After the storms comes the sun. Now we begin to say good-bye to the snowdrops, it is great to see the daffodils, wild primroses, camellia, hellebore and the forsythia bursting through, and the frogspawn in the ponds is making welcome return. Spring is just round the corner.
At the NGS we are always keeping up with technology, and coming up with new initiatives.
If you are interested in finding out a bit more in depth information about the NGS and our beneficiaries, you might like to view our brand new Impact Report. Click on the link https://ngs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Impact-Report-2019-1.pdf and there you are. You can then scroll down to read many interesting items.
And now the gardens - suddenly we are looking at the late March/April openings. Naturally we have appreciably more choice for you than earlier. Firstly two Group openings:-
CRAWLEY GARDENS: Winchester SO21 2PR
Comprising 3 gardens: Bay Tree House: Little Court: Paige Cottage
Opening Friday 10th & Monday 13th April 2pm to 5.30pm: (also in July)
Combined Admission £7.50 children free: Home-made teas.
Crawley is an exceptionally pretty period village nestling in chalk downland with thatched houses, C14 church and village pond with ducks. Most of the gardens have beautiful country views and there are other good gardens to be seen from the road. Bay Tree House has bulbs, wild flowers, a Mediterranean garden, pleached limes, a rill and contemporary borders of perennials and grasses. Little Court is a 3 acre traditional English country garden with carpets of spring bulbs and a large meadow. Paige Cottage is a 1 acre traditional English country garden surrounding a period thatched cottage (not open) with bulbs and wild flowers in spring, and old climbing roses in summer.
https://ngs.org.uk/view-garden/17567/
https://ngs.org.uk/view-garden/17567/
SOUTHSEA GARDENS Portsmouth PO4 0PR
Comprising 2 gardens: 28 St. Ronan's Avenue (above): 67 Gains Road: (also open by arrangement April to July)
Opening Sunday 12th April (also June) 2pm to 6pm: Combined Admission £4.50 children free: Home-made teas.
Two town gardens in adjacent roads within easy walking distance, off St Ronan's Road. Victorian houses (not open) where the owners have created peaceful green spaces about 700 metres from Southsea promenade. 67 Gains Road is a small garden designed with artistic flair to create a haven where art and horticulture meet. The creative gardener has made the very most of the limited space with a good range of sculptures and plants including bamboos, ferns and succulents. The front garden has sculpted box and interesting planters. 28 St Ronan's Avenue (145ft by 25ft) is divided into different areas including a wildflower meadow and pond. Agaves and echeverias grow in drier sandy parts. Some unusual trees and a pleached hornbeam screen at the end of the garden to give structure. Planting is a mixture of traditional and tender plants including proteas, puyas and echiums, along with tree ferns. Tulips feature in April and alliums in May and June. Recycled items are used to create sculptures.
https://ngs.org.uk/view-garden/22238/
https://ngs.org.uk/view-garden/22238/
……..and now two late March openings:-
BEECHENWOOD FARM Hillside Odiham RG29 1JA
Opening Sunday 29th March (also May and By Arrangement) 2pm to 5pm: Admission £4.00 children free: Home-made teas:
2 acre garden in many parts. Lawn meandering through woodland with drifts of spring bulbs. Rose pergola with steps, pots with spring bulbs and later aeoniums. Fritillary and cowslip meadow. Walled herb garden with pool and exuberant planting. Orchard includes the white garden and hot border. Greenhouse and vegetable garden. Rock garden extending to grasses, ferns and bamboos. Shady walk to belvedere. 8 acre copse of native species with grassed rides.
PILLEY HILL COTTAGE Lymington SO41 5QF
Opening Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th March (also April and By Arrangement) 2pm to 5pm: Admission £3.00 children free: Cream teas:
Pilley Hill Cottage garden changes constantly through the seasons. Entering through the creeper covered lych gate, the garden reveals itself via winding pathways with surprises around every corner. Dogwood, cornus and ghost bramble supply spring structure. Gnarled fruit trees provide shelter for bulbs and wild flowers which are making a welcome debut.
Don't miss the demonstration at 3pm on each open day of propagation of Spring bulbs. https://ngs.org.uk/view-garden/21513/
……… and finally some April gardens:-
TWIN OAKS Chandlers Ford SO53 1LW
Opening Sunday & Monday 12th & 13th April (also May & July plus By Arrangement) 1pm to 5pm : Admission £3.50 children free: Home-made teas:
Continually evolving ⅓ acre suburban woodland water garden, designed and planted by owners, bordered by mature oak beech and birch trees. Enjoy spring colour from azaleas, rhododendrons and bulbs. The lawn meanders between informal beds and ponds and bridges lead to a tranquil pergola seating area overlooking a wildlife pond. Rockery skirted by a stream with a waterfall into a lily pond. Aviary.
THE ISLAND Romsey SO51 0HP
Opening Saturday & Sunday 18th & 19th April (also July) 2pm to 5pm: Admission £5.00 children free: Home-made teas:
6 acres either side of the River Test. Fine display of paeonies, wisteria and spring flowering trees. Main garden has herbaceous and annual borders, fruit trees, rose pergola, lavender walk and extensive lawns. An arboretum planted in the 1930s by Sir Harold Hillier contains trees and shrubs providing interest throughout the year. Please Note: No Dogs Allowed.
https://ngs.org.uk/view-garden/25850/
I hope one of the above might appeal to you and your group, or maybe as a family. If not you can find details of all the gardens open throughout the National Garden Scheme on our award winning website ngs.org.uk
"Our gardens are not just any gardens - they are NGS Gardens !!"
