reviews of British gardens and nurseries, large and small.
With gardens re-opening across England in recent weeks I have wasted no time in searching out new places to visit and the month of June has been one of discovery. The front of Lower House, Bowlhead Green The National Gardens Scheme gives visitors unique access to private gardens across England and Wales and all monies... Continue Reading →
Gravetye Manor, on the Kent/Sussex border was built in 1598 and is a fine example of Elizabethan architecture. It was bought in 1885 by William Robinson, an early advocate of the naturalistic planting style that has since been copied in gardens across the world. During his time at Gravetye, Robinson created the sloping gardens to... Continue Reading →
Situated in the shadow of the Malvern Hills, the Old Court Nurseries and Picton Garden are a family-run treasure that have evolved over three generations. Established in 1906 by Ernest Ballard, an early breeder of Asters, the garden was taken over by Percy Picton in 1947 who managed the garden for nearly ten years before... Continue Reading →
A mellow Cotswold stone house sitting handsomely in surrounding parkland is most likely to be high on many people's list of 'dream house & garden' combinations. Situated near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, the garden at Rockcliffe is open only once or twice a year and is well worth a visit. The grassy steps leading up to... Continue Reading →
If you happen to live in Northamptonshire or Oxfordshire you may possibly have heard of Wappenham, but I would like to bet that not many people know of this village's existence. It's a tiny village - sadly no pub or shop but what it does have is a number of jolly nice gardens. We were... Continue Reading →
Cottesbrooke Hall and Gardens are open on Wednesdays and Thursdays which is not much good if one works full time! Luckily the gardens are also open under the National Gardens Scheme once a year and we were lucky enough to be in the area at the right time this year. The Queen Anne house... Continue Reading →
Thousands of crocus tommasinianus are the main reason for a February garden visit to Little Court garden in the pretty village of Crawley near Winchester in Hampshire. Owner Patricia Elkington has been opening in aid of the National Garden Scheme since 1984 and this year she will be generously welcoming visitors from February to June.... Continue Reading →
As a South East of England dweller, I'm accustomed to National Trust properties being over-run with visitors, car-parks bursting at the seams and having to wait for a table in a tea room. Not so in quieter parts of England, such as Northamptonshire. It came as something of a surprise to note that Canons Ashby... Continue Reading →
Wollerton Old Hall near Shrewsbury, Shropshire is a 16th Century house, embellished with beams and oozing history and character. The gardens are approached via a tree-lined gravel drive which ends with a flourish in front of the Tudor house, where innumerable pots and containers are planted with exuberant colour. Wollerton Old Hall has been home... Continue Reading →
'That tree' overlooking the estuary at Salcombe is a much-loved landmark & situated in the grounds of Woodcot, a listed Georgian house perched high above the town. Set in glorious and floriferous grounds, the house (divided into flats) opens its gardens each summer to raise money for the local minibus. An apron of lawn surrounds... Continue Reading →
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