NGS Gardens open this week

Message from Shropshire NGS Publicity.

Two very popular gardens to tell you about this week: On Wednesday 17th August there is another opportunity to see the gardens at GOLDSTONE HALL, Market Drayton, TF9 2NA which will be open from 12 noon to 5 pm.  5m N of Newport on A41. Follow brown & white signs from Hinstock. From Shrewsbury A53, R for A41 Hinstock & follow brown & white signs & NGS signs. Admission for adults £6.50 The Goldstone Hall kitchen garden is one of the largest at a Hotel and Restaurant in the UK, majority of produce is used in the kitchen. (Surpluses for sale). Head Gardener, Nick Huxley will be in his garden on open days and has a mass of useful tips and advice which he is happy to pass on.The poly tunnel will be full of early produce and with a mass of heirloom variety tomatoes which are not only tasty but colourful and display a mass of shapes and sizes. The Double tiered herbaceous border runs in front of the old English garden wall and has good rhythm of planting.  Mallow, Crocosmia,and later flowering Clematis feature in July and August Sedums and spectacular fruit and vegetable harvest in September.The Lawn aficionado will love the velvety grass. Freshly baked cakes feature in the Oak pavilion created by our talented chefs. The increasingly secret edible garden features peach, Szechuan pepper, figs and honey berries with a full range of herbs to smell and taste. Work out what the Box hedge and yellow yew 'sign' directs you to. Wheelchair accessible. On Sunday 21st August EDGE VILLA, Edge, Yockleton, SY5 9PY opens its gates again between 2 and 5 pm.    6m SW of Shrewsbury. >From A5 take either A488 signed to Bishops Castle or B4386 to Montgomery for approx 6m then follow NGS signs. Admission for adults £5. 2 acre garden 400 ft. up complemented by stunning views of the South Shropshire Hills, developed over the last 16 years. Had previously been occupied by a geriatric donkey and several hives of bees. The main problem of the site is exposure to strong winds so several hedges had to be planted to slow this down and help to shelter plants. One and a half acres rabbit fenced. Self-sufficient vegetable plot beloved by voles and mice. Resident guard dogs (one Labrador and a working cocker) decline to keep them under control merely contenting themselves with earth-moving. Productive orchard providing fruit and apple juice for the house and damson gin to cheer up winter. Also home to the chickens when not predated by local live-stock. Large herbaceous borders with many unusual plants and fragrant roses. Shade border underplanted with Cardiocrinum, camassias, anemones, dieramas and bulbs. All borders are mulched every year with 20 tons of cowmuck kindly donated by farming neighbours. 1000 plants are propagated each year by us for sale at garden openings. Recent addition has been a small Wendy house for visiting children with its own vegetable plot Riding toys on tennis court. Newly created nut cage to protect hazel nuts from squirrels which otherwise eat the entire crop.  Dogs welcome.  Home made teas.  Wheelchair accessible.  Plant and book sales. Many of our gardens take payment by card reader as well as cash.  However, it is sometimes difficult to connect to 4G or Wifi in our rural areas so please be understanding if old-fashioned cash is the only way to pay on the day. Children are admitted for free to all Shropshire NGS gardens. Don't forget that many of these gardens, and more besides, are open by arrangement throughout the season.  Find out more here. More dates for your diary: Sunday 28th August SAMBROOK MANOR, Sambrook, TF10 8AL  Open from 12 noon to 5 pm.  Admission for adults £5.00   You can find out more about all the gardens on our website here. Originally set up in 1927 to support district nurses, the National Garden Scheme now raises millions of pounds for nursing and health charities each year. We also support charities doing amazing work in gardens and health, grant bursaries to help community gardening projects and support gardeners at the start of their career. In 2021, we donated over £3 million, and despite the challenges of the year, 90p in every £1 raised at the open gardens went straight to our beneficiaries.  Our main beneficiaries are:

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