Recommended Gardens Selected by the RHS for 2010 www.rhs.org.uk

A GUIDE TO FREE ACCESS FOR RHS MEMBERS

The RHS, the UK’s leading gardening charity Contents Frequently RHS Gardens Asked Questions www.rhs.org.uk/gardens

3 Frequently Asked Questions As well as the four RHS – ❋ ❋ owned gardens (Wisley, RHS Garden Harlow Carr RHS Garden Hyde Hall Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire Buckhatch Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Hyde Hall, Harlow Carr and 3 RHS Gardens HG3 1QB Tel: 01423 565418 Essex CM3 8AT Tel: 01245 400256 Rosemoor), the RHS has 4 Recommended Gardens for 2010 teamed up with 147 Joint Member 1 gardens around the UK and 6 Scotland Membership No 12345678 23 overseas independently © RHS 12 North West owned gardens which are Mr A Joint generously offering free

15 North East access to RHS Members Expires End Jul-10 © RHS / Jerry Harpur (one member per policy), 20 East Anglia either throughout their * opening season or at Completely in tune with its Yorkshire RHS Garden Hyde Hall provides an oasis 23 South East selected periods. setting, Harlow Carr embodies the of peace and tranquillity with sweeping 31 South West For a full list tick ‘free access for RHS Members’ rugged honesty of its host region panoramas, big open skies and far on www.rhs.org.uk/rhsgardenfinder/gardenfinder.asp whilst championing environmental reaching views. The 360-acre estate 39 Central awareness and sustainability. integrates fluidly into the surrounding Dominated by water, stone and farmland, meadows and woodland, 46 Wales How are the gardens chosen? woodland, its innovative design and providing a gateway to the countryside Who can gain free entry? Whether formal landscape, late creative planting provide a beautiful where you can watch the changing ✔ RHS members with an asterisk 50 Northern Ireland season borders or woodland, all and tranquil place for meeting friends, seasons and get closer to nature. Hyde ( ) on the front of your * Recommended Gardens offer gathering fresh ideas or bringing the Hall is a garden to be enjoyed by membership card – see above. 51 Channel Islands inspiration to keen gardeners through family for a leisurely stroll. people of all ages and from all walks of ✔ All Individual Members high standards of design and/or Open: All year, except Christmas Day, life, providing a fabulous day out. 52 Overseas ✔ IMPORTANT: for membership planting. Many are well known, some 9.30am-6pm (4pm in winter), last entry Open: All year, except Christmas Day, types with two adults (for example, less so resulting in a mix of styles 1 hr before closing. 10am. Closing times vary between Joint), free entry applies to one from the formal and grand, to the 6pm mid-summer to 4pm mid-winter – cardholder per policy informal and domestic. contact the garden for details. Last entry (“Member 1”) as indicated by an 1 hour before closing. Key to garden symbols asterisk (*) on the front of your When can I gain free entry? membership card. Disabled access/ Events The free entry periods vary between 1 Gardens open free ❋ ✖ Guests: free entry to to Individual members facilities programme gardens; please check before Recommended Gardens is not ❋ ❋ throughout their open travelling. RHS Garden Rosemoor RHS Garden Wisley applicable to guests. period (with map Guide dogs only Plant sales You will need your membership card Great Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB ✖ Group entry: So that smaller reference) (or yellow ‘temporary membership’ Tel: 01805 624067 Tel: 0845 260 9000 gardens can be part of the scheme, Gardens open free to Group bookings form) to gain entry. 3 Restaurant free entry does not apply to Individual members welcome during selected periods members travelling as part of an organised group. What facilities are available © RHS (with map reference) Parking Shop See entry for details Please contact the garden in at each garden? advance to discuss group visits. A key to the symbols alongside each © Stephen Record Refreshments RHS For more information please garden entry can be found on p2. Gardens refer to the back of your membership card. Special Event Day: Some gardens do not offer free access RHS Garden Rosemoor is an enchanting Whatever the season, with over 200 All details including opening times are correct at time of going to press. on special event days (such as NGS). 65 acre garden of year-round interest. acres to explore, Wisley is a Please check before travelling. Please call ahead. With Formal and Informal Gardens, wonderful day out. For more than For a selection of RHS Recommended including two Rose Gardens, a Fruit and 100 years the garden has been a For an alternative format of this leaflet please call Events in your area call: Vegetable Garden and a Winter Garden centre of gardening excellence, with 0845 062 1111 or log on to: as well as Woodlands and a beautiful RHS expertise demonstrated at every 0845 062 1111, text phone 18001 020 7834 4333 www.rhs.org.uk/rhseventfinder Lake, Rosemoor has something for corner. Whether it is the stunning or email [email protected] or refer to the bimonthly Events everyone. Over 80 events are also held displays in the Glasshouse, the glories booklet in the middle of The Garden. throughout the year for all the family. of the Mixed Borders, the colour of Credits All this and much more besides ensures early spring bulbs or the variety in Design: Carolyn Maile © Royal Horticultural Society 2010 Thinking of becoming that Rosemoor is a place that people the Fruit and Trials Fields, there is Printed by: McLays Printers, Cardiff, UK 80 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PE a member? return to time and again for ideas, always something to inspire Cover image: Tatton Park Japanese Garden RHS Registered Charity No: 222879/SCO38262 Free access to the RHS Recommended inspiration or to enjoy a marvellous whenever you visit. © George Littler www.rhs.org.uk Gardens is one of many benefits of day out. Open: All year, except Christmas Day, supporting the charitable work of the Open: All year, except Christmas Day, Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm, Sat–Sun, 9am–6pm All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, issued, adapted or transmitted in part or in whole in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher and the relevant subsidiary Alison Higgs RHS. Refer to the back cover and Apr–Sept, 10am–6pm, Oct–Mar, (4.30pm 31 Oct–Feb), last entry 1 hour copyright holders. Breaches of copyright may lead to prosecution and claims for damages. Arley Hall, Cheshire inside back cover for more details. 10am–5pm, last entry 1 hour before closing. before closing.

2 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 RHS Gardens | 3 55 60 53 Channel Islands Wales East Anglia South West South East 71 50 49 58 62 52 59 57 North East Central Scotland Northern Ireland North West 73 61 Gardens 77 Key to the regions Key to the 78 48 66

80 75 64 54 56 72 34 76 51 39 67 74 83 109 Free access during selected periods RHS Gardens Free access throughout opening period 119 43 33 111 81 114 145 Key to the map Key to the 35 . 44 82 68 Middlesbrough 117 124 124 69 46 65 112 38 123 144 36 45 47 70 79 41 37 122 RHS Recommended RHS 115 110 107 32 31 86 100 42 126 40 91 92 120 90 29 125 127 108 116 30 88 16 Aberdeen 121 8 28 99 113 21 128 3 15 84 11 101 22 23 94 24 14 17 6 98 26 118 13 25 136 . 95 12 134 Cardiff 96 2 132 27 133 85 18 97 4 130 5 . 7 19 Swansea 139 138 1 129 102 103 135 9 131 89 93 10 137 87 106 104 20 105 141 143 142 140

4 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 | 5 Recommended Gardens for 2010

it is an eclectic garden, rooted firmly in the Italian style with its fountains, Recommended Gardens terracing, urns and statuary, and © Derek Hosie dominant box hedge parterre resembling the St Andrew’s Cross with a sundial at its centre. A strong north-south axis leads down the These gardens offer free access to RHS Members impressive flight of steps to the (one member per policy) either throughout their open period sundial, kitchen garden, woodland or during selected times of the year. and surrounding hillside. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Please check all details carefully before travelling. May, Sept & Oct. Open: Easter weekend and May–Oct, Branklyn also holds National Plant Cawdor Castle Gardens, Highland daily, 1–6pm (last admission 5pm). SCOTLAND Collections of Cassiope and Lilium (Mylnefield lilies). ●4 Cawdor Castle Gardens Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Cawdor Castle, Nairn, Highland IV12 5RD throughout open period. Tel: 01667 404401 Fax: 01667 404674 Open: For 2010 prices and times please Web: www.cawdorcastle.com see the website. © Downfield Studio © Abraichan Gardens

Cawdor Castle, the most romantic castle in the Highlands, is the 14th- century home of the Thanes of Abriachan Gardens, by Inverness Cawdor. It has three gardens to be ●1 ❋ Abriachan Gardens enjoyed: the earliest dating from the © National Trust for Scotland Loch Ness Side, by Inverness IV3 8LA 16th century with the symbolic Dundee University Botanic Garden, Dundee Tel: 01463 861232 Fax: 01463 861232 gardens and maze; an 18th-century Flower Garden with large herbaceous 6 Web: www.lochnessgarden.com Branklyn Gardens, Perth ● Dundee University borders and roses; and a 19th-century Botanic Garden ●3 ❋ Cambo Gardens Wild Garden with a good collection of University of Dundee, rhododendrons and spring bulbs as Kingsbarns, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8QD Riverside Drive, Dundee DD2 1QH These unique gardens on the shores well as splendid trees. Two further of Loch Ness wind their way through Tel: 01333 450313 Fax: 01333 450987 Tel: 01382 381190 Fax: 01382 640574 gardens, the Tibetan Garden and Web: www.dundeebotanicgardens.co.uk the native hazel and oak woodland Email: [email protected] Web: www.camboestate.com Traditional Scottish Vegetable Garden, offering spectacular views down the can be found at Auchindoune House – Great Glen. Many choice plants are see website for details. grown here, with specialities being Located in 9.5ha (23 acres) of south- hardy perennials and shrubs. There Renowned for snowdrops, this Free Access (Member 1 only): (gardens facing, gently sloping land near the only) applies May–Jun & Sept–Oct. are extensive garden walks among dry traditional walled garden with some banks of the River Tay, the Botanic Open: 1 May–10 Oct, daily, Garden is home to fine collections of stone dykes and raised beds. With its of Scotland’s best herbaceous displays 10am–5.30pm. sheltered position above the Loch, is constantly evolving. Head Gardener, conifers and broad-leaved trees and many tender plants from New Elliott Forsyth, has created irresistible shrubs, tropical and temperate Zealand, South America and South planting combinations with drifts of glasshouses, a water garden and a Africa grow and flourish. There is also bold perennials and grasses in the herb garden. a large collection of Primula auricula. style originally devised by Piet Oudolf Native plant communities represent Free Access (Member 1 only): applies and an outrageous annual potager montane and coastal habitats, and © Drummond Gardens throughout open period. garden. Outside the main garden, a there are plant groupings that Open: Feb–Nov, daily, 9am–5pm. winter garden and North American demonstrate specialised pollination prairie are developing. 2010 events and adaptation for survival in include a Tulip Festival in May and a conditions such as drought. ●2 Branklyn Garden celebration of Cambo’s collection of Free Access (Member 1 only): applies (National Trust for Scotland) historic roses in late June. throughout open period (excluding special event days). 116 Dundee Road, Perth PH2 7BB Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Open: Mar–Oct, daily, 10am–4.30pm; Tel: 0844 493 2193 every Wednesday throughout the year. Drummond Gardens, Perth and Kinross Nov–Feb, daily, 10am–3.30pm. Email: [email protected] Open: All year, daily, 10am–5pm. Web: www.nts.org.uk ●5 Drummond Gardens Muthill, Crieff, Perth and Kinross PH7 4HZ 7 Dunrobin Castle Gardens Tel: 01764 681433 Fax: 01764 681642 ● [email protected] Golspie, Sutherland KW10 6SF

This attractive garden is a haven of © Elliot Forsyth www.drummondcastlegardens.co.uk Tel: 01408 633177 Fax: 01408 634081 peace within easy walking distance Email: [email protected] of the centre of Perth. It has an Web: www.dunrobincastle.co.uk outstanding plant collection including rhododendrons, alpines, herbaceous Drummond Gardens are considered and ericaceous plants. One of the to be one of the finest formal gardens Laid out in 1850 by Sir Charles Barry, most striking and unusual plants here in Europe. First laid out in the early designer of the Houses of Parliament, is the Himalayan poppy, Meconopsis. 17th century by the 2nd Earl of Perth, Cambo Estate Gardens, Fife the Italianate gardens complement continues overleaf ៑ 6 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 | 7 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

Dunrobin Castle Gardens continued back drop by the sea, where the plants Visitors can follow a path to a hilltop luxuriate in a variety of habitats. Red panoramic indicator. squirrels, peacocks and guinea fowl live Free Access (Member 1 only): (garden in the garden. only) applies throughout open period. © Lady Strathnaver A 7ha (17 acre) Wildflower Walk with Open: For 2010 prices and times please see 120 species of flowers and grasses is the website.

© National Trust for Scotland now open to the public. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies 1 Aug–30 Sept and 1–31 Oct, by appointment. Open: 1 Apr–30 Sept, daily, 10am–5pm. Dunrobin Castle Gardens, Sutherland

the French-style chateau above them. Geilston Garden, Dumbarton Three parterres surround fountains © National Trust for Scotland and pools; their beds are planted with ●9 Geilston Garden formal arrangements of shrubs and (National Trust for Scotland) hardy perennials. A more recent Main Road, Cardross, Dumbarton Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse and Garden, Fife garden features twenty 3.7m (12 G82 5EZ Tel: 0844493 2219 foot) wooden pyramids supporting Web: www.nts.org.uk © National Trust for Scotland ●13 Inwood Garden roses and climbers. Imposing Carberry, near Musselburgh, herbaceous borders, topiary and huge East Lothian EH21 8PZ clumps of Gunnera manicata all add to Harmony Garden, Borders Representative of the small estates Tel: 0131 665 4550 the effect. Web: www.inwoodgarden.com along the banks of the Clyde as a ●11 Harmony Garden Free Access (Member 1 only): applies result of fortunes made in the City of throughout open period. (National Trust for Scotland) Glasgow from tobacco and industrial St Mary’s Road, Melrose, Borders TD6 9LJ Open: 1 Apr–15 Oct. Prices for 2010 on Created from scratch since 1983 from www.dunrobincastle.co.uk development, the house (not open to Tel: 0844 493 2251 a field and a forest, Inwood Garden NB Wheelchair access to gardens the public) is thought to date from Email: [email protected] by arrangement. the late 17th century. The garden Web: www.nts.org.uk has been described as a place of retains a sense of private space into surprise and delight. With some which the visitor is invited. Attractive adventurous planting for so northerly 8 features include a fruit and vegetable an aspect, the 0.4ha (1 acre) site is ● Floors Castle Gardens Harmony is a delightfully tranquil garden, a walled garden with packed with a diverse collection of Kelso, Roxburghshire TD5 7SF walled garden comprising lawns, traditional glasshouses, shrub borders, plants appealing to both the Tel: 01573 223333 Fax: 01573 226056 herbaceous and mixed borders, lawns and a herbaceous border, and a plantsman and amateur alike. Web: www.floorscastle.com vegetable and fruit areas, and a rich burn that winds through a glen. The backdrop of mature woodland display of spring bulbs. provides shelter to the generously Free Access (Member 1 only): applies The garden is set around an early 19th- throughout open period. proportioned island beds teeming The Walled Garden at Floors Castle is century house (available for holiday with carefully considered one of the finest kitchen gardens in Open: 30 Mar–31 Oct, daily, lets), built by Melrose joiner James 9.30am–5pm. Please check opening combinations of plants and colours Scotland. Anna Pavord of The times before travelling. Waugh, who named it Harmony after that can be easily translated into Independent described the summer the Jamaican pimento plantation where smaller gardens. herbaceous borders as “wonderous” he had made his fortune. Harmony with a “rampageous, outrageous Garden has excellent views of Melrose Free Access (Member 1 only): applies throughout open period. crash of colours”. The spring borders, Abbey and the Eildon Hills, and is near Open: 1 Apr–30 Sept, Tue, Thur and Sat,

peach and vine houses, and soft © Peter Holyfield Priorwood Garden. 2–5pm. fruit cages, all add to the year Free Access (Member 1 only): applies round interest. throughout open period. Also well worth exploring are the Open: For 2010 prices and times please Millennium Parterre in the traditional see the website. French style, the Star Plantation and riverside walks with winding pathways © Lindsay Morrison through a woodland of wild flowers Glenwhan Garden, Wigtownshire ●12 Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse and rare flora species. There is a and Garden 10 garden centre, adventure playground ● Glenwhan Garden (National Trust for Scotland) Dunragit, by Stranraer, and Terrace Café. Cupar, Fife KY15 5PB Tel: 0844 493 2185 Wigtownshire DG9 8PH Inwood Garden, East Lothian Email: [email protected] Free Access (Member 1 only): (gardens Tel: 01581 400222 Fax: 01581 400397 Web: www.nts.org.uk ●14 Kellie Castle and Garden only) applies throughout open period. Email: [email protected] Open: Easter; May– Oct, daily, 11am–5pm. Web: www.glenwhangardens.co.uk (National Trust for Scotland) Pittenweem, Fife KY10 2RF The formal gardens were designed by Tel: 0844 493 2184 Sir Robert Lorimer to form an Email: [email protected] This splendid 5ha (12 acre) garden appropriate setting for the house. Web: www.nts.org.uk perched on an outcrop of the western Restoration and replanting has recently seaboard began life as a barren south- © Floors Castle Gardens begun of the borders on the top facing hill. Three decades later, with a terrace in an Edwardian style. The Kellie Castle is a magnificent example micro-climate and the benefits of the grounds as a whole also contain many of the domestic architecture of Gulf Stream, Glenwhan is filled with unusual mature ornamental trees and Lowland Scotland. The oldest part plants from all over the world. The shrubs and a fragrant rose garden. is believed to date from 1360, but the Floors Castle Gardens, Roxburghshire focus is around several lakes, with a continues overleaf ៑ 8 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 9 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

Kellie Castle and Garden continued geographically, as well as alpines, daffodils (nearly 200 cultivars). As the orchids and a temperate house home of the School of Horticulture, containing Rhododendron maddenii. the planting schemes offer plenty of © Lord Lothian Free Access (Member 1 only): applies inspiration to garden owners. Roses throughout open period. and herbaceous beds are colourful in Open: All year, daily, (10am–7pm, summer, and the trees and heather

© National Trust for Scotland Apr–Sept, and 10am–4pm, Oct–Mar). garden are striking in autumn. Walks include a 2.5km (1.5 mile) trail taking in plants, wading birds and wildfowl. A new Victorian-style Monteviot House, Jedburgh conservatory has recently been built © Scone Palace in the walled garden. 16 ● Monteviot House Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Kellie Castle and Garden, Fife Jedburgh, Scotland TD8 6UQ Apr–May and Sept–Oct. Tel: 01835 830380 Fax: 01835 830635 Open: For 2010 prices and times please building in its present form was Web: www.monteviot.com see the website. completed about 1606. The organic Scone Palace, Perthshire walled garden is 17th century with late-Victorian additions, and contains The gardens at Monteviot lie along a ●18 ❋ Scone Palace a collection of old-fashioned roses, dramatic slope of the Teviot Valley. Perth, Perthshire PH2 6BD fruit trees and herbaceous plants. From the terraced rose garden Tel: 01738 552300 Fax: 01738 552588 Much of the existing planting stands through a laburnum arch to the water Web: www.scone-palace.co.uk as a modern interpretation of the garden, the garden as a whole is original designs of Sir Robert Lorimer, heightened by the contrast between © Phil McDermott photography the former owner. formal and the informal and by the The extensive grounds include the Free Access (Member 1 only): applies way the planting leads seamlessly mature pinetum, planted in 1848 with throughout open period. through the different parts. The Dene exotic conifers including the first Open: For 2010 prices and times please Garden renovation saw the recreation Scottish Douglas Fir, raised from the see the website. of four ponds, wooden and stone original seed sent from America and a bridges, a dam walkway and viewing pavilion dedicated to Douglas and platform giving views down the River ●15 Leith Hall Garden other Scottish Plant hunters. The Teviot beyond. (National Trust for Scotland) woodland garden has some attractive Huntly, Aberdeenshire AB54 4NQ Free Access (Member 1 only): applies walks among colourful rhododendrons Tel: 01330 833225 (garden only) throughout open period. and azaleas. The butterfly garden and Email: [email protected] Open: 1 Apr–31 Oct. Please check numerous herbaceous plantings website for opening times Web: www.nts.org.uk provide further seasonal interest. Scone Torosay Castle and Gardens, Isle of Mull Palace is also home to Perthshire's only maze, consisting of more than 2,000 20 beech plants in the shape of the Murray ● Torosay Castle and Gardens The historic garden features colourful Star. There is an annual Orchid Festival Torosay Castle, Craignure, herbaceous borders, and alpines and Isle of Mull PA65 6AY

© Richard Cormack in August. primulas in the rock garden – restored Tel: 01680 812421 Fax: 01680 812470 and replanted by the Scottish Rock Free Access (Member 1 only): Email: [email protected] Garden Club. Woodland walks take in applies throughout open period. Web: www.torosay.com two ponds and offer views down the Open: 1 Apr–31 Oct, daily, 9.30am–5.45pm. garden. Other highlights include a St Andrews Botanic Garden, St Andrews bird hide, stables and an icehouse. While trees such as Thuja plicata Free Access (Member 1 only): applies and Abies alba planted in the 19th 17 throughout open period (excluding ● St Andrews Botanic Garden century lend maturity, Torosay special event days). Canongate, St Andrews KY16 8RT Gardens date principally from about Tel: 01334 476452 Fax: 01334 476452 Open: For 2010 prices and times please 1900, when the Statue Walk of Italian Web: www.st-andrews-botanic.org see the website. statues and the three formal terraces © National Trust for Scotland and gazebos were built. These form a splendid setting for a large, varied and This botanic garden covers 7.3ha Threave Garden and Estate, Dumfries and Galloway unexpected plant collection. (18 acres) and offers much to see Rhododendrons flower from January whatever the season. About 8,000 ●19 Threave Garden and Estate to August, and Chilean plants from species of ferns, herbaceous plants, (National Trust for Scotland) February (Latua pubiflora) to © National Trust for Scotland shrubs and trees are grown here. Castle Douglas, September (Eucryphia, spp.) Some are native to Scotland but most Dumfries and Galloway DG7 1RX Other surprising treasures include grow wild in other regions of the world. Tel: 0844 493 2245 Embothrium coccineum, a very large Features include alkaline, Email: [email protected] Cornus capitata as well as many frost herbaceous and bulb borders, scree, Web: www.nts.org.uk tender subjects. rock, woodland and water gardens, Free Access (Member 1 only): applies acid heath and peat gardens, and plant throughout open period. family beds. The glasshouses contain Threave Garden covers 26ha (64 Open: All year, daily, 9am–sunset cacti and succulents arranged (latest 7pm). Leith Hall Garden and Estate, Aberdeenshire acres), and is best known for its

10 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010| 11 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

and non-gardeners to enjoy. In spring family who still live at Dalemain today. NORTH WEST the adjacent woods are carpeted with There are richly planted herbaceous native English bluebells, and the borders, a formal knot garden and wildflower meadow is a wonderful Apple and Rose Walk (with more than © Mount Pleasant sight from May to July. The adjacent 200 cultivars of old-fashioned roses). Lodge Lane Nursery is an RHS Recent additions are the wild flower Recommended Event Partner spiral garden and giantess earth specialising in hardy herbaceous sculpture. © Arley Hall and Gardens perennials. Free Access (Member 1 only): Free Access (Member 1 only): applies (gardens only) applies 1–30 Apr, 1–30 throughout open period Sept and 1–28 Oct (excluding special (excluding NGS open days). event days). Mount Pleasant, Cheshire Open: 24 Mar–3 Oct, Wed–Sun and Bank Please see website for normal opening Arley Hall and Gardens, Cheshire Holidays, 10am–5pm. times. ●26 ❋ Mount Pleasant ●21 ❋ Arley Hall and Gardens Yeld Lane, Kelsall, Cheshire CW6 0TB Tel: 01829 751592 Arley, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 6NA Web: www.mountpleasantgardens.co.uk Tel: 01565 777353 Fax: 01565 777465 Email:[email protected] Web: www.arleyhallandgardens.com © Cholmondely Castle Mount Pleasant Gardens are 4ha (10 acres) of beautiful landscaped

© Dalemain Mansiion and Gardens gardens set in the Cheshire Described by Ursula Buchan in The countryside with spectacular views Independent as one of the top 50 across to the Welsh hills. Over the past gardens in Europe, Arley offers a Dalemain Mansion and Gardens, Cumbria Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire 13 years the gardens have become fascinating variety of style and design, mature and lush, helped by the south- overlooking a beautiful park. Features ●23 Cholmondeley Castle ●25 Holker Hall and Gardens westerly aspect of the hillside and include the double herbaceous border Malpas, Cheshire SY14 8AH Cark-in-Cartmel, nr Grange-over-Sands, natural springs that feed the laid out in 1846, the pleached lime Tel: 01829 720383 Fax: 01829 720877 Cumbria LA11 7PL numerous water features. There is an avenue, topiary yew hedges, the Tel: 015395 58328 Fax: 015395 58378 ever increasing diversity of planting avenue of columnar Quercus ilex, the Email: [email protected] that gives year round interest and walled kitchen garden, and a fine Web: www.holkerhall.co.uk colour. From the formal gardens to collection of shrub roses, A romantic Gothic Revival castle built the wildflower meadow, it is a delight rhododendrons and azaleas. The in 1801 dominates these exquisite to explore. Grove is an informal woodland gardens. Sweeping lawns and magnificent trees; enormous cedars of Relax and enjoy 10ha (25 acres) of Free Access (Member 1 only): applies garden, providing a delightful contrast romantic formal gardens, complete to the more formal main garden. Lebanon and great spreading oaks throughout open period. among sweet chestnut, lime, beech with peaceful arboretum, inspirational Open: 1 Apr–end of Sept; Free Access (Member 1 only): (gardens and plane surround the castle. pleasure gardens, flowering meadow Sat, Sun & Wed, 12 noon–5pm. only) applies Apr–May & Sept–Oct Restoration of the Duckery is now and Labyrinth. In Spring you will see (excluding special event days). 1000s of bulbs and flowers. Summer Open: Please see website for normal complete providing vistas through the brings voluptuous mixed borders and opening times. garden and revealing the established and mature trees. Other features bedding with old-fashioned roses, ‘Pink Pebble’ include the Memorial Mosaic topiary and box hedging. Discover designed by Maggy Howarth, the unusually large rhododendrons, magnolias and azaleas plus the

© Sue Beesley © Sue Temple Water Garden, Rose Garden

and many acid-loving plants including National Plant Collection of © Rhododendron magnolias, camellias, azaleas, Styracaceae. Muncaster Castle Garden, Cumbria rhododendrons and acers. Free Access (Member 1 only): (garden ●27 ❋ Muncaster Castle Garden Free Access (Member 1 only): applies only) applies throughout open period May only. (excluding special event days). Ravenglass, Cumbria CA18 1RQ Open: Apr–Sept, Wed, Thur, Sun & Bank Gardens open: 14 Mar–31 Oct, Sun–Fri, Tel: 01229 717614 Fax: 01229 717010 (closed Saturdays),10.30am–5.30pm. Bluebell Cottage Gardens, Cheshire Holidays, 11am–5pm. Web: www.muncaster.co.uk NB Ticket upgrades to Hall available – please call in advance for times ●22 ❋ Bluebell Cottage Gardens and prices. ●24 Dalemain Mansion Muncaster Castle Garden is set within Lodge Lane, Dutton, nr Northwich, and Gardens the glorious Lakeland Fells Cheshire WA4 4HP Tel: 01928 713718 Fax: 01928 713718 Dalemain, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0HB and was described by John Ruskin Web: www.lodgelane.co.uk Tel: 017684 86450 Fax: 017684 86223 as ‘the gateway to paradise’. Web: www.dalemain.com There are more than 28ha (70 acres) of gardens containing plants

© Holker Hall and Gardens from all over the world. The The garden is set on a quiet rural lane ‘This is a garden to be visited in all rhododendron collection includes in the heart of Cheshire. The 0.6ha seasons.’ (Rosemary Verey). Dalemain, original planting schemes dating from (1.5 acre) gardens are packed with a medieval, Tudor and Georgian the 1800s as well as a Sino-Himalayan thousands of rare and familiar plants house, is set in delightful gardens garden walk replicating the natural in a bright, south-facing setting and developed and enhanced since 1679 appearance of this region. Other offer plenty for both keen gardeners by successive generations of the Hasell Holker Hall and Gardens, Cumbria highlights include the Bluebell Wood, continues overleaf ៑ 12 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010| 13 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

Muncaster Castle Garden continued Georgian Terrace and specialist Repton in 1790. The season starts in garden featuring natural rock, plant centre. February with the Snowdrop Walks, NORTH EAST stonework and water. The variations Free Access (Member 1 only): applies 1 and from early April the Woodland of aspect, topography, soil type and Jul–31 Dec. Garden, with terraced rock garden RHS Garden Harlow Carr moisture allow a wide range of plants Open: Last Sunday in March–First Sunday and grotto, is ablaze with a large see page 3 to be grown. A plantsman’s garden in Nov, daily, 10.30am–5pm. variety of rhododendrons and a that includes many unusual species For Winter openings and prices please see ground covering of bluebells and lily- arranged with an artistic eye, Bide-a- website www.muncaster.co.uk of-the-valley. The herbaceous border, Wee is also home to a National Plant or call 01229 717614. formal rose gardens and Georgian Collection of Centaurea. Many plants walled kitchen garden are at their best within the garden are available in the from the middle of June. There is also adjacent nursery. A wildflower an Italian Garden under development. meadow walk with beehives lies on Free Access (Member 1 only): applies © The Alnwick Garden the edge of the garden. throughout open period. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies

© The Quinta Arboretum Please see website for normal opening throughout open period (excluding times. special event days). The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland Open:17 Apr–28 Aug, Wed & Sat, 1.30–5pm. The Quinta Arboretum and Nature Reserve, Cheshire ●31 The Alnwick Garden

© Tatton Park Denwick Lane, Alnwick, ●28 The Quinta Arboretum Northumberland, NE66 1YU and Nature Reserve Tel: 01665 511350 Fax: 01665 511351 Swettenham Village, nr Congleton, Email: [email protected] Cheshire CW12 2LD Tel: 01477 537698 Web: www.alnwickgarden.com Web: www.tattongardensociety.co.uk

The Alnwick Garden is one of the © TBurnby Hall Gardens and Museum The Quinta Arboretum is owned by most exciting contemporary gardens Burnby Hall Gardens and Museum, York Tatton Garden Society and extends for to be developed in the last century. The inspiration of the Duchess of 33 Burnby Hall 11ha (28 acres) planted with more Tatton Park Gardens, Cheshire ● than 5,000 trees of some 1,500 Northumberland, The Garden has Gardens and Museum species and includes a small lake. transformed from a derelict plot into The Balk, Pocklington, York YO42 2QF ●30 ❋ Tatton Park Gardens There are remarkable views across the an exciting scene designed by Wirtz Tel: 01759 307125 Fax: 01377 288359 Dane Valley, itself a Site of Special Tatton Park, Knutsford, International. The Ornamental Garden Email: [email protected] Cheshire WA16 6QN Scientific Interest. There are two and Rose Garden provide stunning Web: www.burnbyhallgardens.com Tel: 01625 374400 Fax: 01625 534403 horticultural displays throughout the National Plant Collections (fraxinus Web: www.tattonpark.org.uk and pinus) and a collection of Quercus. summer months. The Bamboo It is also a participating site in the Labyrinth, the Grand Cascade, the The garden is a haven of beauty and International Conifer Conservation fascinating Poison Garden and one of tranquillity, and includes lakes Project. Set in over 400ha (1,000 acres) of the world’s largest wooden tree- containing a National Plant Collection rolling parkland, Tatton’s 20ha (50 houses all ensure the garden is an Free Access (Member 1 only): applies of waterlilies (80 cultivars) and a vast acre) formal gardens are full of exciting day out all year round. throughout open period (excluding 2 collection of fish. The surroundings NGS days). delightful surprises and are considered Free Access (Member 1 only): applies include extensive rockeries, Open: All year, 9am–sunset, to be among the most important in Jan–Jun and Sept–Dec. shrubberies, Secret and Victorian except Christmas Day. England. Attractions include the Gardens open: All year, daily (except Gardens, and heather beds. The Christmas day). Oct–Mar, 10am–4pm; Note: Access through garden of famous Japanese Garden originally Stewart Museum has undergone a Swettenham Arms pub. Apr–Sep, 10am–6pm. built by Japanese gardeners in 1910, complete refurbishment, showing off the Italian Garden and the Walled the artefacts collected by Major Kitchen Garden. Tatton Park is Stewart on his eight world tours to full managed by Cheshire East Council on advantage. Wheelchairs available. behalf of the National Trust. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies 1 Free Access (Member 1 only): Apr–Jun. (gardens only) applies throughout Open: 27 Mar–11 Oct, daily, 10am–6pm.

© Charlotte Baker Wilbraham open period. Please see website for normal opening © Bide-a-Wee Cottage Gardens Rode Hall Gardens, Cheshire times and admission prices (including ●34 Burton Agnes Gardens park admission). Bide-a-Wee Cottage Gardens, Northumberland Burton Agnes Hall, Burton Agnes, ●29 Rode Hall Gardens 1 Park entry charge applies Driffield, East Yorkshire YO25 4NB Church Lane, Scholar Green, ●32 Bide-a-Wee Tel: 01262 490324 Fax: 01262 490513 Cheshire ST7 3QP Cottage Gardens Web: www.burtonagnes.com Tel: 01270 882961/873237 Stanton, Netherwitton, Morpeth, Fax: 01270 882962 Northumberland NE65 8PR Email: [email protected] Tel/Fax: 01670 772238 The Old Walled Garden was Web: www.rodehall.co.uk Web: www.bide-a-wee.co.uk redeveloped from 1989–1990 and now contains a large collection of plants. There is a potager, Rode Hall Gardens are set in a Bide-a-Wee is a delightful quarry herbaceous borders, a maze, fruit landscape designed by Humphry continues overleaf ៑ 14 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 15 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

Burton Agnes Gardens continued A former winner of the RHS/Daily Mail National Garden Competition, the garden provides the visitor with exciting ideas for planting and design © Harewood House on a small scale. Its situation

© Burton Agnes Gardens overlooking the River Swale with the waterfalls in the background make it an enchanting place. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies throughout open period (excluding © Normanby Hall Country Park / Sue Hoy Burton Agnes Gardens, East Yorkshire charity days). Normanby Hall Country Park, North Lincolnshire Harewood House, West Yorkshire Open: 1 Apr–mid Oct, daily, 10am–5pm; beds, a jungle garden, grasses and winter by appointment only. Sheffield family. Restored in 1997, the bamboos, a campanula garden ●36 Harewood House vegetable beds, glasshouses, flower containing a National Plant Harewood, Leeds, borders and fruit area are planted Collection, and a giant knot garden West Yorkshire LS17 9LG with cultivars dating from the with colour themes divided by trellis, Tel: 0113 218 1010 Fax: 0113 218 1002 Victorian period. There is also a each containing a paved area forming Web: www.harewood.org sunken garden, secret garden, a giant game board. Lawns with Christmas garden, bog garden and a

topiary yew, ponds with fountains and © Newby Hall and Gardens Victorian woodland garden is under a pebble mosaic surround the Harewood House’s 57ha (140 acres) development. Elizabethan Hall. Winner of of gardens are set within 405ha Free Access (Member 1 only): applies HHA/Christie’s Garden of the Year (1,000 acres) of 18th-century Lancelot throughout open period. Award 2005. 1 ‘Capability’ Brown parkland. This Newby Hall and Gardens, North Yorkshire Open: All year, daily , 10.30am–5pm Free Access (Member 1 only): applies (4.30pm in winter). example of the English landscape has 1 throughout open period (excluding arrangements of native trees and ●38 Newby Hall and Gardens Except Christmas Day, Boxing Day special event days). & New Year’s Day. sweeping hillsides that surround a Open: 1 Apr–31 Oct, daily, 11am–5pm. Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 5AE Open for snowdrops 6 Feb–28 Feb. serpentine lake. Lakeside walks lead to Tel: 0845 4504068 Fax: 01423 324452 the Himalayan Garden – a Web: www.newbyhall.com ●40 Parcevall Hall Gardens plantsman’s paradise, full of Skyreholme, Skipton, Himalayan plants. Other highlights North Yorkshire BD23 6DE include a walled garden walk, a Newby Hall is one of England’s finest Tel/Fax: 01756 720311

© Duncombe Park restored Victorian parterre, flower Adam houses, an exceptional example Web: www.parcevallhallgardens.co.uk borders and panoramic views over of an 18th-century interior. About beautiful parkland. Winners of 10ha (25 acres) of award-winning Yorkshire in Bloom, Country Houses, gardens consist of superb herbaceous Parcevall Hall Gardens lie on a steep Estates and Gardens. borders flanked by smaller hillside within the Yorkshire Dales Free Access (Member 1 only): applies ‘compartmented’ gardens, such as National Park and are English Heritage Duncombe Park, North Yorkshire 13 Feb–20 Jun and 6 Sept–12 Dec (except Sylvia’s Garden, and rose and autumn registered. The 10ha (24 acres) of special event days and Bank holidays). gardens. The gardens have also been formal and woodland gardens rise up Open: Apr–1 Nov and weekends and school ●35 Duncombe Park used as a filming location for the hillside and command impressive holidays in Feb–Mar and Nov –12 Dec. Mansfield Park. A National Plant Helmsley, York, North Yorkshire YO62 5EB See website for details. views of Simon’s Seat and Wharfedale. Tel: 01439 772625 Fax: 01439 771114 Collection of Cornus (dogwoods) is The gardens comprise streamside Web: www.duncombepark.com held here. Many of the rare and woodland trails, lake and dam, formal beautiful plants growing in the garden ponds and terraces, and a natural are available for sale at the Newby limestone garden. Many of the rare Hall Plant Centre. A girls’ school for 60 years, this plants, trees and shrubs growing at © Millgate House baroque mansion built in 1713 is now Free Access (Member 1 only): (gardens Parcevall Hall are not usually found at only) applies Apr, May and Sept the DDuncombe’s family home. Visit this elevation, as the garden is 244m (excluding special event days). (800ft) above sea level. the restored principal rooms, typical Open: 1 Apr–26 Sept, Tue–Sun & Bank Note: steep walk from main car park. of a late 19th-century ‘grand interior’, Holiday Mon, 11am–5.30pm (daily in and the landscaped green garden Jul–Aug). Free Access (Member 1 only): applies with its temples and terraces, set in April, May and October. Open: 1 Apr–31 Oct, 10am–6pm (last parkland that has been described as Millgate House, North Yorkshire ‘the supreme masterpiece of the art ●39 ❋ Normanby Hall entry 5pm). Tearoom open Tue–Sun. of the landscape gardener’. Visitors ●37 Millgate House Country Park will discover woodland walks and a Millgate House, Richmond, Normanby, Scunthorpe, scented ‘secret garden’. North Yorkshire DL10 4JN North Lincolnshire DN15 9HU The National Nature Reserve Tel: 01748 823571 Fax: 01748 850701 Tel: 01724 720588 Fax: 01724 721248 contains 162ha (400 acres) of Web: www.millgatehouse.com Web: www.northlincs.gov.uk/normanby parkland, with many ancient trees © Parcevall Hall Gardens and wildlife. Free Access (Member 1 only): (house With specialist collections of roses, Set in 121ha (300 acres) of beautiful and garden) applies throughout open hostas, ferns and clematis, this parkland, the walled kitchen garden period (excluding special event days). outstanding town garden is packed was built in 1817 to provide fruit, Open: 4 Apr–24 Oct, Sun–Thur. flowers and vegetables for the Please telephone before you visit. with horticultural interest. Parcevall Hall Gardens, North Yorkshire

16 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 17 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

flower. The kitchen gardens grow rare established in the 18th century. The cultivars of fruit and vegetables, herbs gardens are famous for hardy hybrid and spices, and there are woodland rhododendrons, and care for National © Raby Castle walks with fine vistas over lakes and Plant Collections of species magnolias, © Rosalind Simon the deer park. The pleasure grounds rhododendrons and camellias. Now contain specimen trees from all over fully open to the public after extensive the world. restoration, highlights include a Individual Members’ free access applies gothic folly with a viewing platform throughout open period (excluding 183m (600ft) above sea level, formal Raby Castle, Co. Durham special event days). Stillingfleet Lodge Garden, North Yorkshire wilderness and Victorian flower Open: All year, daily, 9am–5pm garden, visitor centre, café in a modern rill garden. Many of the ●41 Raby Castle (4.30pm during winter). restored 18th-century barn and plants in the garden are available to Staindrop, Darlington, children’s adventure playground. buy in the nurseries. Co. Durham DL2 3AH Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Tel: 01833 660202 Fax: 01833 660169 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies throughout open period. Email: [email protected] Wednesdays throughout open period. Open: daily (call for current opening Web: www.rabycastle.com Open: 3 Apr–30 Sept, Wed & Fri, and the times). 1st and 3rd Saturdays and Sundays each month, 1–5pm. These 18th-century walled gardens 45 are set within a 81ha (200 acre) deer ● ❋ Thorp Perrow © Giles Rocholl park. The gardens have been © House & Garden / Alexandre Bailhache Scampston Hall Walled Garden, North Yorkshire Arboretum and considerably altered during the 20th Woodland Garden century, particularly since 1980, but ●43 ❋ Scampston Hall many of the original features remain. Walled Garden Bedale, North Yorkshire DL8 2PR Tel/Fax: 01677 425323 In particular, there are two fine old Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 8NG Web: www.thorpperrow.com yew hedges and an ornamental pond, Tel: 01944 759111 originally constructed to provide Email: [email protected] Wentworth Castle Gardens, South Yorkshire water for the kitchen garden. Web: www.scampston.co.uk Highlights include herbaceous and The arboretum has 34ha (85 acres) of ●47 York Gate Garden shrub borders, a conservatory, formal woodland walks and is one of the Back Church Lane, Adel, Leeds, rose gardens and informal heather A contemporary 1.6ha (4 acre) largest collections of trees and shrubs West Yorkshire LS16 8DW and conifer gardens. Raby’s Orchid garden designed by Piet Oudolf. in the North of England. Thousands of Tel: 0113 2678240 Show takes place from 1–3 May and Among the contrasting rooms that naturalised daffodils bloom in spring, Website: www.perennial.org.uk Plant Fair on 6th June. make up this plantsman’s paradise, is followed by blossom, carpets of Free Access (Member 1 only): applies a striking perennial meadow, which bluebells and bold drifts of throughout open period (except provides a home for many unusual wildflowers. Autumn foliage provides This 0.4ha (1 acre) garden was special event days). species. The long border walk dramatic effects and colours. National created by the Spencer family during Open: Easter, Sat–Mon; May, June & contains hundreds of spring- and Plant Collections of ash, lime, the second half of the 20th century Sept, Sun–Wed; July & Aug, daily (except autumn-flowering shrubs and bulbs. laburnum, walnut and cotinus are and is widely recognised as one of Sat); Park & Gardens 11am–5.30pm; held here. A Snowdrop Walk is new Castle 1–5pm. Described by Stephen Anderton as ‘a Britain’s finest small gardens. Laid out gem’ and by Caroline Foley in for 2010. in a series of 14 smaller gardens with Toparius as ‘bold and beautiful – a Free Access (Member 1 only): applies different themes and in contrasting must if you are heading to Yorkshire’. Jan, Feb, Jul, Sept & Dec (except on styles, these include the famous herb special event days). garden with its topiary and Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Open: All year. Apr, Sept–Oct. summerhouse. Striking architectural Open: 2 Apr–31 Oct, Tues–Sun and Bank features play a key role throughout © Ripley Castle Gardens Holiday Mon, 10am–5pm. the garden, which is also noted for its exquisite vistas. © Mike Kipling The garden is now owned by the 44 ❋ ● Stillingfleet Lodge charity Perennial. Ripley Castle, North Yorkshire Garden and Nurseries Free Access (Member 1 only): Stewart Lane, Stillingfleet, York, ●42 Ripley Castle Gardens applies Apr, May and Sept, except 4–5 North Yorkshire YO19 6HP Apr and 2–3 & 30–31 May. Ripley, nr Harrogate, Tel: 01904 728506 Fax: 01904 728506 Thorp Perrow Arboretum and Woodland Garden, Open: 1 Apr–30 Sept, Thur, Sun and North Yorkshire HG3 3AY Web: www.stillingfleetlodgenurseries.co.uk North Yorkshire Bank Holiday Mons, 2–5pm. Tel: 01423 770152 Fax: 01423 771745 Also selected evenings (see website). Web: www.ripleycastle.co.uk ●46 Wentworth Stillingfleet Lodge is a series of small Castle Gardens gardens surrounding a late 18th- Lowe Lane, Stainborough, Barnsley, The walled gardens of Ripley Castle century farmhouse. Emphasis is on South Yorkshire S75 3ET © John Whitaker are home to long herbaceous borders cottage-garden planting, and foliage Tel: 01226 776040 that provide a riot of colour alongside is used for added interest and texture. Web: www.wentworthcastle.org the fountains and lawns. In April and A wildflower walk leads to a pond May, visitors can enjoy the wonderful planted for natural effect and the fragrance of the National Plant more formal long herbaceous borders A magnificent parkland estate and hyacinth Collection as it comes into lead back to the house. Exciting 17ha (40 acre) pleasure garden, York Gate Garden, West Yorkshire

18 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 19 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

a boggy hollow and dry shade between 1900 and 1914 by Charles EAST ANGLIA beneath ancient oaks. Inspired by her Eley, is well known for its fine late husband Andrew Chatto’s lifelong collection of magnolias, camellias and © Val corbett RHS Garden Hyde Hall study of the natural homes of garden rhododendrons and looks particularly see page 3 plants, Beth Chatto has turned these spectacular in spring. A specialist plant problems into advantages. Water centre called The Place For Plants has gardens have been made in the been set up in the Victorian Walled hollow, shade gardens beneath oak Garden adjacent to the arboretum, trees, and a gravel garden on the stocking a large range of herbaceous sunny, well-drained soil. In each plants as well as trees, shrubs and situation plants are selected that have climbers for the specialist and the © NT / Richard Todd adapted to adverse conditions. Large weekend gardener. plant nursery and tearoom. Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Free Access (Member 1 only): applies throughout open period (except Jan–Mar. ●51 ❋ Doddington Hall Sundays). Please see website for normal opening Lincoln LN6 4RU Please see website for normal opening times. times. Tel: 01522 694308 Fax: 01522 682584 Email: [email protected] Anglesey Abbey Gardens, Cambridgeshire Web: www.doddingtonhall.com ●48 Anglesey Abbey Gardens

Quy Road, Lode, Cambridge, © Adrian Wood Cambridgeshire CB25 9EJ Doddington Hall is surrounded by 2ha (5 acres) of romantic walled and Tel: 01223 810080 Fax: 01223 810088 © East Ruston Old Vicarage Email: [email protected] wild gardens, with formal topiary, Web: box-edged knot garden, fountains www.nationaltrust.org.uk/angleseyabbey and sumptuous borders. Highlights include spring-flowering bulbs in the wild garden, rhododendrons, naturalised crown imperial lilies, With 114 acres full of vibrant colour, Victorian daffodil cultivars, a show of delicious scent, and the simple native spring wildflowers and at the pleasures of nature, there's a lot to see spectacular stunning display of and do. Rare varieties of snowdrops bearded irises in the Walled West create a popular display in January and Garden. There are magnificent February. Thousands of hyacinths are old trees, a Temple of the Winds, a highlight in the spring, while water gardens and working walled summer is celebrated by the colourful kitchen garden. East Ruston Old Vicarage, Norfolk herbaceous borders and dahlia The Bressingham Gardens, Norfolk gardens. Autumn foliage is followed Free Access (Member 1 only): applies by the spectacular Winter Garden, throughout open period. 53 ❋ making Anglesey a garden for all ●50 ❋ The Bressingham Please see website for normal ● East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens opening times. East Ruston, Norwich, Norfolk NR12 9HN seasons. NB Doddington farm shop and café open Bressingham, nr Diss, Norfolk IP22 2AB Tel: 01692 650456 Fax: 01692 651246 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies to visitors. Web: www.eastrustonoldvicarage.co.uk (garden only) throughout open period Tel: 01379 686900 Fax: 01379 686907 (excluding special event days). Email: [email protected] Please see website for opening times. Web: www.bressinghamgardens.com © Sara Eley This fine modern garden lies close to the sea, with a microclimate that These ever changing gardens are allows the owners to grow many described by many visitors ‘as the best plants that are normally far too tender they have seen’. They include the late to thrive in East Anglia. The 13ha (32 Alan Bloom’s Dell Garden, with more acres) contain herba ceous borders, than 50 immaculate Island Beds of gravel gardens, sub-tropical gardens, perennials, and Adrian Bloom’s Foggy a box parterre, a sunken garden, a Bottom garden with views and vistas Mediterranean garden, Desert wash

© David Ward / The Beth Chatto Gardens of year round colour. Both are now and much enlarged Woodland The Beth Chatto Gardens, Essex linked with new gardens, in total East Bergholt Place Garden and Nursery, Suffolk garden. There are various trials in covering 6.5ha (16 acres). Follow the conjunction with the RHS and East ●49 ❋ The Beth Chatto Gardens trail from the Summer Garden with its ●52 ❋ Ruston Old Vicarage is very proud East Bergholt Place to be the first garden to do this in Elmstead Market, Colchester, National Plant Collection of Garden – The Place for plants over 100 years. Essex CO7 7DB Miscanthus, through the Dell Garden East Bergholt, Suffolk CO7 6UP Tel: 01206 822007 Fax: 01206 825933 and the Fragrant Garden to Adrian’s Tel: 01206 299224 Note: situated on the B1159 adjoining Web: www.bethchatto.co.uk Wood, planted with species of North Web: www.theplaceforplants.co.uk East Ruston church, off the A149 near America, and on to Foggy Bottom. Stalham; 15m northeast of Norwich. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Apr & Oct. 50 years ago the site for the garden May and Sept (gardens only). This tranquil 6ha (20 acre) woodland Open: daily, Easter–31 Oct. Open: 28 Mar–30 Oct, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun consisted largely of sun-baked gravel, garden and arboretum, laid out and Bank Holidays, 2–5.30pm.

20 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 21 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

bridges over the waterways and Chapel Garden, where Victorian follies wonderful reflections. Carpets of wild surround the ruins.

© Elton Hall primroses, white wood anemones, Free Access (Member 1 only): (gardens

daffodils, bluebells and Lysichitum © Nick McCann only) applies throughout open period americanum can be seen in March and (except special event days). April, followed by rhododendrons, Open: May–Sept, Sun, 12noon–5pm; azaleas and candelabra primulas in Jun–Aug, Wed–Fri, 11am–5pm. May and June. Note: to find Fairhaven, follow the tourist signs on the A47 at the B1140 junction. Individual Members’ free access applies Elton Hall, Cambridgeshire Jan–Apr, Oct and Nov. Open: All year, daily, 10am–5pm (9pm, ●54 Elton Hall Wed & Thur, May–Aug). Houghton Hall, Norfolk Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE8 6SH Closed Christmas Day. yew hedges, interspersed with statues, Tel: 01832 280468 into themed garden rooms. The Web: www.eltonhall.com © Jerry Harpur / Garden Images centerpiece is a double herbaceous border stretching 120m (394 ft) designed by Julian and Isobel There has been a house where Elton Bannerman. More than 120 cultivars Hall stands for nearly 550 years. The © Grimsthorpe Castle form the formal rose-parterre, Marks Hall Garden & Arboretum, Essex gardens have expanded from moated including perpetual flowering roses grounds to formal gardens, and older roses. There is also a large ●59 ❋ Marks Hall Garden picturesque views and finally a grand kitchen garden, with a massive design completed just before the First and Arboretum octagonal fruit cage, wisteria pergola Coggeshall, Essex CO6 1TG World War. By 1980 it had fallen into and cherry walk. Statues and disrepair. Since then the garden has Tel: 01376 563796 Fax: 01376 563132 fountains include the newly installed Email: [email protected] been enthusiastically restored. New ‘Waterflame’ designed by Danish artist Web: www.markshall.org.uk hedges have formed intimate spaces Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire Jeppe Hein. which include a beautiful gothic Free Access (Member 1 only): (garden orangery and new flower garden. 56 ● Grimsthorpe Castle only) applies June only. A tree collection from all the Billowing borders surround the lily Open: 4 Apr–30 Sept, Wed–Thur, Sun & Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 0LY temperate areas of the world set in pond, topiary parterres and Bank Holiday Mons, 11.30am–5.30pm. Tel: 01778 591205 Fax: 01778 591259 over 200 acres of historic landscape immaculately kept lawns and paths Web: www.grimsthorpe.co.uk give structure to many unusual plants. provides interest and enjoyment throughout the year at Marks Hall. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies May–Jul (Gardens only). Highlights include: the Millennium Immaculately clipped yew hedges and Reduced rate group bookings May–Jul Walk, designed for structure, colour for RHS Members. topiary squares with fountain pools sit and scent on the shortest days of the Please see website for normal opening comfortably alongside classic year; the largest planting in Europe of times. herbaceous borders. An unusual © Mannington Gardens Wollemi Pine and the inspired ornamental kitchen garden, designed combination of traditional and in the 1960s, complements rose and contemporary planting in the 17th lavender parterres with clipped box century Walled Garden. edges. A mini-arboretum and wild, Free Access (Member 1 only): applies woodland spring garden await during May, June and July 2010 discovery. Cleverly positioned vistas Mannington Gardens, Norfolk (excluding special event days). extend across the lake to the 17th- Please see website for normal century tree-lined avenues beyond. ●58 Mannington Gardens opening times. This is a place to relax and enjoy the Mannington Hall, Saxthorpe, Norwich, Norfolk NR11 7BB

© Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden tranquility of an historic English estate. Tel: 01263 584175 Fax: 01263 761214 60 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies ● Raveningham Gardens Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, Norfolk Email: Apr, May and Sept. Raveningham, Norwich, Norfolk [email protected] ●55 Fairhaven Woodland Open: Apr–May, Sun, Thur and Bank NR14 6NS Tel: 01508 548152 Holiday Mon; Jun–Sept, Sun–Thur, Web: www.manningtongardens.co.uk Fax: 01508 548958 and Water Garden 11am–6pm. Email: offi[email protected] School Road, South Walsham, Web: www.raveningham.com nr Norwich, Norfolk NR13 6DZ The gardens around this medieval Reg. charity no. 265686 ●57 Houghton Hall Tel/Fax: 01603 270449 moated house feature a wide variety Estate Office, Houghton Hall, Web: www.fairhavengarden.co.uk of plants, trees and shrubs. The Raveningham Gardens are a creation King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 6UE Heritage and Twentieth Century Rose of the last hundred years; Tel: 01485 528569 Fax: 01485 528167 Gardens have roses planted in designs predominantly developed as a E-mail: [email protected] reflecting their date of origin. There is plantsman’s garden by Priscilla Bacon Fairhaven Woodland and Water Web: www.houghtonhall.com a knot garden with scented plants and in the 1950s to 2000. There is a Garden is a beautiful ancient on the South Lawn are plants selected working walled garden with a woodland planted with shade- and for touch, sound and taste. Victorian greenhouse conservatory; moisture-loving plants. There are 5km This award-winning 2ha (5 acre) Wildflowers are encouraged around an Edwardian rose garden; (3m) of scenic pathways, rustic walled garden is divided by clipped the landscaped lakes and in the herbaceous borders; a recently continues overleaf ៑

22 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 23 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

Raveningham Gardens continued of the roses and herbaceous borders. 62 ● Wyken Hall SOUTH EAST Autumn colour and shrubs with Stanton, Bury St Edmunds, berries for the birds in winter finish Suffolk IP31 2DW the season. Tel: 01359 250262 RHS Garden Wisley Web: www.wykenvineyards.co.uk see page 3 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies 6 Feb–12 Feb, 12noon–4pm & May Bank Holidays (Suns, 2–5pm & Mons, 12noon–5pm). The garden at Wyken has a series Please see website for normal opening of old-style gardens which connect times. the old manor house to the Raveningham Gardens, Norfolk surrounding countryside. These created herb garden and arboretum; include a Knot Garden, a Herb

a lake to celebrate the millennium Garden, and a traditional English © A.F Kersting and a new ‘Time’ garden based on Kitchen Garden. An old-fashioned © Forestry Commission England Francis Bacon’s Essay of Gardens. Rose Garden and pergola lead to wild Highlights include: a wide range of gardens with a pond and shrubs. alkaline-loving plants; snowdrops in Visitors will also find a maze, nuttery, Bedgebury, Kent February; viburnum in May and wildflower meadows and a gazebo agapanthus in August. covered in wisteria. Wines can be tasted from the nearby vineyard. ●63 Bedgebury Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Bedgebury National Pinetum, throughout open period. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Open: Easter to end of August, Mon–Fri, throughout open period. Goudhurst, Kent TN17 2SL 11am–4pm, Bank Holiday Sundays Open: 1 Apr–30 Sept, Sun–Fri Tel: 01580 879820 Fax: 01580 212423 and Mondays, 2–5pm. (closed Sat), 2–6pm. Web: www.forestry.gov.uk/bedgebury Benington Lordship, Hertfordshire N.B. Teas available on Bank Holiday Sundays and Mondays only. ●65 Blenheim Palace, The National Pinetum at Bedgebury is Park and Gardens © Wyken Hall the finest collection of conifers on one Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1PX 61 ● Sandringham site in the world, with over 10,000 Tel: 01993 811091 Fax: 01993 810570 The Estate Office, Sandringham, trees and shrubs from five continents Web: www.blenheimpalace.com Norfolk PE35 6EN Tel: 01553 612908 growing across 130ha (320 acres). Web: www.sandringhamestate.co.uk Many are rare, endangered and historically important specimens. In Blenheim Palace is set in 850ha (2100 winter a dusting of snow or a sharp acres) of glorious ‘Capability’ Brown Sandringham House, HM The Queen’s frost transforms the Pinetum into a landscaped parkland. Hailed as one of Norfolk retreat, is surrounded by winter wonderland. Spring brings a his greatest achievements, Brown 24ha (60 acres) of glorious informal Wyken Hall, Suffolk kaleidoscope of azaleas, daffodils, ‘naturalised’ the landscape and gardens. Woodland walks, lakes and rhododendrons and bluebells. In created sublime lakes, cunningly streams are planted to provide year- summer the giant specimens cast planned vistas, the Arboretum and round colour and interest; drifts of deep shadows creating a cool Grand Cascade. The Park remains spring-flowering bulbs, avenues of oasis. The fiery leaves and brilliant largely as he planned with the rhododendrons and azaleas, beds of berries of autumn contrast to the additions of the Water Terraces and lavender and roses, dazzling autumn background of rich green conifers. Italian Garden in early 20th century colour – there is always something to Free Access (Member 1 only) and free and the recently renovated Secret see. Other highlights include the parking applies Mon–Fri throughout Garden. Other attractions include formal North Garden, Queen open period (excl weekends and Bank hosts of daffodils and bluebells in Alexandra’s summerhouse beside its Holidays). spring, a Lavender Garden and the own cascading stream and many Open: All year, daily, 8am–dusk Marlborough Maze. (8pm in summer). unusual and commemorative trees. Free Access (Member 1 only): (park & Free Access (Member 1 only): (gardens gardens only) applies 13 Feb–28 May only) applies throughout open period. ●64 ❋ Benington Lordship (excluding Easter) & 20 Sept–12 Dec. Open: 3 Apr–mid July & early Aug–31 Oct, Please see website for normal opening daily, 10.30am–5pm (4pm in Oct). Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG2 7BS times and admission prices. Tel: 01438 869668 Fax: 01438 869622 Web: www.beningtonlordship.co.uk © Brian Chapple

This charming 3ha (7 acre) garden © Blenheim Palace extends down a steep hill to lakes and parkland. It is famed for its display of snowdrops surrounding a ruined Norman castle and Pulham folly, complemented by hellebores and other winter-flowering plants. Spring follows with an amazing display of scillas, fritillaries and Blenheim Palace Park and Gardens, Oxfordshire Sandringham, Norfolk daffodils, before the full summer glory

24 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 25 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

and author John Brookes, MBE and the forest to the Isle of Wight. Michael Neve, beautifully planted for Extensive collections of azaleas and

© Borde Hill all year interest with an emphasis on rhododendrons with summer- and

shape, colour and texture. This 1.6ha © Colin Roberts winter-flowering shrubs and trees (4 acre) garden is full of planting and provide botanical interest all year. design ideas that can be adapted to Furzey Gardens is part of the Minstead suit any size of garden. There is also a Training Project charitable beautiful plant centre and a fully organisation that provides residential licensed award-winning Garden Café. care and horticultural training to Free Access (Member 1 only): applies young people with learning Jan–Feb & Nov–Dec. difficulties. Open: All year, daily. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Please check website for current prices and throughout open period. Borde Hill Garden, West Sussex winter opening times. Exbury Gardens, Hampshire Open: Daily, Mar–Nov, 10am–5pm.

●66 Borde Hill Garden ●69 Exbury Gardens Balcombe Road, Haywards Heath, Exbury, Southampton SO45 1AZ West Sussex, RH16 1XP © Borde Hill Tel: 023 8089 1203 Fax: 023 8089 9940 Tel: 01444 450326 Fax: 01444 440427

Web: www.exbury.co.uk © Stephen Robson Email: [email protected] Web: www.bordehill.co.uk

With 81ha (200 acres) of woodland gardens on the east bank of the River Borde Hill, created from 1893 is a Beaulieu, Exbury is the outstanding Grade II* Sussex garden renowned for creation of Lionel de Rothschild in the its natural beauty, amazing views and 1920s. The gardens are particularly extensive plant collection. Its famous for their spring displays of Goodnestone Park Gardens, Kent distinctive garden ‘rooms’ including rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and the Round Dell, Rose and Italian magnolias, and dramatic autumn 71 Gardens offer a great day out. Early ● Goodnestone Park Gardens colour. There is also a meadow, rock Goodnestone Park, nr Wingham, spring-flowering magnolias, camellias, garden, exotic garden, ponds, rhododendrons and azaleas, give way Canterbury, Kent CT3 1PL cascades, and many rare trees and Tel/Fax: 01304 840107 to exuberant rose and herbaceous plants. A narrow-gauge steam railway plants. These plantings extend into runs through part of the garden. 81ha (200 acres) of AONB traditional Englefield House, Berkshire parkland and woodland which contain Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Goodnestone Park Gardens, once Mar & Sept only. the largest collection of ‘champion’ frequently visited by Jane Austen, are ●68 Englefield House Open: 6 Mar–7 Nov, daily, 10am–5pm or trees on private land in Britain. dusk if earlier. divided into three main areas. The Reading, Berkshire, RG7 5EN, Café Elvira & Jeremy’s Restaurant. Please call for winter opening dates. formal area around the house includes Tel: 01189 302221 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies a small parterre, magnificent trees and Fax: 01189 303226 Jun & Jul. a lime avenue. An arboretum leads to Email: benyon@englefield.co.uk Open: 22 Mar–12 Sept and 23–31 Oct, the woodland area, where a pocket of daily, 10am–6pm. Web: www.englefieldestate.co.uk greensand has been planted with many acid-loving plants and shrubs. © Furzey Gardens A three-roomed walled garden is The 3.6ha (9 acre) garden at extensively planted with roses, Englefield descends dramatically from clematis and herbaceous plants. the hill above the house through There is also a well-stocked nursery.

© Denmans Garden open woodland where mature native Free Access (Member 1 only): applies trees mix with Victorian conifers. Apr–Jun & Sept (excluding special Underplanting was begun in 1936 events on 14 Feb, 7 Mar and 12 Sept). and has continued ever since. Drifts of Please see website for normal opening daffodils and other spring and Furzey Gardens, Hampshire times. summer bulbs are followed by striking autumn colour. Stone balustrades and ●70 Furzey Gardens 72 staircases enclose the lower terrace, School Lane, Minstead, ● Hatfield House Denmans Garden, West Sussex with wide lawns, roses, mixed nr Lyndhurst, Hampshire SO43 7GL Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5NQ Tel: 023 8081 2464 Fax: 023 8081 2297 Tel: 01707 287010 Fax: 01707 287033 ●67 Denmans Garden borders, topiary and small enclosed areas. A children's garden with hidden Email: offi[email protected] Web: www.hatfield-house.co.uk Denmans Lane, Fontwell, Web: www.furzey-gardens.org West Sussex BN18 0SU jets of water provides fun for Tel: 01243 542808 Fax: 01243 544064 younger visitors. Email: [email protected] Free Access (Member 1 only): applies The garden at Hatfield House has Web: www.denmans-garden.co.uk throughout open period. The 4ha (10 acres) of delightful evolved into a gardeners’ paradise. Open: Every Monday through the year informal gardens at Furzey, are Visitors can enjoy the peace of the and 1 Apr–1 Nov, Mon–Thur, 10am–6pm. renowned for their year-round beauty. West Garden with its scented garden and fountains and view the famous A unique 20th century garden, jointly There is ample seating throughout knot garden in front of the Old Palace owned by renowned garden designer the gardens from which to enjoy the lake, heather garden and views across of Hatfield, where Elizabeth I spent continues overleaf ៑ 26 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 27 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

Hatfield House continued surprising corners. Sidney having remained remarkably The house, transformed into a gothic true to his design. The 4.5ha (11 acre) mansion in the twenties, burnt down walled Tudor garden is divided into a © Loseley Park series of ‘rooms’ by yew hedging. © Hatfield House shortly after, leaving romantic ruins filled with flowers from the garden as Seasonal highlights include spring- Anne Messel, Countess of Rosse had flowering bulbs, apple blossom, an them. Ancient woods dip into the eye-catching 90m (100 yd) peony valley, with walks among avenues, border, herbaceous border (under wild flowers, lake and cascades. development), fragrant roses and lavender, and autumnal fruits, venture Hatfield House, Hertfordshire Free Access (Member 1 only): applies throughout open period. playground and woodland trail. Open: All year, Wed–Sun, 10am–5pm. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies much of her childhood. Formal and Loseley Park, Surrey wilderness gardens, delightful with throughout open period (not bluebells and daffodils, are open applicable to group bookings). throughout the season. The East ●74 ❋ Loseley Park ●76 Parham Park Please see website for normal opening Garden, which borders the Jacobean Guildford, Surrey GU3 1HS Storrington, nr Pulborough, times. house, home of the Cecil family for Tel: 01483 304440 Fax: 01483 302036 West Sussex RH20 4HS 400 years, is formally planted with a Web: www.loseleypark.co.uk Tel: 01903 742021 Fax: 01903 746557 parterre, topiary, herbaceous borders Email: [email protected] and vegetable garden. The Park has Web: www.parhaminsussex.co.uk extensive walks and a picnic area. Loseley’s Walled Garden is based on Free Access (Member 1 only): applies a Gertrude Jekyll design. The award- Set in the heart of a medieval deer park Easter Sat–end Sept, Weds–Sun & Bank winning Rose Garden is home to more © Penshurst Place and Gardens Holidays (excluding major event days than 1,000 old-fashioned roses and a at the foot of the South Downs this and East Garden). magnificent vine walk. The Herb spectacular 1.6ha (4 acre) walled Please see website for normal opening Garden is divided into culinary, garden contains herbaceous and days, times and prices. medicinal, ornamental, dye and mixed borders of Edwardian opulence. Penshurst Place and Gardens, Kent cosmetic sections, with a native wild Vibrant with colour, it is run on organic flower area to attract wildlife. The principles and designed for a long ●78 Sheffield Park Garden ●73 Hever Castle & Gardens Flower Garden’s fiery colours contrast season, peaking in summer and late (The National Trust) Hever, Edenbridge Kent TN8 7NG with the serene white, cream and autumn. With its herbs, vegetables, Sheffield Park, East Sussex TN22 3QX Tel: 01732 865224 silver of the White Garden. The lavender, roses and fruit trees the Tel: 01825 790231 Fax: 01825 791264 Web: www.hevercastle.co.uk extensive organic vegetable garden garden produces a tapestry-like effect Email: sheffi[email protected] attracts interest from visitors and the in the English romantic tradition. The Web: Wild Flower Meadow is a delightful pleasure grounds, laid out in the 18th www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheffieldpark Discover 700 years of history at the spectacle in the summer. century, encompass specimen trees 13th century castle, once the Free Access (Member 1 only): (garden leading to a lake. childhood home of Anne Boleyn and only) applies May & Sept except NGS Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Sheffield Park (managed by the set in 30 acres of natural and formal day, 9 May. throughout open period. National Trust) is a beautiful 48 ha gardens. The spectacular gardens are Please see website for normal opening Not applicable to group visits. (120 acre) garden with four lakes the masterpiece of William Waldorf times. Please see website or call 01903 742021 linked by cascades and waterfalls, laid Astor who between 1904 and 1908 for normal opening times and admission out in the 18th century by ‘Capability’ prices. created a garden paradise. Visitors can Brown. The garden is open all year. enjoy the amazing topiary, Tudor herb Daffodils and bluebells abound in © John Miller garden, pergolas of roses, climbing spring, and rhododendrons and shrubs and perennial planting in the azaleas are spectacular in early © John Glover magnificent Italian gardens. There are summer. In autumn, the garden is over 3000 roses in the walled rose ablaze with colour, and a collection of garden and the herbaceous border is rare trees and shrubs makes it a 110m (360ft) long. fascinating visit at any time of year. Free Access (Member 1 only) applies Free Access (Member 1 only): applies throughout open period. throughout open period (except special Gardens Open: 3–31 Mar, Wed–Sun, event days). 10.30am-5pm (last admission 4pm), Nymans, West Sussex Please see website or call 1 Apr–31 Oct, daily, 10.30am-6pm (last 01825 790231 for normal opening times admission 5pm), 1 Nov–19 Dec, and admission prices. Thur–Sun, see website for opening times. 75 ❋ Nymans ● Parham Park, West Sussex N.B. Tearoom not National Trust. Closed 20 Dec–2 Mar. (The National Trust) Handcross, West Sussex RH17 6EB 77 Tel: 01444 405250 ● Penshurst Place and Gardens Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nymans Penshurst, nr Tonbridge, Kent TN11 8DG

© Hever Castle Tel: 01892 870307 Fax: 01892 870866 Web: www.penshurstplace.com Set in the High Weald the garden is a

series of experimental designs with © National Trust / Bob Foreman spectacular planting and beauty all The garden at Penshurst Place is one year. A horticulturalist’s dream, it’s of the oldest in private ownership Hever Castle, Kent easy to lose yourself in its intimate and with formal terraces by Sir Henry Sheffield Park Garden, East Sussex

28 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 29 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

Park also has numerous organically Oxfordshire gem also offers a rose and grown herbaceous borders. formal knot garden, water lily canal, SOUTH WEST Free Access (Member 1 only): applies trained fruit and nursery beds, a throughout open period (except special riverside walk and the National Plant © Spinners Garden event days). Collection of Kabschia Saxifraga. RHS Garden Rosemoor Open: Apr–Oct (except Christmas & Formerly the Waterperry School of see page 3 Boxing Day), 10.30am–4pm; Nov–Mar, Horticulture for Ladies, the estate 10.30am–3pm. includes nurseries, plant centre, orchards, art gallery, teashop and offers gardening, arts and craft courses. © Carole Drake Spinners Garden, Hampshire Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Mar & Oct only. ●79 Spinners Garden Open: Mar–Oct, daily, 10am–5.30pm; Nov–Feb, daily, 10am–5pm. Boldre, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 5QE © Barry Keen / National Trust Tel: 01590 675488 ●83 West Dean Gardens West Dean, nr Chichester, Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Dorset This Hampshire garden is known for West Sussex PO18 0QZ Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire 84 its peaceful woodland garden. The Tel: 01243 818210 Fax: 01243 811342 ● Abbotsbury 1ha (2.5acres) of rare trees and shrubs Email: [email protected] Subtropical Gardens 81 are combined with unusual shade ● Waddesdon Manor Web: www.westdean.org.uk Abbotsbury, Weymouth DT3 4LA bulbs and moisture-loving plants in (The National Trust) Tel: 01305 871387 Fax: 01305 871092 the bog garden. Hydrangeas and Nr Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP18 0JH Web: www.abbotsburygardens.co.uk ferns provide interest in the later Tel: 01296 653226 Fax: 01296 653212 Set within the rolling South Downs, season and a recently opened 24-hr recorded info: 01296 653211 West Dean is a garden on an arboretum of magnolias and cornus Web: www.waddesdon.org.uk expansive scale and with something The First Countess of Ilchester adjoins the nursery where many for each season. At its heart is the 1ha established Abbotsbury in 1765 as a plants can be purchased. The new (2.5 acre), highly acclaimed, restored kitchen garden to her nearby castle. It owners are planning to develop the Waddesdon Manor Garden, designed Victorian walled kitchen garden with has developed into a 12ha (30 acre) lower garden to open up new areas to for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, is its splendid 19th-century glasshouse sub-tropical paradise. Early-flowering the public. one of the finest in Britain, featuring a range. In addition there are camellias and palms enjoy the Free Access (Member 1 only): applies parterre, informal parkland and ornamental grounds, a landscape park sheltered valley setting of this exotic throughout open period. rococo-style aviary stocked with exotic and the 20ha (49 acres) St Roches garden, which holds a National Plant Open: Apr–Sept, Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm. birds. There are seasonal bedding arboretum, all linked by a 4km (2.5 Collection of Hoheria. displays, walks and views, fountains mile) parkland walk. The Visitor Voted ‘Our Favourite Garden’ by and statuary to enjoy in any season. Centre houses a high quality licensed Readers of The Daily Telegraph, Alan Guided walks take place from April restaurant and imaginative shop. Titchmarsh described Abbotsbury as to September. ‘One of the finest gardens I have ever © Tony Marshall Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Free Access (Member 1 only): (gardens Jan–Mar and Nov–Dec (except special visited’ in September 2008. only) applies Mar, Sept & Oct. event days). Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Please see website for normal opening Please see website or call Jan–Feb and Oct–Dec. times and non-member charges. 01243 818210 for normal opening times Open: All year, daily, 10am–6pm (dusk in and prices. winter). Closed Christmas and New Year. © Suzy Hunt Syon Park, Middlesex © Bicton Park ●80 Syon Park Brentford, Middlesex TW8 8JF © West Dean Gardens Tel: 020 8560 0882 Web: www.syonpark.co.uk

Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire An exceptional rural landscape across Bicton Park Botanical Gardens, Devon 82 the Thames from Kew, the 80ha (200 ● Waterperry Gardens Near Wheatley, Oxfordshire OX33 1JZ 85 Bicton Park acre) parkland of Syon Park, designed West Dean Gardens, West Sussex ● by ‘Capability’ Brown, is home to Tel: 01844 339254 (office) Botanical Gardens 16ha (40 acres) of gardens including 01844 339226 (shop) East Budleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Email: offi[email protected] an ornamental lake, an extensive Devon EX9 7BJ Web: www.waterperrygardens.co.uk collection of 200 species of rare trees, Tel: 01395 568465 Fax: 01395 568374 and a Wilderness Garden. The E-mail: [email protected] impressive Great Conservatory was built in 1826. A Grade I-listed Visitors will delight in one of the best landscape in the English Heritage purely herbaceous borders in the Plant lovers can find all-year interest in Register of Parks and Gardens of country, flowering from May to the this superbly landscaped 25ha (63 acre) first frosts. This 3.2ha (8 acre) Historic Importance in England, Syon continues overleaf ៑

30 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 31 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

Bicton Park Botanical Gardens continued park. The collection of more than numerous acers, magnolias, cornus, enthusiasts to wander at leisure within 1,000 trees contains 300 species and camellias, bog primulas, astilbes, 4ha (10 acres) of beautiful themed 25 champion specimens. Flowering Meconopsis and Liquidambar (sweet gardens of the world. Originally plants include camellias, mimosas, a gum). created in the early 1920s, each tulip tree and probably the oldest ‘Caerhays Surprise’ A nursery selling a wide range of garden is a delight and reflects the wisteria in Britain. There is an 18th- shrubs and herbaceous plants, mostly beauty, style and themes of the then century Italian Garden, an historic propagated from plants in the garden, Arts and Crafts movement. The rock Palm House, Victorian fernery, old and is open from Weds–Sat. and water garden is one of the largest modern roses, and waterside planting. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies in the country, and the Japanese Free Access (Member 1 only): applies throughout open period. garden complete with imperial Jan–Feb and Nov only (excluding train © Caerhays Estate: Magnolia Caerhays Castle Gardens, Cornwall Open: Mar–Oct, Wed & Thur, 2–5pm. pagoda and formal Italian garden are rides). Also open some Sundays. Call the garden among the finest to be found in Open: All year, daily, 10am–6pm (5pm in ●87 ❋ Caerhays Castle Gardens for details. England. Good disabled access, winter). Closed Christmas Day and Gorran, St Austell, Cornwall PL26 6LY catering facilities within the gardens Boxing Day. Tel: 01872 501310 Fax: 01872 501870 and plenty of free parking. Email: estateoffi[email protected] Free Access (Member 1 only): applies

Web: www.caerhays.co.uk © Clovelly Court throughout open period. Open: All year, daily, summer 9am–6pm;

© Broadleas winter 10am–dusk. An informal woodland garden created by J C Williams, who sponsored plant- hunting expeditions to China at the

Clovelly Court, Devon © Mark Bolton turn of the 19th century. Historic Caerhays is one of the oldest estates ●89 Clovelly Court in the country and is one of Cornwall’s great gardens – a Clovelly, nr Bideford, Devon EX39 5SZ Tel: 01237 431200 Fax: 01237 431205 springtime paradise of glorious camellias, rhododendrons and Corsham Court Gardens, Wiltshire magnolias, of which Caerhays holds a ●91 Corsham Court Gardens National Plant Collection. Visitors can Clovelly Court Garden is a classic Corsham Court, Corsham, choose between the four woodland example of the Victorian kitchen garden tradition. Magnificent lean-to Wiltshire SN13 OBZ walks through one of the finest Web: www.corsham-court.co.uk greenhouses with original manual displays of spring flowers in Britain. At Tel: 01249 701610 least a half-day visit is recommended. levers house apricots, melons, peaches, a vine, citrus and a fig tree. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies 15 Feb–14 Mar (inclusive). Espalier fan and cordon trees line the Broadleas Gardens, Wiltshire Open: 15 Feb–31 May 2010, daily, walls enclosing the garden, which also The grounds of Corsham Court 10am–5pm (gardens only). Last entry 4pm. shelter the vegetables grown were designed by Brown and Repton. The gardens feature one of the largest ●86 Broadleas Gardens organically and in rotation. Colourful flower borders form the lower half of oriental planes in Europe and Broadleas, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 5JQ magnificent examples of ginkgo and Tel: 01380 722035 the 0.6ha (1.5 acre) walled garden. black walnut. Hidden in the gardens is Email: [email protected] Fine views across Bideford Bay are © Mark Bolton revealed from the recolonised Brown’s Bath House, surrounded by balustraded terraces. mature yew trees. The formal areas of the garden were laid out in the 19th This garden was bought just after Individual Members’ free access applies Mar & Oct. century, with a collection of World War II by the late Lady Anne Open: Mar–Oct, daily, 10am–4pm. magnolias added in the 20th century. Cowdray in a combe below Devizes. Note: House entry discount available for A garden of serious plantsmanship RHS members. and dendrology, Broadleas is full of Free Access (Member 1 only): (garden fine things that one would think too only) applies throughout open period Chiffchaffs, Dorset tender for these parts – large except NGS days on 21 Mar and © Peter Chatterton specimens of Davidia involucrata, 6 Jun 2010. Cornus ‘Norman Hadden’, Catalpa x ●88 Chiffchaffs Please see website for normal opening erubescens ‘Purpurea’, all manner of Chaffeymoor, Bourton, Gillingham, times. magnolias, azaleas, hydrangeas, Dorset SP8 5BY Tel: 01747 840841 hostas, lilies, rhododendrons, camellias and rare trilliums. It is at its ●92 Cranborne Manor Garden Compton Acres, Dorset most magnificent in spring with Cranborne, Wimborne, Chiffchaffs is a cottage garden sheets of bulbs below flowering trees. Dorset BH21 5PP planted for a long season of interest, 90 ❋ There is also a perennial garden, a ● Compton Acres Tel: 01725 517248 Fax: 01725 517862 including spring bulbs, flowering sunken rose garden, a grey border 164 Canford Cliffs Road, Poole, Web: www.cranborne.co.uk cherries, rhododendrons, shrub roses, and woodland walk. Dorset BH13 7ES clematis and herbaceous borders, Tel: 01202 700778 Fax: 01202 707537 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies with winding paths leading to long- Web: www.comptonacres.co.uk This historic garden was laid out in throughout open period distance views over the surrounding the 17th century by John Tradescant (excluding NGS days). Dorset countryside. There is also a Open: Apr–Oct, Sun, Wed and Thurs, and much embellished in the 20th woodland garden containing 2–6pm. Compton Acres invites garden century. Hidden among ancient trees continues overleaf ៑ 32 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 33 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

Cranborne Manor Gardens continued are viewed against a range of garden builds from early-spring impressive architectural features. The pulmonarias, hellebores and garden features statuary, ancient established meadow plantings of mellowed stone walls, the Ionic snakeshead fritillaries, through to

© Mike Werkmeister temple overlooking the last of a summer roses, irises, primulas and cascade of lakes and the Centenary astrantias, to a late-summer and

© Cranborne Manor Gardens Fountain, the highest powered autumn crescendo of big grasses and fountain in England. late perennials. Texture, scent, colour, Free Access (Member 1 only): (gardens form and structure create the only) applies Jan–Feb and Oct–Dec. naturalistic garden ambience. Cranborne Manor Garden, Dorset Gardens open: daily, 10am–4.30pm. Sensitive management of the garden Abbey open: Apr–Oct, Tue–Fri, Sun & ensures prolific wildlife. close to the village of Cranborne, it East Lambrook Manor, Somerset Bank Holidays, 12noon–4pm. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies contains yew hedges and lawns, a Please see website for admission prices. ●94 East Lambrook Manor throughout open period. wild garden with spring bulbs, a Open: 1 Apr–31 Oct, Tue–Sat. Jacobean mount garden, a walled South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5HH kitchen garden, a white garden and Tel: 01460 240328 Fax: 01460 242344 new in 2009 a cottage garden. Email: [email protected] Old-fashioned and species roses Web: www.eastlambrook.com © Jason Ingram mingle with clematis and herbaceous perennials to give the garden a sense © Martin Hughes-Jones of timeless serenity. Created by the late Margery Fish, Note: South Court occasionally closed. celebrated plantswoman and gardening writer, between 1938 and Free Access (Member 1 only): applies 1969. Her talent for combining old- (Wed only) throughout open period. Hestercombe Gardens, Somerset Open: Mar–Sept, Wed only, 9am–5pm fashioned and contemporary plants in (last entry 4pm). a relaxed and informal manner has ●96 Hestercombe Gardens created an extraordinary garden of Holbrook Garden, Devon Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton, great charm. Now Grade-I listed, it is Somerset TA2 8LG 93 ●98 Jasmine Cottage ● Docton Mill Gardens renowned as the premier example of Tel: 01823 413923 Fax: 01823 413747 Lymebridge, Hartland, the English cottage gardening style Email: [email protected] 26 Channel Road, Clevedon, North Devon EX39 6EA and remains a true plantsman's Web: www.herstercombe.com Somerset BS21 7BY Tel: 01237 441369 Fax: 01237 441369 garden, noted for its collections of Tel: 01275 871 850 Web: www.doctonmill.co.uk rare snowdrops, hellebores, Email: [email protected] geraniums and the Margery Fish Plant Web: Nursery. RHS horticultural courses also A fascinating combination of three www.bologrew.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk run here. period gardens covering more than Docton Mill is situated in a 20ha (50 acres), Hestercombe is magnificent valley location 1km from Free Access (Member 1 only): applies widely acknowledged as one of the Jasmine Cottage garden is the stylish the coast and the famous waterfall at 1 Feb–31 Mar and 1 Sept–30 Oct. ten most important historic gardens in Please see website for normal opening and imaginative creation of the Spekes Mill Mouth. The gardens Britain. It includes the world-famous surround the original mill pond and times. present owners on 0.1ha overlooking Edwardian formal garden designed by the Bristol Channel. The garden has the microclimate created within the Edwin Lutyens and planted by wooded valley enables tender species tall-hedged rooms to shelter island Gertrude Jekyll, undoubtedly the beds, unusual climbers, old-fashioned to flourish. Recent plantings of finest product of their collaboration, herbaceous and stream gardens, scented roses and many shrubs and together with Victorian terraces and herbaceous perennials. A decorative along with a redesigned summer shrubbery, and a wonderful 18th- garden, give variety throughout the mini-potager uses salmon traps for © Forde Abbey Gardens century arcadian landscape with peas, beans and sweet peas. Around seasons. A nursery selling a wide temples, lakes and cascades set in an range of herbaceous perennials is fifty different cultivars of the genus exquisite and secret valley. Mill and Salvia are grown. open throughout the year. barn restoration now completed. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Free Access (Member 1 only): (gardens any Sat, 1 Mar–31 Oct inclusive. throughout open period. only) applies Jan–Mar and Oct–Dec. Open: Mar–Oct, daily, 10am–6pm. Open: Thur 27 May, Thur in Jun–Jul and Open: All year (except Christmas Day), Thur 5 and 12 Aug, 11am–4pm. 10am–6pm (last admission 5pm). Forde Abbey Gardens, Somerset

97 ❋ ●95 Forde Abbey Gardens ● Holbrook Garden Chard, Somerset TA20 4LU Sampford Shrubs, Sampford Peverell, © Docton Mill Gardens Tel: 01460 221290 Tiverton, Devon EX16 7EN Web: www.fordeabbey.co.uk Tel: 01884 821164

Web: www.holbrookgarden.com 'Lord Bute’ / Jasmine Cottage

The gardens of Forde Abbey surround ‘This staggeringly diverse garden, still the 12th-century former Cistercian © Pelargonium gathering the best plants the monastery, a private home since temperate world has to offer’ (Anna 1650. The vivid herbaceous borders, Pavord, The Garden, Sept 2007). The Jasmine Cottage, Somerset Docton Mill Gardens, North Devon mature trees and wide sloping lawns

34 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 35 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

and the Decennium Border with shrubs from around the world. Well informal planting giving interest for known for the extensive collection of most of the year. The nursery, a camellias and National Plant leading national specialist in grasses Collections of Astilbe, Japanese Iris and © Trebah Garden and peren nials, is well known for its Tulbaghia, there are areas where gold medal winning displays at visitors can rest and experience the Chelsea and other national flower tranquillity and many inspiring © Kingston Maurward Gardens shows. aspects of the gardens. There is also a Free Access (Member 1 only): applies walled garden plant centre and throughout open period. garden tea room. Please see website for normal opening Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Kingston Maurward Gardens, Dorset times. every Friday throughout open period (excluding Good Friday). ●99 Kingston Maurward Gardens Open: 1 Mar–31 Oct, daily, 10am–5pm. Trebah Garden, Cornwall Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8PY Tel: 01305 215003 Fax: 01305 215001 104 Web: www.kmc.ac.uk/gardens ● Trebah Garden Mawnan Smith, nr Falmouth, © Tash Granville-Abbot ‘Magicien’ /

Marwood Hill Cornwall TR11 5JZ Tel: 01326 252200 Fax: 01326 250781 Kingston Maurward Gardens are set Email: [email protected] deep in Hardy’s Dorset and are listed Web: www.trebah-garden.co.uk on the English Heritage Register of Deutzia x hybrida

Gardens. The 14ha (35 acres) of © classical 18th-century parkland and A uniquely beautiful, sub-tropical, lawns sweep majestically down to the Mapperton Gardens, Dorset 10.5ha (26 acre) Cornish ravine lake from the Georgian House. The Marwood Hill Garden, North Devon garden of great beauty falls from an Edwardian Gardens include a croquet 101 18th-century house to a private beach lawn, herbaceous borders and a large ● Mapperton Gardens ●103 Tapeley Park on the Helford River. display of tender perennials, including Nr Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3NR Instow, nr Bideford, A stream cascading through ponds National Plant Collections of Tel: 01308 862645 Fax: 01308 861082Web: www.mapperton.com North Devon EX39 4NT of koi carp and water plants winds Penstemon and Salvia. Stone terraces, Tel: 01271 342558/ through 0.8ha (2 acres) of hydrangeas balustrading and yew hedges have 01271 860 597 (March–Oct) and spills onto the beach. Glades of been used to create intimate gardens Fax: 01271 342371 and carefully planned vistas. Mapperton’s terraced valley gardens sub-tropical tree ferns and palms surround a honey-coloured Jacobean mingle with giant Gunnera, Puya and Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Echium, beneath a canopy of century- throughout open period (except special manor house, stable blocks, dovecote Owned by the same family for almost old rhododendrons. Trebah Garden is event days). and church. On the upper levels lies a Open: 5 Jan–22 Dec, daily, 10am–5.30pm walled croquet lawn that leads down 300 years, the 14ha (35 acre) site at a paradise for the plantsman, artist, (or dusk if earlier). to the Orangery and Italianate formal Tapeley Park overlooks the River children and family. garden with fountains, fine examples Torridge and offers spectacular views Free Access (Member 1 only): of sculptured topiary, grottoes, to Lundy and across the estuary to applies 1 Jan–31 Mar 2010 & 1 Nov–31 statuary, ponds and herbaceous Saunton Sands and beyond. The Mar 2011. borders. renovated borders in the Italian Open: All year, daily from 10am. Winter opening times may vary. The lower garden contains a Terraces are a delight to see. Work has © Dianna Jazwinski mature arboretum with specimen centred on the walled kitchen garden, shrubs, rare trees and a spring garden. which now produces fruit and There are magnificent views of the vegetables in abundance. There is also surrounding countryside, and walks to a new permaculture garden to see be enjoyed. and enjoy. The lake, located at the bottom of a ravine, is surrounded by Free Access (Member 1 only): applies

large Thuja plicata trees, the oldest in © Trevarno Estate Gardens Knoll Gardens, Dorset throughout open period (except special event days). the country, and in season beautiful camellias, magnolias and 100 ❋ Knoll Gardens Open: Mar–Oct, daily (except Sat), ● 11am–5pm. rhododendrons. Knoll Gardens, Hampreston, Free Access (Member 1 only): applies nr Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7ND 8 Jun–31 Jul. Trevarno Estate Gardens, Cornwall Tel: 01202 873931 Fax: 01202 870842 ●102 Marwood Hill Garden Open: 26 Mar–31 Oct, Sun–Fri, Web: www.knollgardens.co.uk Barnstaple, North Devon EX31 4EB 10am–5pm. ●105 Trevarno Estate Gardens Tel: 01271 342528 and the National Museum Email: [email protected] With an informal framework of mature Web: www.marwoodhillgarden.co.uk of Gardening trees and shrubs creating a relaxed © Tapely Park Trevarno Manor, Helston, and intimate atmosphere, these 1.6ha Cornwall TR13 ORU Tel: 01326 574274 Fax: 01326 574282 (4 acre) gardens are becoming known Created by Dr Jimmy Smart VMH, for their ‘naturalistic’ approach to the Marwood Hill Garden is a privately use of grasses and perennials. Specific owned 8ha (20 acre) garden set in a areas providing planting ideas include sheltered valley 4 miles north of With a history stretching back to 1246, Trevarno has been privately the Dragon Garden, Gravel Garden Barnstaple; a haven for trees and Tapeley Park, North Devon continues overleaf ៑

36 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 37 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

Trevarno Estate Gardens continued owned by a succession of notable styles of the day and the individual that all blend together in one 3.2ha families. The magnificent gardens tastes of each Earl and Countess of CENTRAL (8 acre) garden set in the beautiful have been developed over the Pembroke. In an idyllic setting the Rutland countryside. The range of centuries and the Trevarno Estate grounds are bordered by the rivers plants in many different combinations, offers visitors an unforgettable Wylye and Nadder. They offer a mix together with the wealth of practical gardening experience. It combines of open parkland in the style of ideas for any garden, means that all beautiful Victorian gardens with the ‘Capability’ Brown, small formal gardeners leave totally inspired. In the splendid Fountain, café, adventure gardens and splendid herbaceous nursery, a range of choice and unusual play area, estate walk and reindeer borders, and a wealth of architectural plants is for sale. and the fascinating National Museum features from the earlier Renaissance © Arley Arboretum and Gardens Free Access (Member 1 only): applies of Gardening. 1500 varieties of and 18th-century gardens. The latest throughout open period (except daffodils can also be seen in flower addition of the Millennium Water group visits). from mid–December to mid–May. Feature forms a pleasing contrast to Open: Mar–May & Sept–Oct, 9am–5pm; Free Access (Member 1 only): applies the famous Palladian Bridge. Arley Arboretum and Gardens, Worcestershire Jun–Aug, 9am–7pm; Nov–Feb, 10am–4pm. throughout open period. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies 108 Open: All year, daily, 10.30am–5pm. throughout open period (except ● Arley Arboretum Closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day. regular access to adventure and Gardens playground). Upper Arley, nr Bewdley, Please see website for normal opening Worcestershire DY12 1XG times. Tel: 01299 861368/868

Fax: 01299 861330 © Batsford Arboretum Email: [email protected] © Trewithen Gardens Web: www.arley-arboretum.org.uk © Wilton House

This jewel in Worcestershire’s crown was, until five years ago, opened only occasionally to the public. It is a haven of peace overlooking the banks of the Batsford Arboretum, Gloucestershire Trewithen Gardens, Cornwall River Severn. Approached through rolling parkland, visitors enter through ●110 Batsford Arboretum a Walled Garden containing an ●106 Trewithen Gardens Batsford Park, Moreton-in-Marsh, Italianate Garden, raised beds, Grampound Road, Truro, Gloucestershire GL56 9AB Cornwall TR2 4DD Wilton House, Wiltshire orchard, herbaceous borders, Tel: 01386 701441 Fax: 01386 701829 Tel: 01726 883647 Fax: 01726 882301 ornamental fowl, picnic area and Web: www.batsarb.co.uk Web: www.trewithengardens.co.uk plant sales. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies every Thur throughout open period. A rare and beautiful collection of Open: mid-March–31 Oct, Wed–Sun and trees, shrubs and wildflowers set in Created in the early years of the 20th Bank Holiday Mon, 11am–5pm. century, these gardens are 22ha (55 acres) of spectacular internationally famous. The 12ha Cotswold countryside. Wander along (30 acre) site is renowned for the magical, meandering paths with magnificent collection of camellias, Japanese flowering cherries and rhododendrons, magnolias and many magnolias, and beside streams edged rare trees and shrubs that are seldom with candelabra primulas. In autumn found elsewhere in Britain. A deep a riot of colour explodes with the reds sunken garden contains acers, © Hamilton Photography and golds of the Japanese maples. camellias and tree ferns. Viewing Batsford is one of the largest private platforms and a camera obscura have collections of trees in Britain. been constructed. The extensive Free Access (Member 1 only): applies woodland gardens are surrounded by throughout Dec & Jan and Jun–Sept traditional landscaped parkland. (except group visits). Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Open: daily, 9am–5pm. Jul–Sept. Barnsdale Gardens, Rutland Open: Mar–Sept, daily, 10am–4.30pm. 111 Closed Sun, Jun–Sept. ●109 ❋ Barnsdale Gardens ● Belvoir Castle Belvoir, Grantham, The Avenue, Exton, Leicestershire NG32 1PD Oakham, Rutland LE15 8AH 107 Tel: 01476 871002 Fax: 01476 870443 ● Wilton House Tel: 01572 813200 Fax: 01572 813346 Email: [email protected] Wilton, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 0BJ Email: offi[email protected] Web: www.belvoircastle.com Tel: 01722 746714 Fax: 01722 744447 Web: www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk Email: [email protected] Web: www.wiltonhouse.com Home of the Duke and Duchess of The famous BBC Gardeners’ World Rutland, this remarkable English Garden, created by Geoff Hamilton, Heritage Grade II garden and castle is The gardens at Wilton House have has 38 smaller gardens and features changed over the years, reflecting the continues overleaf ៑

38 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 39 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

Belvoir Castle continued borders, pools and lily-ponds. There are pergolas, rose borders, individually planted courtyards and captivating

© Belvoir Castle views over the park. The magical Wild Garden includes wonderful colours of

© Burford House Gardens acers and rhododendrons, with bamboos and gunneras. A number of © The Dorothy Clive Garden distinguished landscape designers have been involved with the gardens at Cottesbrooke including Robert Weir Schultz, Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe and Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire Dame Sylvia Crowe. Most recently, being sensitively restored. Highlights James Alexander-Sinclair has reworked Burford House Gardens, Worcestershire The Dorothy Clive Garden, Shropshire include statues by Caius Cibber the herbaceous border. (1680), spring bedding, a collection 113 Free Access (Member 1 only): (gardens ● Burford House Gardens 116 ❋ of Victorian daffodils planted with only) applies throughout open period ● The Dorothy Clive Burford Garden Company, (except special event days). Garden primroses and bluebells, against a Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire WR15 8HQ background of rhododendrons and Please see website for normal opening Willoughbridge, Market Drayton, Tel: 01584 810777 Fax: 01584 810673 times. azaleas. There are also rare specimen Email: [email protected] Shropshire TF9 4EU trees, many the largest of their type in Web: www.burford.co.uk Tel: 01630 647237 Fax: 01630 647902 the British Isles. Email: [email protected] Web: www.dorothyclivegarden.co.uk Note: Sloping woodland; please wear suitable footwear. The lawns and herbaceous borders Free Access (Member 1 only): applies of Burford House sweep along the The Dorothy Clive Garden is a 5ha during normal opening hours in April banks of the picturesque River Teme. and July. (12 acre) garden with a 200-year-old Originally designed by the late John Open: Please check the website or quarry converted into a dramatic Treasure in 1952, the gardens contain telephone before travelling. rhododendron and woodland garden. a National Plant Collection of Clematis © Simon Hadley / Thockmorton Estates This informal garden is home to many with around 500 cultivars on display, choice and unusual plants. Vibrant 112 ❋ flowering from spring through to ● Bluebell Arboretum mixed borders, a scree above a lily early autumn. and Nursery pond, a gravel garden and thousands There are some 2,000 other plants, Annwell Lane, Smisby, Ashby-de-la Zouch, of spring bulbs are all displayed including one of the garden’s great South Derbyshire LE65 2TA amidst fine views of the surrounding wonders, the giant Wisteria macrobotrys Tel: 01530 413700 Fax: 01530 417600 countryside. Web: www.bluebellnursery.co.uk ‘Burford’. A Georgian turfed bridge spans the river and takes you to an Directions: Sited on A51 (nr. Woore) area of wild flowers and meadow. midway between Nantwich and Stone. From the M6 take J15. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Bluebell Arboretum is an example of Free Access (Member 1 only): applies throughout open period. Coughton Court, Warwickshire what can be achieved in a beautiful Jul–Sept. Open: Jan–Dec, daily except Christmas woodland garden, created in a Open: 20 Mar–26 Sept 2010, Day and Boxing Day, 9am–6pm (gardens windswept field in only 18 years. daily, 10am–5.30pm. close at dusk if earlier). ●115 ❋ Coughton Court Snake-bark maples, winter-flowering honeysuckle and witch hazels provide The Throckmorton Family Gardens, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 5JA winter colour. Northern pin oaks and Tel: 01789 762542 Fax: 01789 764369 birches are among the autumn Web: www.coughtoncourt.co.uk sights, with late-flowering magnolias © Simon Garbutt and flowering dogwoods in spring and summer. Coughton Court has been home to Free Access (Member 1 only): applies the Throckmorton family since 1409. throughout open period (excluding NGS days). These breathtaking gardens comprise

Please see website for normal opening © Jerry Harpur / Garden Images 10ha (25 acres) of diverse gardens times. focused around the superb walled garden, which includes the Rose Labyrinth, the first British garden to Felley Priory, Nottinghamshire Cottesbrooke Hall, Northamptonshire be given an Award of Garden Excellence by the World Federation of Rose Societies. The magnificent ●117 Felley Priory ●114 Cottesbrooke Hall borders and bog garden contain Underwood, Nottinghamshire NG16 5FJ Cottesbrooke, Northamptonshire NN6 8PF myriad colours and plants for all Tel: 07763 189771 Fax: 01773 580440 Tel: 01604 505808 ©Bluebell Arboretum and Nursey seasons, including the award-winning Email: [email protected] Web: www.cottesbrookehall.co.uk spring Throckmorton daffodils. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Felley Priory, with its ancient walls, (gardens only) applies throughout open yew hedges and topiary, is a garden period excluding special event days. for all seasons: snowdrops, hellebores, Huge 300-year-old cedars set off Open: For opening times and admission magnificent double herbaceous an orchard of daffodils, herbaceous Bluebell Arboretum and Nursery, South Derbyshire prices please see the website. continues overleaf ៑

40 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 41 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

Felley Priory continued borders and an old-fashioned rose 122 garden. There are pergolas, borders ● Ragley Hall Alcester, Warwickshire B49 5NJ filled with unusual trees, shrubs and © Mill Dene Tel: 01789 762090 Fax: 01789 764791 bulbs, a medieval garden, knot garden © Kelmarsh Hall Email: [email protected] and a small arboretum. A pond has its Web: www.ragleyhall.com edges planted with Iris ensata, shrub roses, bamboos, Eucomis, Lysichiton and primulas. A Snowdrop weekend will take place on 2nd weekend in The bare bones of Robert Marnock’s February, and NCCPG Plant Fairs on late 19th-century garden carved from the first Sunday in June and October. Lancelot Brown’s sculptured parkland is still evident today, but unlike Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Marnock’s original vision intended to throughout open period (except Mill Dene Garden, Gloucestershire special event days). show off discoveries from the New Open: All year, Tue, Wed and Fri, Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire to encourage wildlife (including grass World, the ethos now focuses as 9am–12.30pm; Mar–Sept, snakes!). much on indigenous flora and fauna. every 2nd and 4th Wed, 9am–4pm; Marnock’s garden has matured into a 119 A tranquil garden with seats, scent every 3rd Sun, 11am–4pm. ● Kelmarsh Hall and romantic planting. rich palette for nature, with mature Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire NN6 9LY trees predominating throughout, Tel: 01604 686 543 Fax: 01604 686 437 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies creating a magnificent foil for new 118 ❋ Email: [email protected] Apr and Sept. ● Hergest Croft Gardens developments, including the creation Kington, Herefordshire HR5 3EG Web: www.kelmarsh.com Open: 1 Apr–30 Sept, Tues–Fri, 10.30am–6pm (last entry 5pm) of traditional horticultural features Tel: 01544 230160 fashioned with a naturalistic Email: [email protected] and 2-5 Apr, 2-3 May, 30–31 May, 1–2 Aug and 29–30 Aug, 11am–5.30pm approach. Web: www.hergest.co.uk This charming early 20th-century (last entry 4.30pm). Free Access (Member 1 only): applies garden complements a Palladian Hall, throughout open period. once home to society decorator Open: 13 Feb–31 Oct, Sat–Sun, In the heart of the Welsh Marches, the Nancy Lancaster. Renovation work ●121 ❋ Painswick Rococo 10am–6pm and weekdays during school gardens have spectacular views to the aims to revive her panache and evoke Garden holidays. Black Mountains. It has been created the tumultuous herbaceous borders of Painswick, Gloucestershire GL6 6TH over 100 years by three generations of designer Norah Lindsay. A formal Tel: 01452 813204 Fax: 01452 814888 the Banks family. It holds one of the terrace by Geoffrey Jellicoe leads to Email: [email protected]

finest collections of trees and shrubs romantic rose gardens, country vistas Web: www.rococogarden.org.uk © Ragley Hall in Britain ranging from the earliest and grand but cottagey borders. collections of Chinese plants by Ernest Spring offers swathes of naturalised daffodils and fritillarias. After ‘Chinese’ Wilson to the new Painswick Rococo Garden is a unique midsummer, exuberant cut-flower introductions from 1980 onwards. insight into early 18th-century garden borders set off a recently restored There are hidden valleys, woodland design, combining formal vistas with glasshouse at the heart of a triangular glades, open parkland, spring bulbs, woodland walks. Both flamboyant walled garden. flower borders and magnificent and frivolous, gardens became autumn colour, as well as an old- Free Access (Member 1 only): applies theatrical sets, a place to be enjoyed fashioned kitchen garden full of throughout open period (except by the owner and his guests. special event days). unusual vegetables. A beautiful example, hidden away in a Garden open: 6 Apr–16 Sept, Tue–Thur Free Access (Member 1 only): applies and Sun (plus Bank Holiday Mon), charming Cotswold valley, Painswick weekends in March, and daily 1 Apr–30 11am–5pm. Rococo Garden is being restored to Apr and 1 Jul–30 Sept. how it was shown in a 1748 painting. Open: Sat–Sun, Mar, 12noon–5.30pm; The garden is known for the extensive Ragley Hall, Warwickshire daily, 1 Apr–31 Oct, 12noon–5.30pm. ●120 ❋ Mill Dene Garden display of naturalised snowdrops, its Blockley, Moreton-in-Marsh, unusual Anniversary Maze and the Gloucestershire GL56 9HU Heritage Kitchen Garden. ●123 Renishaw Hall Tel: 01386 700457 Fax: 01386 700526 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Nr Sheffield, Derbyshire S21 3WB Web: www.milldenegarden.co.uk throughout open period, except Feb. Tel: 01246 432310 Open: All year, daily, 11am–5pm. Email: [email protected]

© Hergest Croft Gardens Web: www.renishaw-hall.co.uk Mill Dene Garden has much to offer new and established gardeners, as well as family visitors. An intrinsically Resplendent in acres of beautiful difficult but beautiful site, the 1ha (2.5 gardens andwoodlands sits Renishaw acre) garden rises up from a grotto Hall. Restoration has enhancedthe and mill pond in steep terraces to a © Painswick Rococo Garden geometric design, retaining yew cricket lawn and views over the hills. hedges, pyramids and antique statues, The fruit garden with nets shaped like while adding ebullient mixed borders, medieval tents and a Cook’s garden rose and clematis gardens and exotic (full of herbs in the Caedfel manner) plants. Highlights include: formal excites the senses, whilst the gardens, naturalistic plantings with Cotswold brash soil of the north- specimen trees, unusual shrubs and Hergest Croft Gardens, Herefordshire facing garden is sensitively managed Painswick Rococo Garden, Gloucestershire rambling roses, a 3ha (8 acre) continues overleaf ៑

42 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 43 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

Renishaw Hall continued planting. Brought back to life as part 128 of a £100M makeover, the 300ha ● Wollerton Old Hall Garden (750 acre) estate (one of Europe’s Wollerton, Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 3NA © Renishaw Hall largest contemporary perennial Tel: 01630 685760 Fax: 01630 685583 schemes) includes gardens by pre- Web: www.wollertonoldhallgarden.com eminent designers Tom Stuart-Smith and Piet Oudolf. Features new for © Stone House Cottage Gardens 2009 include the £1M Tearoom, improvements to the western Commenced in 1984, this pleasure garden and a 2 mile circular outstanding garden creation seeks to lake walk. combine horticultural excellence with unrestrained planting of perennials, Free Access (Member 1 only): applies careful colour choice with strong Renishaw Hall, Derbyshire Jan–Mar and Oct–Dec (except special event days). contrasts, and intimacy with strong Stone House Cottage Gardens, Worcestershire design structure. The dominant Italianate Garden, 120ha (300 acre) Open: Daily, 1 Apr–31 Oct, 10am– 6pm and 1 Nov–31 Mar ’10, 10am–4pm. theme is of linear formality, so woodland, parkland and lakeside 125 ● Stone House creating many individualistic gardens walks, Children's Garden, Bluebell Cottage Gardens linked by recurring themes of oak, Wood and the National Plant Stone House Cottage, Stone, beech and yew. Collections of Collection of yuccas. nr Kidderminster, clematis, roses and salvias result in Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Worcestershire DY10 4BG many inspiring planting combinations. (gardens only) throughout open Tel: 01562 69902 Web: www.shcn.co.uk period (except special event days Free Access (Member 1 only): applies

and Bank Holidays). © Westonbirt Arboretum Good Friday–End of Apr and Sept. Open: 1 Apr–26 Sept, Thur–Sun Open: From Good Friday–Sept, Fri, Sun & and Bank Holidays, 10.30am–4.30pm. Unusual brick follies adorn this Bank Holidays, 12noon–5pm. romantic walled garden. It has been skilfully divided to create different ●124 Garden Organic Ryton compartments and diverse habitats in which to grow the vast selection of

Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry CV8 3LG © Clive Nichols Tel: 024 7630 3517 Fax: 024 7663 9229 rare and unusual plants that thrive Web: www.gardenorganic.org.uk here. Climbers, a speciality, adorn the walls. The garden acts as a shop window Garden Organic Ryton, home to the for the adjoining nursery, where UK’s leading organic growing charity visitors can buy many of the plants showcases 4ha (10 acres) of organic that grow in the garden, including domestic horticulture including many rarely for sale in this country. herbs, roses, lawns, shrubberies, Free Access (Member 1 only): applies herbaceous planting and vegetable throughout open period. and fruit growing. With information Open: mid–Mar to mid-Sept, Wed–Sat Westonbirt, Gloucestershire on composting and pest/disease 10am–5pm. control, the grounds also boast a Wollerton Old Hall Garden, Shropshire large conservation area with native ●127 Westonbirt trees and wild flowers, a bee garden, The National Arboretum, Westonbirt, living willow structures and the Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8QS world’s first public biodynamic Tel: 01666 880220 Fax: 01666 880559

garden. The Vegetable Kingdom, an © The Trentham Estate Web: www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt interactive visitor centre, houses the Heritage Seed Library. There is also an award-winning restaurant, café and Westonbirt Arboretum is one of the organic shop. world’s finest collections of trees and Free Access (Member 1 only): applies shrubs. This magnificent display of throughout open period (except more than 16,000 specimens of special event days). woody plants, spread over 243ha (600 Open: All year, daily, 9am–5pm. The Trentham Estate, Stoke-on-Trent acres) on the southern edge of the Restricted hours at Christmas. Cotswolds, provides all year interest. ●126 ❋ The Trentham Estate Wander at your leisure along the 27km Stone Road, Trentham, (17 miles) of pathways that lead you Stoke-on-Trent ST4 8AX through this charming landscape Tel: 01782 646646 Fax: 01782 644536 created by Robert Holford in 1829. Email: [email protected] Free Access (Member 1 only): applies

© Garden Organic Ryton Web: www.trentham.co.uk throughout open period (except 23–30 Aug and 1–31 Oct and Fri–Sun 26 Nov–19 Dec). Open: All year, daily, 9am–5pm. At the head of ‘Capability’ Brown’s Please contact the garden for details of mile-long lake awaits a fusion of current prices. Garden Organic Ryton, Warwickshire Italianate formality and naturalised

44 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 45 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

architect, Thomas Mawson, and the WALES passionate plant collector, Reginald Cory. The gardens include lawns, individually themed garden rooms

© Bodnant Gardens enclosed by yew hedging, and a well- established arboretum including 17 champion trees. © The Dingle Gardens & Nursery

© Aberglasney Gardens Free Access (Member 1 only): applies throughout open period (excluding special event days). Open: Please call 029 2059 3328 to confirm 2010 opening times and prices before travelling or see website. The Dingle Gardens & Nursery, Powys Bodnant Garden, Conwy ●132 The Dingle Gardens Terrace; the curved, stepped pergola, and Nursery covered with its riot of climbing plants Aberglasney Gardens, Carmarthenshire Welshpool, Powys SY21 9JD in summer; and the Dell Garden, a Tel: 01938 555145 Fax: 01938 555778 © The Garden House tranquil place of natural beauty. Web: www.dinglenurseries.co.uk ●129 ❋ Aberglasney Gardens A garden for all seasons. Llangathen, Carmarthenshire SA32 8QH Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Tel: 01558 668998 Fax: 01558 668998 throughout open period. The Dingle is a thriving family garden Email: [email protected] Open: 20 Feb–31 Oct, daily, 10am–5pm; Web: www.aberglasney.org 1–21 Nov, daily, 10am–4pm (last and nursery set in rural mid-Wales. admission 30 mins prior to closing). The garden, alongside an extensive plant-selling area, covers about 1.6ha (4 acres) and slopes away from the Aberglasney is set in the beautiful The Garden House, near Wrexham 131 ❋ house to a lake. With its glorious countryside of the Towy Valley. One of ● Cae Hir background of hills and woods, the the country’s most exciting garden Gerddi Cae Hir Gardens, Cribyn, garden is breathtaking in its beauty. ●134 The Garden House restoration projects, the 4ha (10 acres) Lampeter, Ceredigion SA48 7NG Tel: 01570 470839 Each border has its own theme, every Erbistock, nr Wrexham, Wales LL13 0DL of garden contain an amazing variety Web: www.caehirgardens.com corner its surprises and each season its Tel: 01978 781149 Fax: 01978 781144 and diversity of rare and unusual particular joys. There is a huge variety Email: [email protected] plants for year-round interest. At the of rare and unusual plants with year- Web: www.simonwingett.com heart is a unique, fully-restored round interest. Elizabethan/ Jacobean cloister and A 200-year-old tradition of Dutch parapet walk, which is the only horticulture has put its stamp on this Free Access (Member 1 only): applies The Garden House was developed example that survives in the UK. delightful garden. throughout open period (excluding special event days). from a 2ha (5 acre) farmland site by A recent addition is a large glazed The artistic eye and skilful hand of Open: All year, daily, 9am–5pm (except Simon, Joan and Susie Wingett. The tropical garden planted within the old Wil Akkermans, the garden’s creator, Christmas). main features include shrub and ruins of part of the mansion. at blending the cultivated and the wild herbaceous plantings in The shop and café are open enables this garden to sit comfortably monochromatic, analogous and throughout the year. in the glorious Welsh countryside. Natural ponds and wildlife garden, complementary colour schemes; rose Free Access (Member 1 only): applies pergolas; a sculpture garden; a large Jan–Mar and Dec sub-gardens, bonsai enclosure and

© Dyffryn Gardens lily pond with a Monet-style bridge; a (except for 5 & 6 Dec). cacti collection guarantee interest for Open: Apr–Sept, daily, 10am–6pm many tastes, but thoughtful planting Victorian dovecote; a colour circle (last entry 5pm); Oct–Mar, daily, and repeated use of local materials inspired by Gertrude Jekyll; and a 10.30am–4pm. ensure the feeling of unity throughout. National Plant Collection of hydrangeas, with well over 200 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies throughout open period. species and cultivars. Many of the rare 130 ● Bodnant Garden Open: Apr–end Oct, 10am–5pm, daily. and interesting plants grown on site (The National Trust) can be bought in the shop. Tal-y-Cafn, nr Colwyn Bay, Dyffryn Gardens & Arboretum, Glamorgan Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Conwy LL28 5RE Weds only throughout open period. Tel: 01492 650460 Fax: 01492 650448 ●133 Dyffryn Gardens Open: Easter–end Sept, Wed–Fri, Web: www.bodnantgarden.co.uk © Bobby Taylor 11am–5pm; Sun, 2–5pm; and by and Arboretum appointment. St. Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan CF5 6SU Tel: 029 2059 3328 Fax: 029 2059 1966 Bodnant Garden, managed by the Web: www.dyffryngardens.com ●135 ❋ The National Botanic Hon Michael McLaren, QC, has Garden of Wales superb collections of magnolias, Carmarthenshire SA32 8HG rhododendrons and camellias, in an Dyffryn Gardens is a Grade I- Tel: 01558 668768 Fax: 01558 668933 idyllic setting above the River Conwy registered Edwardian garden set in Web: www.gardenofwales.org.uk with views over Snowdonia. The the heart of the Vale of Glamorgan. garden has many interesting features, The 22ha (55 acre) gardens are the notably: the Laburnum Arch, glorious result of a unique collaboration from mid-May to early June; the Lily Cae Hir, Ceredigion The National Botanic Garden of Wales between the eminent landscape is blossoming into one of the most continues overleaf ៑ 46 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 | 47 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

The National Botanic Garden of Wales continued Portmeirion. One of the best kept secrets in North Wales, Plas Brondanw gardens are punctuated with slate stonework and inspiring ideas such as the arbour of four red-twigged limes. Surrounding the garden are mountain peaks, complemented by the intimate spaces created within

© Picton Castle and Woodland Gardens several themed garden rooms. All © The National Botanic Garden of Wales proceeds and donations go directly Picton Castle and Woodland Gardens, towards maintaining the garden. Pembrokeshire Free Access (Member 1 only): applies throughout open period. The National Botanic Garden of Wales, ●137 ❋ Picton Castle and Carmarthenshire Open: All year, daily, 9.30am–5pm Woodland Gardens (or dusk if earlier). beautiful and stimulating gardens in Rhos, nr Haverfordwest, the UK. Its lovely themed gardens, Pembrokeshire SA62 4AS rolling parkland and secluded Tel: 01437 751326 Fax: 01437 751326 woodland are an inspired blend of the Web: www.pictoncastle.co.uk past and the present. The award- © Portmeirion winning Mediterranean-climate Great Glasshouse is now complemented by This 13th-century castle with 40 acres the superb new Tropical House - of woodland and walled garden is which is home to a host of orchids. within the magnificent Pembrokeshire Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Coast National Park. Sensitive Jan–Mar and Oct–Dec. management has resulted in a joyful Open: Winter, daily, 10am–4.30pm; blend of native species thriving Summer, daily, 10am–6pm. alongside exotics which include Closed Christmas Day. rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, camellias, myrtles, tree ferns, giant Portmeirion, Gwynedd redwoods, mighty oaks, Embothrium ●136 Penpergwm Lodge 139 and Eucryphia. The Walled Garden has ● Portmeirion Abergavenny, Gwent NP7 9AS a lily pond with restored fountain, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd LL48 6ER Tel/Fax: 01873 840208 roses, herbaceous borders, herb Tel: 01766 770000 Fax: 01766 771331 Web: www.penplants.com garden and fernery. Web: www.portmeirion_village.com Free Access (Member 1 only) (gardens & gallery only) applies Apr–Sept, Penpergwm Lodge is an Edwardian except event days and except on The romantic coastal village of house with a 1.2ha (3 acre) garden group tours. Portmeirion was created by architect with mature trees, wide lawns, and Open: 29 Mar–31 Sept, daily, 10.30am–5pm. Sir Clough Williams-Ellis from 1926 to mixed borders filled with colour- Check website for Feb and Oct half-term and 1976 in order to show that ‘the themed and unusual plants. occasional winter weekend openings. development of a naturally beautiful Highlights include the Vine Walk; a site need not lead to its defilement’. formal terraced potager with mixed The Italianate village is carved into the flowers and vegetables, divided by a surrounding Gwyllt woodlands, central canal with a new brick loggia surrounded by sub-tropical gardens at the top; magnolia and malus walks; with rare and exotic plants and miles

a Jubilee tower; and a collection of © Plas Brondanw Gardns of sandy beaches. interesting shrubs. Other highlights include the Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Rhododendron Arboretum in May, the throughout open period. exuberant summer bedding and the Open: Apr–Sept, Fridays & Saturdays, thousands of hydrangeas that can be 2–6pm. seen in late summer and autumn. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Plas Brondanw Gardens, Gwynedd throughout open period. Open: All year, daily except Christmas Day, 9.30am–closing time (Summer: ●138 Plas Brondanw Gardens 7.30pm, Autumn/Winter: 5.30pm). © Penpergwm Lodge Llanfrothen, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd LL48 6SW Tel: 01743 241181 Fax: 01743 242300 Mobile: 07788 425713

Plas Brondanw is the highly original garden laid out by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis 17 years before starting Penpergwm Lodge, Gwent

48 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 | 49 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

(473 acres) of varied parkland located NORTHERN IRELAND on the Antrim Coast Area of CHANNEL ISLANDS Outstanding Natural Beauty. Originally the cottage garden of 144

© Seaford Gardens ● Sausmarez Manor Cairncastle Lodge and Cairndhu Subtropical Woodland Garden House, it is now home to a collection of plants from all over the world. The St Martins, Guernsey GY4 6SG Tel: 01481 235571

© Benvarden Garden gardens enjoy a micro climate that allows plants such as the Australian bottle brush and Paulownia tomentosa from America to flourish. The subtropical woodland garden and Other features include a collection of Art Park at Sausmarez Manor is worth a sundials, wood sculptures, an visit at any time of the year. A wide amphitheatre and a hornbeam maze. range of sculpture is displayed among a Free parking applies to RHS Members thick woodland jungle created by a during Jul and Aug. Seaforde Gardens, County Down multitude of exotic plants, including 50 Benvarden Garden, Antrim Open: All year, daily, 9am–dusk. different bamboos, 8 species of palm, 143 Closed Christmas Day. ● Seaforde Gardens tree ferns, 320 camellias, giant . Downpatrick, County Down BT30 8PG echiums, tree fuchsias, hydrangeas, ●140 Benvarden Garden Tel: 028 4481 1225 Fax: 028 4481 1370 bananas, hedychiums, gunneras and Benvarden, Dervock, Email: [email protected] Geranium maderense. Indigenous wild Ballymoney, Antrim BT53 6NN Web: www.seafordegardens.com flowers are also in abundance, and as Tel: 028 2074 1331 Fax: 028 2074 1955 no pesticides are used, wildlife

Web: www.benvarden.com © Glenarm Castle flourishes. Mentioned in the book 1001 The 2 ha (5acre) walled gardens date Gardens to See Before You Die. back to the 18th century. Over the Free Access (Member 1 only): applies The main feature of the 0.8ha past 40 years they were lovingly during the first week of every month (2 acre) walled garden is a spectacular restored by Patrick Forde. He was a during open period. Open: All year, daily, curved red brick wall, 3.7m (12ft) great plantsman collecting mainly in 10am–5pm. Closed 24 Dec–6 Jan. high, dating from approximately the Far East. Many of the plants he 1780. Around the walls are espalier- collected flourish in the gardens due trained apples and pear trees. There is to the mild climate. There is a also a splendid rose garden, several hornbeam maze, a Mogul Tower from

herbaceous borders, a new box which to view the gardens. In spring © Sausmarez Manor parterre and a fully working kitchen there are drifts of leucojums, camassias, bluebells, daffodils, large

garden. In addition there are walks Subtropical Woodland Garden around a small lake planted with rhododendrons, azaleas and Sausmarez Manor Garden, Guernsey rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias magnolias. The gardens hold the and fine trees. The gardens are at National Plant Collection of Eucryphia ●145 La Seigneurie Gardens their best in June and early July. Glenarm Castle, County Antrim with more than 28 cultivars. Sark, Channel Islands GY9 0SF There is a nursery garden and Tropical Tel: 01481 832208 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Butterfly House. Web: www.laseigneuriegardens.com throughout open period. ●142 Glenarm Castle Open: 1 Jun–31 Aug, Tue–Sun and Bank 2 Castle Lane, Glenarm, Ballymena, Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Holidays, 12noon–5pm, and other times County Antrim BT44 0BQ (garden only) applies Apr–Jun. by appointment. Tel: 028 2884 1203 Fax: 028 2884 1305 Open: Easter to the end of Sept, Set within the grounds of a 17th-century Email: [email protected] Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm and Sundays, manor, the garden is considered one of 1–6pm. Gardens open by appointment Web: www.glenarmcastle.com the finest in the Channel Islands. The only from Oct–Easter. Call or see website for current prices. walls surrounding the flower garden give protection from the winds and with the The Walled Garden at Glenarm Castle bonus of a normally frost-free

© Glover Photography is one of Ireland’s oldest walled environment, many unusual half-hardy gardens, dating from the 18th century. plants can be grown, ensuring a colourful Since opening to the public in 2005, display from spring through to autumn. the Walled Garden continues to evolve Other attractions include a children’s as a centre of horticultural excellence. maze, a duck pond and the Seigneural It also boasts a charming tearoom dove-cote. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Carnfunnock Country Park, County Antrim serving traditional homemade food which is open exclusively to garden during the first week of every month 141 when the garden is open. Garden open: ● Carnfunnock Country Park visitors. The Walled Garden, in its Easter–end of Oct, daily, 10am–5pm. Coast Road, Larne, Co. Antrim BT40 2QG incomparable setting by the sea, will Tel: 028 2827 0541 Fax: 028 2827 0852 delight all who visit, and its charm, as Email: [email protected] well as horticultural spectacle, will leave Web: www.larne.gov.uk/carnfunnock an enduring memory. ©Jane Russell Free Access (Member 1 only): applies throughout open period. The walled garden is set within Open: May–Sept, Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm Carnfunnock Country Park, 191ha and Sundays, 12 noon–6pm.

50 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 51 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010

OVERSEAS

Free access gardens – BELGIUM

The following gardens are all members of the Parcs et Jardins of La Chatonnière, Indre et Loire Loire Valley organisation. Apremont, Parc Floral, Cher For a leaflet with a map of the ● La Chatonnière Parcs et Jardins of Loire Valley, ● La Chatonnière, 37190 send a large, 1st class SAE to: Beauregard Azay le Rideau, Indre et Loire Château de Beauregard, Tel: 00 33 2 47 45 40 29 French Gardens Leaflet, 41120 Cellettes, Loir et Cher Email: [email protected] Arboretum Kalmthout, Antwerp Regional Development, Tel: 00 33 2 54 70 36 74 Web: www.lachatonniere.com RHS, 80 Vincent Square, Fax: 00 33 2 54 70 36 74 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies ● Arboretum Kalmthout London SW1P 2PE. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies throughout open period (excluding Heuvel 2, Kalmthout, Antwerp, Web: www.jardins-de- Jul only. special event days). Belgium 2920 france.com or www.gardens-of- Open: 1 Oct–1 Dec, 20 Dec–4 Jan Open: 1 Mar–15 Nov, daily, 10am–7pm. Tel: 00 32 36 666741 france.com & 8 Feb–31 Mar, daily except Wed, Rose and Poppy Festival 12 & 13 June 9.30am–12pm & 2pm–5pm; Apr–Sept, 2010. Guided tours on request. Fax: 00 32 36 663396 Les Jardins de l’APJRC sont Web: www.arboretumkalmthout.be daily, 9.30am–12pm & 2–6.30pm; heureux d’accueillir gratuitement Jul & Aug, daily, 9.30am–6.30pm. ● Les Jardins Artistiques Free Access (Member 1 only): applies les membres de la RHS, pendant la throughout open period (excluding de Drulon période précisée dans le présent ● Bois Richeux Sundays during Hamamelis Festival). Chateau de Drulon 18170 Open: 15 Mar–15 Nov, 10am–5pm. ‘Members’ Handbook’ et sur Medieval Gardens présentation de la carte Loye-sur-Arnon, Cher Hellebore Show 13–14 Feb. Ferme Médiévale de Bois-Richeux, d’adhérent de la RHS. Tel: 00 33 2 48 56 65 96 28130 Pierres Maintenon, Eure et Loir Email: [email protected] The gardens of the Parcs et Jardins Tel: 00 33 6 11 88 20 20 Free access gardens Web: www.drulon.com Association are happy to receive Email: [email protected] Free Access (Member 1 only): applies – FRANCE members of the RHS, free of Web: www.boisricheux.com Jun & Sept. charge, during periods stipulated Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Open: 1 May–1 Oct, daily, 10am–6pm. in the current issue of the RHS 15 Jul–15 Aug. Members’ Handbook and on Open: First weekend in June and 15 ● Les Jardins du presentation of an RHS Jul–15 Aug and 15–25 Sept, daily, 8am–12noon and 2–4pm. Grand Courtoiseau Membership card with an asterisk Manoir du Grand Courtoiseau, symbol ( ) on the front. * ● Bouges 45220 Triguères, Loiret Tel: 00 33 6 80 24 10 83 Château de Bouges, 36110 Fax: 00 33 2 38 94 10 64 Bouges-le-Château, Indre Email: grand-courtoiseau-orange.fr Tel: 00 33 2 54 35 88 26 Château de Bosmelet, Normandy ● Ainay-le-Vieil Web: www.grand-courtoiseau.fr Fax: 00 33 2 54 35 16 96 Château d’Ainay-le-Vieil, Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Free Access (Member 1 only): applies 18200 Ainay le Vieil, Cher Jun–Jul (except special event days). ● Château de Bosmelet throughout open period. Open: 15 Apr–15 Oct. Daily, except on Tel: 00 33 2 48 63 50 03 Open: Apr–Jun & Sept–Oct, Wed–Mon, 76720 Auffay, Normandy, France Tue & Wed, 2.30–6pm. Fax: 00 33 2 48 63 36 14 10am–12pm & 2–6pm; Jul–Aug, daily, Tel: 00 33 2 35 32 81 07 Also on Bank Holidays Web: www.chateau-de-bosmelet.fr Free Access (Member 1 only): applies 10am–12.30pm & 2–6.45pm; Mar & May–Jun. Open: 1 Apr–1 Nov. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Nov, weekends only, 10am–12pm & Contact the garden for opening hours. ● Orchaise Sept (excluding special events). 2–5pm. Jardin Botanique du Prieuré d’Orchaise, Open: Jun & Sept, Fri–Sun & Bank ● Place de l’Eglise, 41190 Orchaise, Holidays, 1–7pm; Jul–Aug, daily, 1–7pm. Apremont, Parc Floral ● La Bourdaisière 18150 Apremont-sur-Allier Château de la Bourdaisière, 37270 Loir et Cher ● Serre de la Madone Tel: 00 33 2 48 77 55 06 Montlouis-sur-Loire, Indre et Loire Tel: 00 33 2 54 70 01 02 Web: www.apremont-sur-allier.com Tel: 00 33 2 47 45 16 31 Fax: 00 33 2 54 70 03 92 74, Rte de Gorbio, 06500 Menton, France Web: http://prieure.orchaise.free.fr Tel: 00 33 4 93 57 73 90 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Fax: 00 33 2 47 45 09 11 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Fax: 00 33 4 93 28 46 85 May–Jun. Open: Apr–Sept, Web: www.chateaulabourdaisiere.com May and Jun only. 10.30am–12.30pm & 2.30–6.30pm. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Web: www.serredelamadone.com Open: Apr–Oct, Sat–Thurs (closed on Apr–15 Oct. Email: [email protected] Fridays), 3–7pm. Web: www.serredelamadone.com ● Arboretum National Open: 26 Mar–15 Oct, daily, 10am–7pm. des Barres For group tours, contact the Heritage ● Orsan Department of Menton Nogent-sur-Vernisson, Loiret 45290 ● La Bussière Les Jardins du Prieuré Notre-Dame Tel: 00 33 4 92 10 33 66 Tel: 00 33 2 38 97 62 21 45230 La Bussière, Loiret d’Orsan, 18170 Maisonnais, Cher Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Fax: 00 33 2 38 97 65 15 Tel: 00 33 2 38 35 93 35 Tel: 00 33 2 48 56 27 50 throughout open period. Fax: 00 33 2 38 35 94 13 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Fax: 00 33 2 48 56 39 64 Open: All year except Nov, Tue–Sun, throughout open period. Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Web: www.prieuredorsan.com 10am–6pm (5pm Dec–Mar). Guided tours Open: May–Aug, 10.30am–6.30pm and Jul & Sept–Oct. in French, daily at 3pm. Call in advance to Sept–Oct, 10am–6pm. Guided tours at Open: 1 Apr–1 Nov, daily except Tue, Free Access (Member 1 only): applies book group tours. weekends (supp. €1.50). 10am–12pm & 2–6pm; Jul–Aug, daily, Sept only. 10am–6pm. Open: From Easter–All Saints day, daily, 10am–7pm (5pm in October).

52 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 Recommended Gardens for 2010 53 Recommended Gardens for 2010 Enjoy the benefits ● Le Rivau Les Jardins du Château du Rivau, 37120 Lémeré, Indre et Loire of RHS Membership Tel: 00 33 2 47 95 77 47 Fax: 00 33 2 47 95 78 46 Web: www.chateaudurivau.com Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Sept only. Open: 3 April, May, 10am–12.30pm and 2–7pm. Jun, Jul–Aug, To support our work, become an daily, 10am–7pm; Closed Tuesday in September. Oct–14 Nov, 10am–12.30pm RHS member today and enjoy a range and & 2–7pm. Closed Tuesday. Isola Bella and Isola Madre, Italy of benefits including: ● Jardin du Plessis Sasnières Le Château, 41310 Sasnières, Loir et Cher Tel: 00 33 2 54 82 92 34 Free unlimited Fax: 00 33 2 54 82 93 30 Free access gardens – ITALY Free Access (Member 1 only): applies entry to our four Jul–Aug. Open: Easter–1 Nov, Thur–Mon, ● Isola Bella and Isola Madre GWI / Floramedia 10am–6pm. Stresa, Lake Maggiore, RHS Gardens: Free Verbania 28838, Italy entry with a family guest ● Parc Floral de la Source Tel: 00 39 323 30556 Parc Floral de la Source, Fax: 00 39 323 30046 364 days a year. 45072 Orléans Cedex 2 Web: www.borromeoturismo.it Tel: 00 33 2 38 49 30 00 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Fax: 00 33 2 38 49 30 19 throughout open period. The Garden monthly Email: info@parcflorallasource.com Open: 27 Mar–17 Oct, 9am–5.30pm. Web: www.parcflorallasource.com magazine (worth £51 Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Free access gardens – AMERICA a year): Full of handy May only. Open: Apr–Oct, daily, 10am–7pm; Nov–end Mar, daily, 2–5pm. ● gardening tips and ideas so Closed Christmas Day & New Year’s Day. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden you’ll have the latest 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, Miami, Florida, FL 33156, USA gardening news to hand. Tel: 00 1 305 667 1651 Web: www.ftbg.org

© Francois Guillaume Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Access to more than 140 Recommended throughout open period. Valmer, Indre et Loire Gardens: Hand-picked for their diverse garden design Open: All year, daily, 9.30am–4.30pm. ● Valmer Closed Christmas Day. Note: admission and planting, either throughout their opening season or may include narrated tram tours. Château de Valmer, Chançay, at selected periods (for cardholder 1 only). 37210 Vouvray, Indre et Loire Tel: 00 33 2 47 52 93 12 Fax: 00 33 2 47 52 26 92 RHS AMERICA Email: [email protected] There are around 6,000 RHS members in Privileged entry and discounted tickets Web: www.chateaudevalmer.com America. For further details, contact: to RHS Flower Shows: RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Development Office, throughout open period. Royal Horticultural Society, Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, RHS Show Cardiff Open: Gardens & Chapel: May, weekends 80 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PE and public holidays and 13, 14 and 24 and the RHS Show Tatton Park. May, 10am–12.30pm and 2–7pm; June, Tel: 00 44 207 821 3122 Tues–Sun, 10am–12.30pm and 2–7pm; The Society operates a 501(c)3 Jul–Aug, Tues–Sun, 10am–7pm; Sept–10 organisation through which it can Oct, Tues–Sun, 10am–12.30 and 2–6pm. process any generous donations. RHS Gardening Advice: Personal advice on any Groups by appointment. gardening matter throughout the seasons. ● Villandry RHS JAPAN Les Jardins du Château de Villandry, There are around 3,000 RHS members in 37510 Villandry, Indre et Loire Japan. Enquiries can be made to the Special events: Discounted tickets to a wealth of RHS Tel: 00 33 2 47 50 02 09 following address: recommended events, workshops and demonstrations Fax: 00 33 2 47 50 12 85 Rinno Hiroshi, Chairman of the Board Email: [email protected] 38th Floor, Sunshine 60, across the UK. Web: www.chateauvillandry.com 3-1-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Free Access (Member 1 only): applies Toshima-Ku,Tokyo, Japan Sept only. Open: 1 Jan–8 Feb & 17 Tel: 81 03 3984 9690 Nov–31 Dec, 9am–5pm; 9–29 Feb & 26 Fax: 81 03 3590 3783 For more information on the RHS membership Oct–16 Nov, 9am–5.30pm; 1–29 Mar, 9am–6pm; 30 Mar–30 Jun & 1–30 Sept, types visit www.rhs.org.uk/join 9am–7pm; 1 Jul–31 Aug, 9am–7.30pm; 1–25 Oct, 9am–6.30pm. 54 | Recommended Gardens for 2010 www.rhs.org.uk/join Join the RHS today JON ENOCH

Join by Direct Debit today and receive £10 worth of RHS vouchers to spend in an RHS Shop, RHS Plant Centre or through the RHS Mail Order catalogue. RHS Members enjoy The Garden magazine, free garden visiting, expert gardening advice, discounted RHS show tickets and much more... see the inside back cover for full details.

HOW TO JOIN Call us on 0845 130 4646 (Lines open 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday) or visit www.rhs.org.uk/join or at an RHS Garden or RHS Show* *Choose between the £10 vouchers or the current RHS Show/RHS Garden offer. Please remember to quote code 3033

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