From rolling hills and valleys to coastal retreats and city secrets National Garden Scheme gardens across Wales offer a diverse and magical portfolio of gardens to explore. With almost 300 gardens opening in 2025 – including a Monty Don favourite – there are plenty to enjoy. [Read on for great gardens and image galleries]
Seasonal favourites
As well as many of the seasonal favourites like the spectacular Vaynor Park in Welshpool opening on 30 April, the Arts and Crafts exemplar at High Glanau Manor in Monmouth opening on 27 April, and the walled garden where Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated the Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies, Gwaenynog in Denbigh, opening on 15 June, there are also over 40 new gardens opening in the year ahead too.
New for 2025
NEW for 2025 is Fairdene Gallery Garden in Montgomery, Powys, a private garden and gallery evolved over 20 years designed and planted by its artist owner, Frieda Hughes (daughter of poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath). It reflects her idiosyncratic style, love of co-ordinated colour, enthusiasm for rock placement, and joy in designing extraordinary metalwork. A limited number of tickets have been made available for these two special one-day events on 25 June and 16 July and will be hosted by Frieda with an introductory talk on her garden and art followed by a tour of the garden and gallery. For details click here
New too is Pantybara in Carmarthenshire. Designed to provide year-round interest this south facing hillside garden in terraced on several levels with dry stone walls with fabulous planting to benefit wildlife and provide food. Opens on 21 and 22 June – details here.
Temple Bar Farm in Ceredigion joins the National Garden Scheme in 2025. An interesting garden on a farm there is planting wherever space allows! Spring bulbs, a bog garden, auricula theatre, foxglove and tree lupin walk, mixed perennial beds and many containers nestling in original farmyard add colour and diversity to this working farm. A herd of rare Ancient Cattle of Wales plus an important Iron Age Fort (Cadw) on the land and amazing views over three counties, makes this a fascinating visit. Opens 7 and 8 June and By Arrangement. For details click here
On a smaller scale the gardens of 112 Heol Heddwch and Llywn-Onn set in the shadow of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) offer a taste of something unexpected. 112 Heol Heddwch has a small, mature Balinese style front garden with a pond, jungle hut and palms. They open on 11 May. Details here.
Timeless classics
For a timeless classic designed by a plantswoman of note – and featured on Monty Don’s British Gardens – visit Dyffryn Fernant in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire when it opens for the National Garden Scheme 8 June and 7 September. Details here
Norchard in Tenby has opened for the National Garden Scheme since 2012. These beautiful gardens around a Medieval Hall combine strong structure and informal areas with walled gardens and a restored Elizabethan parterre. Visit on 6 July. Details here
A returning favourite, that first opened its gates in 1939, Llanidan Hall in Anglesey is a walled garden with physic and herb gardens, ornamental vegetable garden, herbaceous borders and old roses in June. Opens on 3 May, 21 June and 5 July. Details here
Group gardens
And for wonderful value for money group gardens are a great source of gardening inspiration too. None better than Chapel Gardens in Gwent , three beautiful gardens including the garden of award-winning garden designer Sarah Price, all developed with the same ethos of encouraging wildlife and pollinators. Details here.
Another inspiring group opening in North Powys is Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant Gardens. The lively village of Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant is set on the edge of the Berwyn Mountains with local shops and beauty spots such as the famous waterfall, Pistyll Rhaeadr. There are a selection of small village gardens offering a range of styles from cottage, courtyard, terrace and prairie style plantings. Innovative use of small spaces, often steeply sloping down to the beautiful River Rhaeadr. Opens with new gardens 17 May.
For details click here
All National Garden Scheme gardens open to support some of the UK’s best-loved nursing and health charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Carers Trust, Parkinson’s UK, the QNI, Hospice UK and Horatio’s Garden (whose Cardiff garden opens on 28 June). In 2024, garden visitors helped donate over £3.5 million to these worthy causes, enjoying affordable days out and great tea and cake!
Feature image: VaynorPark
