Last Sunday the sun came out, the sky was blue, and it was a perfect day for the Halstead Marathon in Essex. No, no don't be silly I wasn't the runner, that was my daughter. I would rather visit a garden any day so I waved her off at the start and nipped off to … Continue reading Why run a marathon when you can visit a garden?
Grapes Hill Community Garden, Norwich.
I just cannot imagine life without access to a garden. According to the Kings Fund Report (May 2016) 87% of households in the UK have a garden and in a typical city, one quarter comprises private gardens which make up half its green space. https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/default/files/field/field_publication_file/Gardens_and_health.pdf I am not sure whether Norwich is in the category … Continue reading Grapes Hill Community Garden, Norwich.
Chelsea Physic Garden
I was in London last Friday and being such a glorious day I could not resist a visit. Situated in such an attractive part of London the walk through the streets of Chelsea full of magnolia blossom was a delight in itself. Approaching this haven of four acres surrounded by high walls, I slipped in … Continue reading Chelsea Physic Garden
Frankham Farm
Last weekend we were staying in Lyme Regis and by way of using the National Garden Scheme App, I discovered that Frankham Farm some 18 miles away was open on the Sunday. We drove through the delightful Dorset lanes, narrow with neatly trimmed bare brown hedges and banked with primroses. Situated in the extraordinary sounding … Continue reading Frankham Farm
Snowdrops at East Ruston Old Vicarage
Inspired by the eloquent voice of George Plumptre CEO of the National Garden Scheme announcing the start of the Snowdrop Festival I decided to visit East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden http://www.e-ruston-oldvicaragegardens.co.uk who were hosting their own Snowdrop Specialist Growers Day. The owners Graham and Alan warmly welcomed us in the car park directing us to park … Continue reading Snowdrops at East Ruston Old Vicarage
A touch of wintery enthusiasm at St Timothee
On a very dreary, drippy-wet Wednesday last week I attended the first open garden event of the National Garden Scheme's year held in the delightful private garden of St Timothee, just outside Maidenhead. Garden owner Sarah welcomed us with coffee and cake, a particularly delicious slice of Orange and Almond. She then proceeded to give … Continue reading A touch of wintery enthusiasm at St Timothee
The Garden Museum
If you find yourself in London and you simply can't face the noise and swirl of shoppers and traffic then I can recommend a quiet visit to the delightful Garden Museum located south of the river in a church right next door to Lambeth Palace. The Church of St. Mary-at-Lambeth was made redundant in the … Continue reading The Garden Museum
Pehuenes in the Andes
With no garden visits planned for November I decided it was the perfect time to go and find my daughter who lives at Pino Hachado, a mountain pass on the Argentinian side of the Andes. Horses and Huskys de los Pehuenes Situated at least an hour away from any neighbour, windy and arid with not a … Continue reading Pehuenes in the Andes
Horatio’s Garden at Stoke Mandeville
The Garden Gate was open wide for the new Horatio's Garden at the spinal unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital Horatio's Garden Horatio's Garden is one of the beneficiary charities of The National Garden Scheme, and several of us were privileged to be able, at the official opening last Sunday, to mingle amongst the amazing patients and … Continue reading Horatio’s Garden at Stoke Mandeville
Madingley Hall, gardens and health. (8/18)
Having spent a tedious morning on the phone to the Department of Work & Pensions, followed by a lengthy call to BT to try and sort out longstanding internet problems, I decided it was time to visit a garden and restore my equilibrium. Twitter brought my attention to the fact that Madingley Hall was opening its … Continue reading Madingley Hall, gardens and health. (8/18)
