With spring here, there's some good news for everybody with an interest in gardens because the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) has a number of beautiful gardens to visit in and around Wilmslow over the coming months.
The National Gardens Scheme has gardens that are great for family visits and surprisingly inexpensive too, with most charging no more than £4 for adults, and children are usually free.
Many children love gardens, they have a fascination with flowers and enjoy exploring the hidden nooks and crannies. The garden at Millpool (Bosley, nr Macclesfield) has a discovery trail and, fingers crossed, this year there should be a baby flamingo at Hillside, Mobberley - the first-ever birth of a lesser flamingo in Europe.
Enthusiastic gardeners can see the latest ideas in garden design, which plants work best in their area and to complete the visit, many offer afternoon teas and well over half will be selling plants at reasonable prices.
In 2010 the gardens in Cheshire and Wirral that opened for the National Gardens Scheme broke all previous records. They raised £142,500 for charity which represented an 11% increase on the previous year. The number of visitors to these gardens also rose from 22,900 to 27,400, an increase of 20%.
The NGS raises money for Marie Curie, Macmillan, Help the Hospices, Crossroads and many other gardening and nursing charities. Nationally, the NGS gave more than £2.75m to charities this year from openings in 2010.
Local gardens participating in NGS this month include:
- Sat 7th May - Quarry Bank House Garden, Styal
A 'picturesque' valley garden created in the 1790's by cotton mill owner Samuel Greg. The garden has many fine azaleas and rhododendrons. Admission £5, child £2.50 (11-4pm).
- Sun 8th May - Hare Hill Gardens, Over Alderley
An attractive spring garden featuring a fine display of rhododendrons and azaleas plus hollies and other specimen trees and shrubs. This 10-acre garden includes a walled garden which hosts many wall shrubs and is partially suitable for wheelchairs. Admission £3.60, child £1.80.(10-5pm).
- Sat 14th & Sun 15th May - 9 Bourne Street, Wilmslow
Started on the site of an existing orchard, this unusual and hugely popular suburban garden has evolved over three generations of one family. Winding paths lead into different and secret areas. It will be opened at 11 am on Saturday by Councillor Gordon Baxendale, the Mayor of Cheshire East. Home-made teas. Admission £3.50, child free. (11-5pm).
- Sun 15th May - Henbury Hall, Macclesfield
The most striking feature is the hall itself, built in the mid-1980s for Sebastian de Ferranti in Palladian style with a huge dome. The 12 acres of grounds include two lakes, beautifully landscaped gardens which are full of variety. Azaleas, rhododendrons, flowering shrubs, rare trees and herbaceous borders. Home-made teas. Admission £6, child free. (2-5pm).
- Sat 21st & Sun 22nd May - Well House, Wilmslow Dean Row Road, Wilmslow
Hidden from view by mature shelter planting, this 3 acre plot offers woodland with spring bulbs and hellebores, formal and informal gardens, a bog area and a wild flower meadow. Home-made teas. Admission £4, child free. (1.30-5pm).
- Sat 21st & Sun 22nd May - The Old Parsonage Arley Green, via Arley Hall & Gardens
Two-acre garden in attractive and secretive rural setting in secluded part of Arley Estate. Light refreshments & cream teas. Admission £4.50, child free (2-5.30pm).
- Sun 22nd May - Glynleigh, Withinlee Road, Prestbury
Mature and recent plantings of rhododendrons and spring-flowering shrubs, trees and groundcovers make this garden strikingly colourful and inspiring. Admission £5, child free. (1-5.30pm).
- Sat 28th & Sun 29th May - The Mount Whirley, Andertons Lane, Whirley, Henbury, nr Macclesfield
This is the home of Nicholas Payne, Cheshire & Wirral County Organiser for the NGS. There are two acres of trees, shrubs and impressive trees to enjoy here, plus water features, a landscaped swimming pool and views out to Wales. Nick has recently received an award from the NGS for opening his garden under the scheme for 20 years. Home-made teas. Admission £5, child free. (2-5.30pm).
- Sun 29th May & Mon 30th - Hillside Mobberley Mill Lane, Mobberley
A magnificent 6-acre garden home to a huge collection of rare birds including 90 flamingos. On the opposite side is a woodland setting that features a large, delightful waterfall surrounded by many mature plants and trees. Home-made teas. Admission £5, child £2 (11-5pm).
Visit the National Gardens Scheme website for a full list of participating gardens, which includes ones in Cheadle Hulme, Knutsford, Gatley, Macclesfield, Mobberley and Rainow.
Full details are also in the free NGS Yellow Booklet for 2011, available from libraries, information centres and many of the larger garden centres.
Photo: Hare Hill.
