Bilsborrow – close (West coast Ltd) is marked as Nanny’s Breast cause apart from the short as- Points of Interest: Barton to Barton Grange Garden Centre on the OS 25,000 map. As the cent of Nanny’s Breast you have Grange Garden Centre. For PR3 0BT Chain Caul Way, ,Preston path levels offcr oss a stile to not done any noticeable climb- many people a visit to a gar- Distance: 7k, 11 miles enter a field. Keep ahead for ing. Continuing in a southerly den centre is the equivalent Time: 3-4 hours 01772 766500 a short distance and then direction confirmed by the of going for a walk so here is Summary: Mainly easy bear right, in a northerly di- dreaming spires of Preston in an opportunity of combin- Map: OS OL41 The Forest of www.bswc.biz rection, towards a metal gate the distance begin a gentle de- ing the two. In 2014 Barton Bowland