Summer is nearly here, with the promise of some warm dry weather on its way, and a great choice of lovely gardens to visit.
Saturday June 6 and Sunday 7: The Rock House, Llanbister, LD1 6TN is open from 12 until 5. Admission £5.50 (children free) with home-made teas available including gluten-free and vegan cakes. The Rock House garden has been developed over 30 years to include wildlife ponds, a bluebell meadow, laburnum arch and vegetable garden in a hillside setting with views over the Radnorshire Hills.
Sunday June 7 and Sunday June 21: Hurdley Hall, Hurdley, Churchstoke, SY15 6DY is open from 11 until 5. Admission is £6.50 (children free and dogs on short leads are welcome). A glorious Welsh garden set in a stunning location with 25 acres to explore. The garden of topiary, herbaceous borders, ponds and kitchen garden leads to 23 acres of wildflower meadow, ancient woodland and orchard. You will be ready for the home-made tea!
Sunday June 14: Cwm-Weeg, Dolfor, Newtown SY16 4AT is open from 2 until 5. Admission is £6 (children free and dogs on short leads are welcome). This is a 2 ½ acre garden set within 35 acres of wildflower meadows and bluebell woodland centred around a 15th century farmhouse. The garden includes sculptures, a grotto, stumpery, vistas and extensive woodland walks. Home-made cakes and cream teas available
There are still places available for the special one day event at Vaynor Park, Berriew, Welshpool SY21 8QE on Wednesday 24 June from 2 until 4.30. Admission is £25 (children free) to include home-made teas and an introductory talk by Kate Corbett-Winder and a guided tour accompanied by Kate and gardener Rupert Redway. The spectacular 5-acre garden is set in parkland with medieval oaks. The herbaceous borders are at their peak in June, planted with perennials and roses. Stately cardoons and Crambe cordifolia are underplanted with centaurea, poppies, roses, alliums, circium and flowering shrubs. Pre-booking is essential by visiting www.ngs.org.uk.
Unfortunately, Caelydan Bungalow in Dolfor, Newtown SY16 4AL has had to cancel its planned opening on Saturday August 1 and Sunday 2 due to unforeseen circumstances. However, the garden is open by arrangement from July 18 until end of September for groups of between 6 and 12 people. Admission is £10 to include tea and cake. The garden is a stunning 1/3 acre at 1000ft and includes perennial and vegetable beds, pond, orchard and meadow with far-reaching views.
Featured image: Cwm-Weeg
NGS Open Gardens
Welsh Country has two NGS open garden sections. The first ‘Open Gardens’ are gardens that are open on specific days and the ‘Long Term Open Gardens’ which are by appointment only. There is a search facility on each page so simply search for a garden name or an area of Wales (i.e. Swansea) you’d like to visit.
