Summer beauties open for National Gardens Scheme in Shropshire Some of Shropshire's best private gardens will be opening their garden gates in the coming week to help boost funds for cancer and caring charities supported by the National Gardens Scheme (NGS). Charities supported include Macmillan, Marie Curie, Hospices UK, the Carers' Trust, Parkinson's UK and the MS Society, as well as a host of other smaller charities.
Friday 1st July: Norton Farm: Norton near Ludlow; (11-3pm): this old farm in the Corvedale is now home to a series of tastefully restored holiday cottages which have delightful Mediterranean-style borders, an old traditional orchard, pond and fantastic views across the Clee Hills. Admission: £4 for adults, free for children; refreshments and plants available.
Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd July: Stottesdon & District Open Gardens: (11-5pm); Stottesdon village lies in lovely countryside near the Clee Hills (between Bridgnorth and Cleobury Mortimer) where up to 15 village gardens will be open for NGS, showing visitors the range of delightful green spaces from traditional cottage gardens, the grounds of an old manor house, two "leisure" gardens, kitchen and productive gardens – the range of gardens to see is extraordinary. Most of the gardens are within walking distance of the village centre, tickets will be valid for both days. Refreshments will be served in the garden of the Old Fox and Hounds Pub. Admission is £5 for adults, free for children.
Sunday 3rd July: Bowbrook Allotment Community: (2-6pm), this award winning, 5 acre site, which was recently awarded with the Royal Horticultural Society's National Certificate of Distinction, lies ½ mile from Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Run completely along organic principles with wildlife in mind, this wonderful green space is a haven for humans as well. Children are also encouraged to be part of the enterprise and there are many activities to amuse them: a story-telling willow dome, willow tunnel and turf spiral. Visitors will be asked to vote for their Favourite Plot – all full of a huge range of fruit and vegetables at this time of year. Admission: £3.50 for adults, free for children. Plants and refreshments on sale.
Sunday 3rd July: Guilden Down Cottage: near Clun, Craven Arms; (2-6pm); this delightful one acre organic garden opened for NGS for the first time earlier this year, to great acclaim. Set high above the Clun valley with spectacular views, the garden has been lovingly developed over the past 12 years to be in harmony with its surroundings and with nature; divided into many garden "rooms" including herbaceous borders, roses, specimen shrubs and trees, a wildflower garden and natural pond, together with a large productive garden, chickens and sheep. Altogether a lovely place to visit in the beautiful south Shropshire Hills. Admission: £4 for adults, free for children. Refreshments available. Well behaved dogs also welcome.
Sunday 3rd July: Marchamley House: Marchamley, nr Hodnet (between Market Drayton & Shrewsbury); (12.30-5pm); the ever-popular gardens at Marchamley House have been delighting NGS visitors for some years, with 2 acres to enjoy with wonderful views over the Shropshire countryside. Plant-packed borders, lily pond and herb garden coupled with a sloping lawn leading to mature trees, ponds and further into a meadow-walk: this is a classic garden to enjoy on a summer's afternoon. There will also be an exhibition and sale of pictures by Botanical Artist, Mary Morton. Admission: £4 for adults, free for children; dogs on leads welcome. Refreshments and plants for sale
Tuesday 5th July: The Croft: Ash Magna, nr Whitchurch. This delightful green space is a popular NGS garden for families and children with plenty to see and do. As well as beautifully planted borders, herb banks, winding paths, fruit terraces and bee and butterfly borders, there is a productive garden and poly-tunnel full of produce – a little bit of everything to enjoy. Children will particularly delight at the dipping pond (with a surprise), woodland hideaway, chickens and other four-legged lawnmowers! Open on Tuesday 5th July (1-5pm) and every Tuesday until the 23rd August. Admission is £3 for adults, free for children. Refreshments available.
Wednesday 6th July: Goldstone Hall: Goldstone near Market Drayton; (2-5pm); the double-herbaceous border within Goldstone's 5 acres of gardens, will be looking at its best in mid-summer, cascading with colour and form – a sight to behold! The huge productive garden, which provides this popular hotel with home-grown produce, will be at its height as well and the herb and wildflower walk will be buzzing with wildlife. The unusual combination of roses and box hedging will still be looking attractive, to be admired whilst visitors have afternoon tea in the oak pavilion. Admission: £4.50 for adults, free for children. The majority of the garden is accessible. NB: Also open on Wednesday 20th and 27th July (2-5pm)
Friday 8th July: Ruthall Manor: Ditton Priors, 7 miles SW of Bridgnorth. This is one of the most delightful gardens in Shropshire to visit: with unusual, and some rare, specimen trees surrounding a lovely, well designed garden full of interesting herbaceous planting and shrubs, interconnected by winding paths which draw the whole design of the garden together. But it is the old horse-pond on the edge of the garden which is the highlight of a visit to this delightful garden: packed full of primulas and irises, it looks a picture at this time of year. Open on Friday 8th July (2-6pm); admission is £4 for adults, free for children. Homemade teas and plants for sale with all proceeds to NGS charities. NB: Also open on Friday 29th July (2-6pm). Visitors to NGS gardens will have the pleasure of knowing that their entrance fee is supporting many vital cancer and nursing charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospices UK and the Carers Trust. The Scheme also supports Parkinson's UK and, for the first time this year, the MS Society. The National Gardens Scheme gave £2.73m to the charities it supports from monies raised in 2015. Details of all NGS gardens open this year can be found on the NGS website: www.ngs.org.uk. Many thanks for your support - please forward this email to your garden-loving friends. | | | |
