Gardens open for the National Gardens Scheme

Message from the Shropshire National Gardens Scheme.

Halfway through May already and the weather is gradually improving in the usual way of British summers.  We have two gardens opening next Sunday, one of them is new to the NGS, and then there will be another chance to see three more gardens during the following week. The intriguingly named Cat's Whiskers at 3 Stone House, Knowbury, Ludlow SY8 3LR opens on Sunday 22nd May and Monday 23rd May between 2 and 7 pm.  7 m E of Ludlow.  From Ludlow, take the A4117, 2nd turn signed Knowbury, pass village hall on R then 1st L into Hope Bagot Lane.  Go down the hill to sharp R bend then follow the signs.  Admission £5 for adults. This south facing hillside garden, 1000 ft up in the Shropshire Hills, has panoramic views over the surrounding countryside.  It was started in 1994. Main garden has a lawn with shrubs and herbaceous borders. Features include two wildlife pools, wildlife areas with walkway through, fruit/vegetable and herb areas, orchard, courtyard and aviary. Different levels with some steep slopes, uneven ground and gravelled areas Mainly on uneven, sloping ground hence not suitable for wheelchairs. Alpacas, pygmy goats, chickens and ducks can be admired from a distance. House garden contains swings and tree house as well as treasure trail for small children.  Fun for all the family.  Home made teas. The popular LONGNER HALL, Atcham, Shrewsbury SY4 4TG also opens on Sunday 22nd May between 2 and 5 pm.  4m SE of Shrewsbury.  From M54 follow A5 to Shrewsbury, then B4380 to Atcham.  From Atcham take Uffington Road, entrance about 450 yards on L.  Admission £6 for adults. A long drive approach through parkland designed by Humphry Repton. Walks lined with golden yew through extensive lawns, with views over Severn Valley. Borders containing roses, herbaceous and shrubs, also ancient yew wood. Enclosed 1 acre walled garden open to NGS visitors. Mixed planting, garden buildings, tower and game larder. Short woodland walk around old moat pond which is not suitable for wheelchairs.  Regrettably, no dogs can be admitted to the garden.   Home made teas in aid of St Eatas Church, Atcham On Tuesday 24th May between 10 am and 6.30 pm there is another opportunity to visit BROWNHILL HOUSE, Ruyton XI Towns, SY4 1LR.  9 m NW of Shrewsbury on B4397 in the village of Ruyton XI Towns. £5 for adults.  Pre-booking is essential.  Please click here to book. This varied garden has a surprise around each corner and a touch of eccentricity.  Within the constraints of the steep slope, the garden has been laid out to provide as many different styles and features as possible, from the formality of paved terraces to a woodland path. Many of the features have resulted from the influence of great gardens including a laburnum walk like Bodnant, a folly or two and scaled down versions of a parterre and long walk.Complementary to the variety of features, there are over 450 different varieties of shrubs and trees as well as many hundreds of wild and cultivated herbaceous plants.To save you asking, we do not employ a gardener and at the last count there were over 700 steps. Kit cars on show.  Home made teas. NEEN VIEW, Neen Sollars, Cleobury Mortimer SY14 9AB is opening for a second time on Wednesday 25th May between 12 and 5 pm.  3 m from the market town of Cleobury Mortimer.  From A456 past Mamble, turn R at Neen Sollars, follow lane to Live & Let Live Inn for parking.  From Cleobury take the Tenbury Rd, turn L & L again, then up the hill to Neen View gardens. £5 for adults.  Pre-booking for this garden is not essential but please be aware that owing to narrow paths, there may be a short wait if the garden is particularly busy. If you missed the opening two weeks ago, this is another opportunity to visit this lovely hillside garden which offers stunning panoramic views across the Shropshire countryside.The garden has been developed since the early 1980s by the then owners of the Live and Let Live Inn. Originally a cow pasture, a series of paths and steps have been created to take you up the garden. Mature trees abound, but the emphasis has been to highlight the stunning views of the Titterstone Clee Hill and the Teme valley. There are plenty of seats to enjoy the views, four ponds have been created and there is an ever-expanding collection of Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Camellias. Walking around you will find the ruined Bothy and Japanese stream garden. A wildflower meadow greets the climber at the top where the views are at their best.   Home made teas in the Live & Let Live Inn More dates for your diary: In brief, On Saturday 28th May between 10 am and 5 pm there will be an opportunity to visit the National Collection of Sarracenias as well as other carnivorous plants at BEAUFORT, Coppice Drive, Telford TF2 7BP. On Sunday 29th May we have three gardens opening: STANLEY HALL GARDENS, Bridgnorth WV16 4SP 2 - 5.30 pm THE MOUNT, Bull Lane, Bishop's Castle, SY9 5DA 1 - 5.30 pm WALCOT HALL, Lydbury North, Craven Arms, SY7 9JL1.30 - 5 pm WALCOT HALL will also be open on Monday 30th May at the same times.   For more details of these gardens, please go to:   https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/ Children are admitted free to all Shropshire gardens Horatio's Garden is one of the National Garden Scheme's gardens and health charities – receiving funding for work which promotes the physical and mental health benefits of gardens and gardening. The National Garden Scheme has been supporting Horatio's Garden since 2015 and have donated £330,000 to-date to help the charity create and care for beautiful accessible gardens in NHS regional spinal injury centres. In spring 2019, the National Garden Scheme committed funding for the completion of all eleven gardens across the country and in 2021 donated a further £75,000.