reviews of British gardens and nurseries, large and small.
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 →
Woolton House Garden is the only garden in the UK designed by the late Pascal Cribier whose designs were influenced by botanical & Mughal gardens. The walled part of the garden at Woolton House was commissioned in 2004 and is designed to reflect the style of Mondrian paintings. Cribier's best known work is the restoration of... Continue Reading →
The Old Rectory, Bletchingly is the sort of NGS garden that everyone hopes to stumble across. The property comprises a handsome honeyed stone Georgian house set amidst country meadows and it is hard to believe that the busy M23 and Gatwick airport are a mere stone's throw away. Approached via a narrow tree-lined lane,... Continue Reading →
Beyond Guildford, at the outermost edges of leafy Surrey lie the winding narrow lanes that lead to Vann, a 16th Century house sitting comfortably within its 5 acres of garden which are opened regularly for the National Gardens Scheme. Dating back to the 16th Century, the expansive house has an Arts and Crafts flavour... Continue Reading →
" The NGS is responsible for making garden visiting a national pastime" announced George Plumptre, executive director of The National Garden Scheme as he introduced the annual lecture at the Royal Geographical Society, London where a packed hall waited in anticipation of the evening's speakers. In his introduction, Plumptre revealed that when the NGS first... Continue Reading →
The NGS celebrated their 90th birthday over the May bank holiday weekend and finding myself in Northamptonshire I was delighted to be able to visit two gardens open under the scheme. The first, Jericho was a Jekyll inspired town garden in the centre of Oundle whilst in complete contrast, the expansive grounds of Titchmarsh House... Continue Reading →
Searching for a garden to visit in the Sussex Weald last weekend, we noticed in the NGS yellow book (have you got your copy yet?) that Hammerwood House, near Midhurst was open. The bucolic approach to the property took in rolling hills and tiny narrow lanes dotted with picturesque cottages. The house lies on... Continue Reading →
Tucked away down a quiet single track lane, Lowder Mill lies against an ambient Surrey landscape of lush fields and rhododendron woods. With the now redundant millpond forming a backdrop against the pale brick wisteria clad house, water is the main feature of this garden, flowing abundantly along streams througout the garden whilst beside the millpond,... Continue Reading →
Lady Heald (1904-2004), huge supporter and former Chairman of the NGS and resident at Chilworth Manor for more than 40 years used to preside over her open garden days when the genteel Surrey manor opened its garden gates to the public. Happily, the new owners of this gorgeous slice of England are following suit and... Continue Reading →
Ulting Wick in Essex has received its fair share of mentions in the press and on social media and has quite rightly been named by photographer Clive Nichols and The English Garden magazine as one of the top 7 must-see 'paradise' gardens in England. Philippa Burrough and husband Bryan moved into the property 20 years... Continue Reading →
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