National Garden Society Spring Openings - April/May 21
NGS Spring Openings 2021
The NGS is now one of the most widely supported UK charities, and is principal fundraiser for the country’s palliative care beneficiaries Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Carer’s Trust, Queen’s Nursing Institute, Parkinson’s UK and Maggie’s.
What makes the experience of NGS garden-visiting exceptional is that - with the further delightful prospect of afternoon tea and plant sales - each pound paid for access to glorious gardens becomes a practical gesture, funding vital nursing to ease someone’s final days either at home or hospice, or by supporting patients with life-limiting illness. An impressive £2.88 million raised through garden visiting and fundraising activities in 2019 was distributed to our beneficiaries in 2020.
Please refer to our website at ngs.org.uk for updates, tickets and information before visiting gardens listed below. Thank you.
APRIL & MAY OPENINGS
BRIDGE NURSERY
A countryside garden with abundant grasses, fritillaria and a wide variety of plants to attract wildlife, all thriving in clay soil.
Tomlow Road, Napton, Southam, CV47 8HX. www.bridge-nursery.co.uk. For NGS: Mon 5th Apr (10am-4pm). Every Sat and Sun 17th Apr to 25th Sept (10am-4pm). Mon 3rd, Mon 31st May, Mon 30th Aug (10am-4pm). Admission £3.50, children free.
BLACKSMITHS COTTAGE
This peaceful Cotswold village garden offers deep, tulip-rich borders where two enchanting Barbe d’Uccle feather-footed hens cluck companionably.
The Aqualens fountain designed by Allison Armour offers a spectacular centrepiece while the summerhouse offers restful views of garden, house and landscape.
Little Compton, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 0SE. Mrs Katie Lukas. Sun 18th Apr (2pm-5.30pm). Admission £5, children free. Homemade teas.
BROADACRE
Dorridge’s Broadacre opens its imposing Edwardian gentleman’s estate of gently landscaped grounds and nature reserve with venerable oaks where barn owls nest, 600 year-old hedges, indigenous woodland, fruit trees in spring blossom and two wildflower meadows.
As ever, refreshments will be served at the Wisteria Wall, with Country Market stalls, jams & preserves from estate produce, and plant sales. New for this year are mobile phone QR points along the Nature Trail to flag up relevant topics.
Grange Road, Dorridge, Solihull, B93 8QA. John Woolman, 07818 082885, jw234567@gmail.com, www.broadacregarden.org. Sun 18th Apr (2pm-6pm). Admission £5, children free.
EARLSDON GARDENS
Coventry, CV5 6FS. Mon 3rd May (11am-4pm). Combined admission £5, children free (see photograph).
CANON PRICE ROAD
Nursery Meadow, Barford, CV35 8EQ. Sat 15th & Sun 16th May (2pm-5.30pm). Admission £3, children free.
CLEEVE VIEW
Attractive, small cottage garden with an abundance of plants and a pond to attract wildlife.
Evesham Road, Salford Priors, Evesham, WR11 8UW. Ms Pip Harris. Sat 22nd & Sun 23rd May, Sat 17th & Sun 18th July (10am-4.30pm). Admission £3.50, children free.
ILMINGTON GARDENS
Ilmington, CV36 4LA. Sat 29th & Sun 30th May (12.30pm-6pm). Combined admission £7, children free.
PEBWORTH GARDENS
Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 8XZ. www.pebworth.org/ngs-open-gardens. Sun 30th & Mon 31st May (1pm-5.30pm). Combined admission £7, children free.
© NGS / Lily Farrah / Warwickshire NGS
Photography credits: Broadacre Bee orchid: C. Woolman / Earlsdon tulips against blue fence: Lily Farrah
