Castle Ashby Gardens, NN7 1LQ
Open Sun 8 July (10-5.30) Admission:Adm £5, chd £4.50 (chd U10 free)
Facilities: Teas and plants for sale, disabled access (gravel paths in places) dogs welcome.
Location:6m E of Northampton, between Denton & Yardley Hastings.
Website:www.castleashbygardens.co.uk
Description:25-acres within a 10,000 acre estate of both formal and informal gardens, incl Italian gardens with orangery and arboretum with lakes, all dating back to the 1860s
Rare breed farmyard, tea-rooms and gift shop
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Hostellarie, 78 Breakleys Road, Desborough, Northamptonshire, NN14 2PT
Opening dates and times: Sun 8 July (1.30-5.30)
Admission:Adm £2.50, chd free
Facilities: Teas and plants for sale
Location:6m N of Kettering. 5m S of Market Harborough.
Description:Over 180ft long town garden divided into courtyard garden, colour themed flower beds, ponds and water features, cottage gardens, fruit and vegetable areas all linked by lawns and grass paths. Long town garden, which has seen many changes since the owners moved in over 40 years ago. Lawns and grass paths draw you through ‘rooms’ of different character, from the courtyard garden by the house to the wildlife pond at the bottom. Roses, clematis, and plenty of herbaceous perennials grow in the borders. The few vegetables grown are mainly hand-me-down heritage varieties grown by local gardeners for generations. Stella’s collection of Hostas, over thirty different varieties from the small sword-like ‘Kabitan’ to the large ‘Borwick Beauty’, are the pride of the garden.
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Moulton Gardens, NN3 7UX
Opening dates and times: Sun 8 July (11-5)
Admission:Combined adm £5, chd free
Gardens in this group:
2 Eady Close
91 Park View
Courtrai
Quarrybank House
Rosearie-de-la-Nymph
Sandy Hill Farm
The Grange Garden
The Hanging Garden
Facilities: Teas and plants for sale, disabled access, Home-made teas at WI hall, dogs welcome at some gardens
Location: Just N of Northampton. Turn L off A43 at small r’about to Overstone Rd. Follow ‘one way’ in village centre to Church car park & The Grange car park (NN3 7UF) Further parking at garden No.6 up lane off Park View & E side of Park View (NN3 7UZ) Also from A508 via Broughton to Moulton. Follow ‘one way ‘ system to car park
Description:Moulton is a typical Northamptonshire village which has a distinctive character. There are many historic and visually interesting houses built from local stone. There are 8 beautiful gardens open to the east side of the village. These gardens vary from 3½ to ¼ acre. One garden incl a relaxing 2-acre woodland walk, another has the remains of a stream mill. Two gardens have only been re-established over the last 3yrs, but still are a blaze of colour, variety and interest. Overall, there is a good range of annual perennials, shrubs and fishponds, which will make an enjoyable and interesting visit. Dogs welcome at some gardens
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Ravensthorpe Gardens, NN6 8ES. Opening dates and times:Sun 15 July (1-5)
Admission:Combined adm £4, chd free
Gardens in this group:
Mill House
Quiet Ways
Ravensthorpe Nursery
The Old Forge House
Treetops
Facilities: Teas, dogs welcome, disabled access
Location: 7m NW of Northampton. Signed from A5199 and the A428. Mill House immed on R as you turn off A428 down Long Lane. 1m from village.
Description:Attractive village in Northamptonshire uplands near to Ravensthorpe reservoir and Top Ardles Wood Woodland Trust which have bird watching and picnic opportunities. 5 very different established and developing gardens set in beautiful countryside displaying a wide range of plants, many of which are available from the Nursery, offering inspirational planting, quiet contemplation, beautiful views, gardens encouraging wildlife, fruit and vegetable gardens owned by Heritage Seed Library Guardian, rose garden and woodland walk
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Rookery Barn, Water Lane, Bradden, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8FG.
Opening dates and times: Thur 19, Fri 20, Sat 21 July (2-5)
Admission:Adm £3.50, chd free
Facilities: Teas and plants for sale, dogs welcome
Location: 3m N of Towcester. From Greens Norton take rd to Bradden. Follow signs L into Water Lane
Description:1/3 acre plantsman’s garden in picturesque village. Extensive range of plants, many unusual. Terracotta pots with rare tender perennials, gravel and courtyard garden leads to stunning herbaceous borders
Owner artist pictures on display and for sale. Specialist plant sale
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The Maltings, Clipston. LE16 9RS. Opening dates and times: Sat 21 July (2-6); Sun 22 July (11-6)
Admission:Adm £3, chd free
Facilities: Teas, disabled access
Location: 4m S of Market Harborough, 9m W of Kettering, 10m N Northampton.
From A14 take junction 2, A508 N. After 2m turn L for Clipston. 2 houses away from Old Red Lion
Description:¾ acre sloping plantsman’s garden designed for yr round interest by the present owner. Many unusual plants, shrubs, old and new trees. Over 60 different clematis, wild garden walk, spring bulb area, over 30 different species roses, 2 ponds connected by a stream, bog garden. Fruit, vegetables and greenhouse. Swing and slide for children
Disability information:Partial wheelchair access. Gravelled drive, some narrow paths & some steps
Further details:This sloping ¾-garden is now a plantsman’s haven. Purchased by the present owners in December 1996 the garden was mostly a boggy lawn with some good specimen trees. Building stables at the top of the hill necessitated a driveway being taken through the middle of the garden meaning a complete change. Shrubs were planted around the perimeter first, then came the productive area which has grown more extensive each year. Now two raised beds contain a variety of vegetables, with a greenhouse also for vegetables and two marvellous peach trees. Outside is a large variety of fruit trees and bushes. The perimeter was cleared to make a wild garden reached by steps and a bark path. Then came two ponds connected by a running stream followed by a change in the boggy lawn to form a bog garden with a large variety of cornus and salix amongst other unusual plants and shrubs. The other side of the drive looked dull and had a bad lawn so poles linked by heavy ropes were added for climbing roses behind which there is now a winding grass path through three shrubberies planted with unusual shrubs and perennials. There are now more than sixty different clematis and twenty different species roses in the garden. Also many unusual plants & shrubs, old and new trees together with a spring bulb area and a sunny patio and herb garden. There is plenty of seating areas to enjoy the homemade cakes, scones and teas served on open days
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Bulwick Gardens, NN17 3DZ. Opening dates and times: Sun 22 July (2-5)
Admission:Combined adm £3, chd free
Gardens in this group:
19 Church Lane
Bulwick Hall
The Shambles
Facilities: Teas and plants for sale, dogs welcome, disabled access
Location: 10m SW of Stamford. ½m off A43
Description:Unspoilt Northamptonshire stone conservation village. Interesting C14 church and PH. Bulwick Hall is a formal terraced 8 acre walled garden leading to river and island,50 metre double herbaceous borders, topiary, walled kitchen garden. C17 wrought iron gates, C19 orangery and C17 arcade.Peacocks and rare breed hens. 19 Church Lane is a small cottage garden with courtyard and water feature.The Shambles has an original village well, lawns, hedges and stone walls
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Froggery Cottage, 85 Breakleys Road, Desborough, Northamptonshire, NN14 2PT. Opening dates and times:Sun 29 July (11.30-6.30)
Admission:Adm £2.50, chd free
Facilities: Teas and plants for sale, disabled access, dogs welcome
Location: 6m N of Kettering. 5m S of Market Harborough. Signed off A6 & A14
Description:¾-acre plantsman’s garden full of rare and unusual plants. NCCPG Collection of 435 varieties of penstemons incl dwarfs and species. Artefacts on display incl old ploughs and garden implements
Workshops throughout the day
Further details:Plantsman’s garden set in the heart of Northamptonshire close to the historical Triangular Lodge and the Naseby battlefield and divided into separate rooms. Scree garden comprises hot plants such as agapanthus, yucca, phormium, watsonia, codonopsis etc. Water garden with Chinese bridge and various aquatic plants. Ornamental herb garden. 2008
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Northamptonshire Gardens 