Abbey Dore Court Wormbridge, nr. Hereford, Herefordshire.

Photo © Simon Ward 2004

Six Acres of rambling and semi-formal garden with unusual shrubs, perennials, and clematis in large borders. Pond and rock garden. River walk with ferns, paeonia, astrantia, bamboos and hellebores. Large collection of summer anemones. Small nursery specialising in herbaceous perennials and walled garden recently re-planned and planted.

Alton Towers Gardens nr. Cheadle, Staffordshire.

Photo © 2007 TowersTimes

Alton Towers is home to some of the biggest and most wonderful gardens in Britain. With elegant conservatories, surrounded by many different types of plant.

The gardens continue through the valley for miles - so expect to get lost. Also gardens can be found surrounding the house itself, Her Ladyships garden is the most famous, there are plans to re-open another garden next to the castle- Her Ladyships Oratory. The gardens were first opened to the public in 1860, thirty years later garden fetes attended by as many as 30,000 people were common.

The two major garden designers were Thomas Allason and Robert Abrahams and it was there combination of money, architectural talent and an eye for beauty, which made the gardens the extravagant, spectacular sight they are today.

The well-kept original gardens with the Alton Towers leisure park is well worth visiting. Rhododendrons, azaleas, shrubs, lake etc. (N.B. The entrance fee includes the 'pleasure park' so if you only want to visit the gardens you might find it expensive.)

Arrow Cottage Ledgemoor, nr. Weobly, Herefordshire.

Photo © arrowcottagegarden.co.uk

Arrow Cottage Garden is a delightful array of 24 separate 'rooms', each with its own character - formal or overflowing with exuberant and imaginative planting. Extending to about two acres, exuberant plantings are matched by a strong structure of walls, hedges and paths to provide parterre, vistas and enclosures. Of note are a Green garden, dominated by foliage plants, a Gothic Garden where the mood is dictated by sombre purples and greys, a Summer Garden of pleasing pastel shades and a yew walk enclosing a formal rill.

Additionally a Kitchen Garden, a Green and Grey Garden and a natural pool and stream add further interest In the early part of the year the borders are alive with the heralds of Spring. Traditional bulbs, snowdrops, daffodils and tulips are complemented with epimediums, erythroniums, fritillarias, hepaticas and pulmonarias.

Throughout May and June old fashioned shrub roses, under planted with hardy geraniums, hold sway over favourite campanulas, irises and peonies. Mid summer and the hot borders are ablaze. Fiery crocosmias, dazzling daisies and spectacular lilies combine to make bold statements. In September the mood changes. Autumn tints begin to glow, late flowers bloom and trees and shrubs are heavy with fruit and berry. Many of the rare and unusual plants to be seen in the garden are propagated for sale.

Barnsdale Gardens Oakham, Leicestershire.

Photo © barnsdalegardens.co.uk

Eight acres of gardens including the Barnsdale television garden developed over 13 years by Geoff Hamilton on BBC2's Gardeners' World programme. A good mix of different gardens giving the visitor a wealth of ideas. For anybody interested in a wide range of garden design, a vist to Barnsdale is a 'must'!

Biddulph Grange Gardens (NT) (V) Biddulph, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

Photo © 2007 NTPL / Nick Meers

An exciting and rare survival of a High Victorian garden, acquired by the Trust in 1988 and focus of an extensive restoration project. Conceived by James Bateman, the 6 ha are divided into a number of smaller gardens designed to house specimens from his extensive and wide-ranging plant collection. An Egyptian Court, Chinese Pagoda, Joss House, Bridge and Pinetum, together with many other settings, all combine to make the garden a miniature tour of the world.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Photo © www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/

The gardens cover 15 acres. Designed by J. C. Loudon, a leading garden planner, horticultural journalist and publisher, they opened to subscribers in 1832. The Tropical House has a lily pool and lush tropical vegetation. Palms, tree ferns and orchids are displayed in the Palm House. Outside there is a colourful bedding on the Terrace and a tour of the gardens includes; rhododendron walks, rose garden, rock garden, a collection of over 200 trees, herb and cottage gardens, museum, children's adventure playground, aviaries and the National Collection of Bonsai.

Bluebell Arboretum & Nursery Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire.

Photo © Bluebell Nursery 2007

Five-acre arboretum and woodland garden planted since 1992. Contains rare trees, notably over 30 oak species and cultivars. Most complete collection of deciduous hollies (winterberries) in Europe and avenue of witch hazels under planted with hellebores.

Bryan's Ground Garden Stapleton, nr. Presteigne, Herefordshire.

Photo © Bryan's Ground

An Edwardian garden of nearly 3 acres. Edwardian house (not open). Home of Hortus, the International Garden Journal. Yew and box topiary, parterres, formal herb garden, large partly walled kitchen garden, newly planted flower and shrub borders. Sulking house, rose garden, shrubbery with spring bulbs, recently created Heritage Apple Orchard, light-house and Edwardian greenhouse. Fine views of the Lugg Valley.

Burford House Gardens Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire.

Photo © Burford Garden Company

Uniquely situated where three counties meet, the 7 acres of lawn and borders of Burford House Gardens sweep along the banks of the River Teme. Originally designed by the late John Treasure in 1952 around an early Georgian house (now an interior furnishings shop), the gardens contain a National Collection of Clematis (spp. texensis, viticella & herbaceous) along with around 2000 other kinds of plants, including the magnificent Wisteria "Burford", which in May cascades down the back of the house.

A Georgian turfed bridge spans the river and leads to a wildflower meadow, offering contrast to the intensively nurtured gardens around the house.

Cascades Gardens Clatterway, Bonsall, Matlock, Derbyshire.

Photo © www.cascadesgardens.com

Cascades Gardens is a beautiful 4 acre garden set in the historic village of Bonsall. The landscape, originates from the early 18th century and surrounds the ruins of an old corn mill. It has a variety of water features including ponds, a stream, a canal with waterfalls and an old lead mine. The garden has a wide variety of plants, shrubs and trees providing colour and interest all year round. The garden is set on many levels with a new garden room around every corner - formal perennial beds, water gardens, a winter garden and vegetable patch. There are also spectacular views from the cliff top paths and the chance to buy choice and unusual plants in the nursery.

Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens Birmingham.

Photo © Castle Bromwich Hall and Gardens Trust

The gardens of Castle Bromwich Hall are a unique example of 18th century formal garden design, with their terraces and surrounding walls. The on-going restoration programme now provides the opportunity for visitors to see the work which has been done to restore these unique 18th century gardens. Much of the 10 acre gardens has now been recaptured in its original form and offers numerous points of interest. The 10 acre Walled Garden contains over 600 species of plants from the period.

Chatsworth House and Garden Bakewell, Derbyshire.

Photo © Mrs. Monica Cocker

The 105 acre garden is a magical landscape, beautiful in all seasons, and it can be visited separately from the house. It has evolved over more than 450 years, and continues to change today.

There are five miles of walks with rare trees, shrubs, formal hedges, temples, sculptures old and new, streams and ponds and the new, award-winning garden guidebook suggests trails and routes all around the garden while also explaining its history. Wonderful use of water, an amazing maze and wonderful variety of areas to wander in.

The garden contains some of the most famous waterworks in Europe, which have been added to Chatsworth over more than 400 years. Hidden ponds and gentle streams contrast with the noise and play of the Cascade, waterfalls and fountains large and small.

Dam Farm House Gardens Yeldersley Lane, Ednaston, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

The garden is beautifully situated down a long drive past a 6 acre lake. An attractive Derbyshire farmhouse with a fabulous view is in the centre of the garden which has been made from a field since 1980. The garden consists of a series of gardens separated by beech and yew hedges. The borders are mixed shrubs, roses and perennials. These have been collected over the years and many are very unusual. A scree garden is of particular interest with many rare alpines. A tapestry hedge is another feature consisting of yellow Privet, green and purple beech and purple berberis planted in blocks. The newest venture is a young arboretum planted with only rare trees and shrubs with an avenue of crataegus crus gallii the 'Cockspur Thorn'.

Dorothy Clive Garden nr. Market Drayton, Shropshire.

Photo © www.dorothyclivegarden.co.uk

The Dorothy Clive Garden is intimate and informal. It embraces a variety of landscape features, including a superb woodland garden, an alpine scree, a damp garden and spectacular summer flower borders. Visitors will discover the great variety of form and colour and the fine views of the surrounding hilly countryside. The plant enthusiast will find many unusual species. Visitors can rest on the garden seats provided throughout the grounds and enjoy the tearoom's home-baking on the terrace lawn, while taking pleasure from the lovely views of the Staffordshire countryside.

Felley Priory Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

Photo © www.ashfield-dc.gov.uk

An old-fashioned garden, around an Elizabethanhouse. Daffodils, herbaceous border, pond, topiary and rose garden.

The present layout of the garden began in 1976 when the yew hedges were planted to afford shelter for herbaceous borders kept in flower from May to October. In the garden are pergolas and knot gardens, a garden of old fashioned roses, a medieval garden, a pond, and an orchard

In the spring the whole of the orchard is carpeted with an incredible variety of daffodils, and is well worth a visit. As you explore there are many uncommon trees and shrubs to be discovered. Each part of the Felley garden is like a different chapter in a book. The south and east facing borders have tender plantings, the pergolas are covered in roses, vines clematis and lonicera. The boundary wall shelters small trees and shrubs under-planted with geraniums, hellebores, hostas, digitalis and meconopsis. All the plants and shrubs sold in the nursery are grown in the garden, so you can see them flowering. They are mostly old fashioned and unusual. Some are fairly tender but all of them have survived in this garden 600ft above sea level.

Haddon Hall nr. Bakewell, Derbyshire.

Photo © Carol Carlin 2003-2007

The garden is famous for its medieval terraces. These lead down in a cascade to the River Wye, and the garden contains a veritable archive of old-fashioned roses, clematis, and other plants including herbs of every kind, many planted when the house was restored this century.

Hergest Croft Gardens Kington, Herefordshire.

Photo © Shropshire Tourism (UK) Ltd

The gardens of 50 acres contain one of the finest and most thriving collections of exotic trees and shrubs, including the National Collections of Acer (excl japonicum, palmatum cvs), Betula and Zelkova. in the British Isles. Many of the trees and shrubs brought back from China in the early 1900's have grown to great size and the scope of the collection continues to expand with many recently introduced species. The gardens are a rare survival of the school of William Robinson. In addition to the woodland garden (which probably has the largest extent of rhododendrons in Britain,) there is a traditional kitchen garden and conservatory.

Hodnet Hall Gardens Hodnet, Market Drayton, Shropshire.

Photo © www.hodnethallgardens.org

Beautiful woodland walks through tress and shrubs in 63 acres of flowering lakeside gardens. A superb collection of rhododendrons.

Open to the general public on special days in 2008
March 23rd & 24th
Easter
May 5th, 18th, 25th & 26th
June 8th, 15th & 22nd
July 13th
August 24th & 25th
September 14th

Open from 12 noon till 5pm.

See also the About Britain web site.

How Caple Court Gardens How Caple, Hereford.

Photo © www.howcaplecourt.com Nick Platts

The 11 acre gardens of How Caple Court date from Edwardian times and are set high above the River Wye with views toward the Forest of Dean and the Welsh Mountains. Formal terraces with yew hedges, pools, statues and a traditional rose garden contrast with less formal plantings of mature trees and shrubs. These important 'Arts and Crafts' gardens, in their heyday immaculately formal, have with the passing of time relaxed into an intensely romantic semi-wilderness, redolent of a lost 'Golden Afternoon'. A magnificently atmospheric Italianate water garden can be discovered, almost hidden in the surrounding woodland.

Kyre Park Garden Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire.

The garden was laid out in 1754 and has recently been restored. It includes waterfalls, lakes, a mediaeval dovecote, a Jacobean barn, a belvedere and a folly. If you are into ferns, you’ll enjoy the large collection on display.

Lea Rhododendron Gardens nr Matlock, Derbyshire.

Photo © www.leagarden.co.uk

A 4 acre garden of species and hybrid rhododendrons, azaleas, kalmias and camellias in a medieval quarry amongst woodland with some 650 varieties of rhododendrons which give colour from March to July with extensive rock gardens giving added interest. Orchids, meconopis, celmisias and conifers are liberally spread around the garden to give continuity of colour. Bird life has been encouraged in quiet woodland walks below the main gardens. This area, planted with ornamental trees and specie rhododendrons, contains many assorted bird-boxes donated by friends of Lea Gardens. The colours, scents and natural bird life can best be appreciated on a quiet weekday.

Leicester University Botanic Gardens Leicester.

Photo © University of Leicester

The botanic gardens comprise several individual gardens of different character, all in an area of 16 acres with rock gardens, roses, rhododendrons, trees, glasshouses, formal and heather gardens. The gardens are primarily organised for teaching and botanical research but are well worth a visit. National Collections of Aubrieta, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Fuchsia (hardy spp. & cvs.) and Skimmia.

Pershore HPS Garden Pershore, Worcestershire.

The 180 acre campus is maintained by the Hardy Plant Society (HPS) and includes decorative and tropical glasshouses, landscaped gardens, orchards, plant collections and an arboretum. Go to the show garden at Pershore & Hindlip College in the Cotswolds for inspiration and ideas on favourite plants for sun or shade. National Collections of Penstemon (pre-1995 cvs.) and Philadelphus (cvs.)

Picton Gardens Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire.

Photo © Picton Gardens & Old Court Nurseries

The garden has evolved during several decades on the original site of Ernest Ballard's Michaelmas Daisy nursery. There are many fine specimens of interesting trees and shrubs, creating a backdrop to thousands of herbaceous perennials. The garden is intensively planted with both traditional borders and areas of more modern, natural planting schemes.

The main feature is the NCCPG Plant Heritage Collection of Autumn Flowering Asters. Also known as Michaelmas Daisies, these create a rich tapestry of colour through September and October. A wide range of other late season Herbaceous Perennials are grown with the Asters. Many of them bring colour from late July onwards. Vast borders house the National Collection of Aster (autumn flowering,) flowering in September and October.

The garden has been featured on T.V. and in many national newspapers and quality magazines.

Renishaw Hall Sheffield, Derbyshire.

Photo © Renishaw Hall

Beautiful Italianate gardens with terraces, statues, yew hedges and pyramids. The garden, park and lake were the creation of Sir George Sitwell, father of the famous literary trio Edith, Osbert and Sacheverll. National Collection of Yucca.

Ryton Organic Gardens Wolston Lane, Coventry.

Photo © Henry Doubleday Research Association

The home of Garden Organic, the national charity for organic growing. Explore ten acres of gardens that show how to grow fantastic flowers, vegetables and fruit, including formal rose gardens, ornamental plants, alpine banks, shrub borders, colourful flower beds, a wildflower meadow and conservation area. For practical help, the composting and safe pest control displays offer plenty of practical ideas. The organic restaurant and café offer delicious refreshments and the shop sells organic plants, gardening goods, food and gifts. Events, talks and courses held year round.

Spetchley Park Gardens Worcester.

Photo © Spetchley Park Gardens

Just three miles east of the beautiful cathedral city of Worcester a garden of over 30 acres covering most aspects of gardening; the formal and informal, woodland and herbaceous. A large collection of trees, shrubs and plants, many rare or unusual rarely found outside the major botanical gardens. Walled gardens and ponds and lakes feature along with summer houses and a Victorian conservatory. With an adjacent Deer Park containing Red and Fallow deer.

Staunton Park Gardens Staunton-on-Arrow, Leominster, Herefordshire.

Photo © www.stauntonpark.co.uk

A 4 acre garden with fine trees, herbacious borders, herb gardens, lake, bog garden, rock garden, handkerchief tree, tulip tree, rhododendrons, azaleas and bulbs. Featuring a Victorian garden restored to all its former glory, a 'Sensory' garden with water features, Victorian glasshouses and Golden Jubilee Maze & Puzzle garden. These are interesting gardens where you can spend a whole afternoon in peaceful surroundings.

Stockton Bury Gardens Kimbolton, Leominster, Herefordshire.

Photo © www.stocktonbury.co.uk

Gardens laid out in ancient setting, pigeon house, tithe barn. This splendid 4 acre garden contains a multitude of well loved and unusual plants. These sheltered gardens provide a long season of interest and colour set in unspoilt countryside, also with fine views over Leominster priory and the Black Mountains.

Stone House Cottage Gardens Kidderminster, Worcestershire.

Photo © Stone House Cottage Nurseries

A plantman's paradise with over 3000 different plants, many rare and unusual climbers, wall shrubs. A romantic garden set in an old walled kitchen garden. The area is only 1 acre but seems much larger, hedges divide it into different compartments and create diverse habitats in which to grow the vast selection of rare and unusual plants that thrive here. Unusual brick follies adorn the walls and these in turn, are covered with a multitude of climbing and twining plants in which the garden specialises.

Strawberry Cottage Garden Hamnish, Leominster, Herefordshire.

A beautiful 2 acre cottage garden in an idyllic rural setting with extensive rockeries and kitchen garden. The main garden area is stocked with a wide range of plants and shrubs and over 200 roses.

Webbs of Wychbold Wychbold, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire.

Photo © Webbs Garden Centres Ltd

This nursery, now called a garden centre, is well worth visiting for the display gardens which have all been designed by Marigold Webb, Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal Winner 1996. The Patio Gardens combine plants, garden furniture, pots and hard landscaping in an innovative manner and the linked and themed gardens can be found in the Riverside Gardens on the banks of the river Salwarp. Formerly opened in the year 2000, these gardens are Webbs Millennium Project. There is also a Herb Garden. The gardens are also the home of the National Collection of Potentilla fruticosa (cvs.)

The Weir (NT) Swainshill, Hereford.

Photo © NTPL / Stephen Robson

1920s riverside garden created by Roger Parr with fine views of river Wye from garden walks. Stunning in the spring, with carpets of snowdrops and daffodils. A tranquil garden of about 10 acres on a steep slope above a bend in the River Wye, The Weir is spectacular in early spring, with drifts of snowdrops, daffodils, Scillas, followed by bluebells and a wide variety of wild flowers throughout the summer. The setting provides the perfect habitat for a variety of insects, birds and other wildlife. The many vantage points provide stunning views of the Wye valley and Herefordshire countryside beyond.

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Victorian Gardens Anne Jennings	Knot Gardens and Parterres Robin Whalley	A Little History of British Gardening Jenny Uglow