| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| earthyvirgo |
Recommended gardens ...Following on from Bodger's post about the Clovelly walled garden, I'm going to, start a bit of a list of recommended Gardens and nt so run of the mill Nurseries around the country.Powis Castle, (OK so it's NT), just on the outskirts of Welshpool. Just about worth the rather expensive entrance price if you make a day of it. The terraces are truly spectacular around this time of year. Crúg Farm - very close to us, between Bangor and Caernarfon. Specialist Nursery (they're plant collectors too), have a small but stunning shaded woodland you can mooch around and a walled garden with some extremely unusual plants. Fron Goch Garden Cente - just south of Caernarfon. Not quite as good since they opened a huge tea-shop (needs must I suppose) but they do have knowledgable staff who really know their plants. Dunge Valley Gardens, amazing location (Kettleshulme, High Peak, Cheshire, SK23 7RF) high up on the moors, follow the brown tourist signs and don't be put off as the road gets worse and worse. Specialists in Azaleas and Rhodos - and hardy palnts, they have to be up there! Any hidden gems anyone? EV |
| mochyn |
If you're going to Powys you need to go to the Dingle Gardens: a few miles the other side of Welshpool near Guilsfield. really lovely and with a good nursery.
In Somerset there's Hestercombe: a fantastic Jekyll/Lutyens garden and an C18th picturesque garden as well. I'll think up a few more. |
| Helen M |
stackpole gardens at the stackpole centre in ......stackpole. huge garden, all based on a comunity project. brilliant history and suppliers of some wonderful plants. they even seel some of their produce. |
| mochyn |
In Shropshire: Wollerton Old Hall near Bridgnorth. Wonderful.
And if you're near Birmingham there's the University Botanic Gardens in Edgbaston. Not the City Botanic, although that's good too, but I like the Uni one best. |
| Loum |
http://www.bethchatto.co.uk/ |
| ian1 |
spent a lovely day having a picnic at Audley End ,
the organic garden seems to coming to life with fantastic ranges of toms , figs , apples , etc .. the day was only marred by aggressive marketing on behalf of English heritage and myself sneaking into the "below stairs kitchen demonstration " and accidentally parping loudly.. 
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| mochyn |
Biddulph Grange near Stoke. Absolutely fantastic: areas for different countries, such as China, Egypt etc. Go now and you'll probably see the dahlia garden doing it's thing. |
| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
Hidcote Manor in Gloucestershire for its 'rooms' and vistas. Waterperry in Oxon is also fascinating
Or though actually I like going to local village open garden afternoons best. There are often some lovely ideas in a simple back garden or allotment- and always a nice cup of tea and cake |
| TAVASCAROW |
Ryton organic in Warwickshire.
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/gardens/ryton.php Here in Cornwall Trebah gardens (Knocks spots off Helligan IMO). http://www.trebah-garden.co.uk/ & If you're in Cornwall for a spring break Caerhayes castle & gardens for magnolias, camelias & rhodies many 50+ft tall. http://www.caerhays.co.uk/pages_-_Caerhays+Gardens.aspx |
| LynneA |
So many to choose from...
As well as those previously mentioned, Llanachaeron near Aberaeron. A small and pretty much perfectly formed country estate. East Lambrook Manor, on the Somerset/Dorset border. The restored garden of post war doyenne of cottage gardens, Margery Fish. Lots of different planting areas, an excellent plant sales area and a top notch cafe. The lovely informal feel to place is added to by the fact it's a family home, with toys and dogs scattered over the front lawn. Heligan. A fantastic day out. Arrive early to get ahead of the Saga coach parties. Another good cafe and book area. RHS Hyde Hall and Harlow Carr. Both have been touched by the imagination of Matthew Wilson. The wildlife area at Hyde Hall is abuzz and a flutter all year, and the novelty container garden by the glasshouse at Harlow Carr will have you skip diving for even more planting ideas. Look on the Sarah Raven website for news of open days. Delightful and inspirational garden in an idyllic setting. You leave full of ideas and sick with jealousy. Nurseries to avoid when carrying more than a tenner: Beeches Nursery - hidden away on the Essex / Cambridgeshire borders. Fantastic selection of plants, many of them hard to find. Prices are very reasonable, but hard to leave with just one thing. Hopleys - Hertfordshire. Another lovely setting - large garden planted with nursery stock so you get an idea of what's available. Ashwood Nursery - in the West Midlands. Best to visit early in the year for Hellebores, Hepaticas and the like. The best nursery cafe I've encountered so far. Favourite Garden Centres: Burford Garden Centre. Two branches - one at Burford House, Gloucestershire and the other in Burford, Oxfordshire. Undeniably posh, but a good range of plants and useful sundries as well as fancy stuff. The Oxfordshire branch has a good cafe and the 2nd nicest loos anywhere (best being at Sarah Raven where there's a bookshelf in each trap). We try to time our journeys West and home so we can have a snack and a pit stop here. Ayletts, St Albans. On a dual carriageway, so have to make sure we approach it from the right direction. Good all purpose centre, with a speciality in Dahlias and Pelargoniums. Good range of herbs too. Woldens, Crews Hill. Oldest and best on the Crews Hill drag. New cafe showing signs it could rival Ashwoods. |
| moonwind |
If in Cornwall near St Austell Pine Lodge Gardens
http://www.pine-lodge.co.uk/ This garden holds the National Grevillea Collection and is owned by my brother and his wife not that I am biased but anyone visiting the area should have a great time wandering round the 30 acres there. 
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| shopgirlsue |
The National Herb Centre just north of Banbury is great.
Huge selection of herbs (of course) and wild flowers. Also has a small section of grasses, roses, perennials and shrubs, a very nice bistro, a nature trail, and a shop selling essential oils, hemp products, Franchi seeds, cards, garden tools ........................ can you tell I'm a bit of fan |