Some of our best local gardens have been given a Royal Horticultural Society seal of approval. Garden Writer’s Guild member Sarah Brooks reveals which
Our beautiful part of the country has many lovely gardens well worth a visit. This year, six gardens
at the heart of our region, and three more on our borders, have been recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society as some of the most inspiring gardens in the world.
Established in 1804, the Royal Horticultural Society has been shaping gardening and horticulture all around the globe for more than two centuries. Dedicated to excellence, each year they select gardens of the highest quality to become RHS Recommended Gardens. This year, only 170 have been chosen worldwide.
With such stiff competition for RHS approval, we can feel really proud to have six glorious gardens, and so many gardening experts, right on our doorstep. And with three more gardens worth travelling to just over our borders, you can make sure you see the best our region has to offer this year with my handy cut-out-and-keep guide.
Barnsdale Gardens
The Avenue, Exton, Oakham, LE15 8AH
Tel: 01572 813200
www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk
Eight acres with 37 varied, small gardens created by Britain’s best-loved TV gardener Geoff Hamilton. Each is the size of a typical back garden, making it easy to transfer inspiring ideas to your own garden. The specialist nursery sells over 2,000 different plants, many unusual. Owned and run by Geoff Hamilton’s son and daughter-in-law.
Facilities: Parking; disabled access; toilets; plant sales; shop; café.
Open: Every day except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. March to October, 9am-5pm (7pm from June to August); November to February, 10am-4pm. Last admission two hours before closing.
Admission: Adults £6; Concessions £5; Children £2; Family (2 adults, 3 children) £15; Groups £4.50, children £1.50. RHS Individual Members’ free access applies throughout open period (except group visits).
Grimsthorpe Castle
Grimsthorpe, Bourne, PE10 0LY
Tel: 01778 591205
www.grimsthorpe.co.uk
Lots of garden areas, including formal parterres with roses, a kitchen garden, the long herbaceous border, ornamental pools, a semi-wild woodland and Head Gardener Ray Biggs’ own garden and mini-arboretum. The castle is the centrepiece of this 3,000-acre estate, and the park has over 24 species of butterfly in the limestone quarry area.
Facilities: Parking; disabled access; toilets; shop; cafe
Open: 11am–6pm, March 23 to May 29 Sun, Thu & Bank Holiday Mon. June to September, Sun to Thu. Last admission to park 5pm. Castle open same days at 1pm, last admission 4.30pm.
Admission: Park and gardens, Adults £4, Concessions £3.50, Children (5-16 years). £2, Family (2+3) £10. Castle, park and gardens, Adults £9, Concessions £8, Children (5-16 years) £3.50, Family (2+3) £20. Season tickets available. RHS Individual Members’ free access applies (gardens only) Apr, May, and Sep.
Elton Hall
Elton, Peterborough, PE8 6SH
Tel: 01832 280468 www.eltonhall.com
Restored Victorian and Edwardian gardens. Highlights include a new rose garden designed by Xa Tollemache, the lily pond, sunken garden, Gothic orangery built for the millennium, shrub garden and arboretum. Best in June and July. Elton Hall sits in 200 acres of parkland, and the hall itself incorporates a 15th century chapel and tower.
Facilities: Parking; disabled access; toilets; plant sales; shop; cafe.
Open: May: Bank Holiday Sun and Mon. June: Wed. July and August: Wed, Thu, Sun, and August Bank Holiday Mon, 2-5pm. Groups by arrangement.
Admission: Gardens, Adults £5, Concession £4.50, Children (under 16 and accompanied) free. Hall and gardens, Adults £7.50, Concession £6.50, Children (under 16 and accompanied) free.
RHS Individual Members’ free access applies May - July (gardens only).
Belvoir Castle
Belvoir, Grantham, NG32 1PE
Tel: 01476 871002
www.belvoircastle.com
40-acres including a Rose and Statue garden and a newly developed Japanese garden. A woodland walk leads away from the castle down a valley to the Duchess’s Garden, which began in 1800 and has many unusual trees, and a glorious spring display of Edwardian daffodils, primroses, bluebells, azaleas and rhododendrons.
Facilities: Parking; toilets; shop; café; ice cream parlour
Open: 20 Mar –20 Apr, except Sat 12 April. May–Jun, daily except Fri and Sat (open Fri, Sat, Sun on Bank Holiday weekends). Jul–Aug, every day except Fri. Sep, weekends only. Oct 19–26, Sun–Thu. Dec 7–14. 11am-5pm (last entry at 4pm), Saturdays 11am-4pm (last entry at 3pm)
Admission: Gardens: Adults £6, Concessions £5, Children 5–16 years £2, Family (2 adults, 3 children) £15. Castle and gardens: Adults £12, Concessions £10, Children 5–16 years £6, Family (2 adults, 3 children) £32. Car park £1.50 at weekends and Bank Holidays.
RHS Individual Members’ free access applies (gardens only) Mon–Fri, 20 Mar–31 Jul, when open.
Doddington Hall and Gardens
Doddington, Lincoln, LN6 4RU
Tel: 01522 694 308
www.doddingtonhall.com
Five acres of romantic gardens surround an Elizabethan mansion. Highlights include magnificent bearded irises in May and June, box parterres, ancient contorted sweet chestnuts, an Elizabethan walled garden, a wild garden with stream, a turf maze, a nature trail into the countryside, and a recently restored two-acre walled kitchen garden.
Facilities: Parking; disabled access; toilets; plant sales; farm shop; café.
Open: 4 May to end Sep: Wed, Sun & Bank Holiday Mon, 1-5pm, (Gardens open 12noon). October, Gardens only, Sun, 1–5pm. Guided party tours welcome at other times.
Admission: Gardens: Adults £4, Children £2, Family (2 adults + 4 children) £11. House & Gardens: Adults £6, Children £3, Family £16. Garden Season tickets, Discounts and Group Rates available. 2 for 1 for disabled visitor plus carer. Free entry for HHA members.
RHS Individual Members’ free access applies (gardens only) throughout open period.