Leicestershire National Garden Scheme Open Gardens May 2024
May is a busy month with 16 gardens opening all over the county.
Our first May garden to open on Sunday 5th 2.00 – 5.00pm is Burrough Hall, near Melton Mowbray LE14 2QZ. A large mature garden surrounding a classic hunting lodge, this garden develops more each year. The garden enjoys magnificent views across High Leicestershire and includes a small collection of vintage and classic cars.
On Sunday 12th May 11.00am- 4.30pm we have five gardens opening together at Carlton, CV13 0EZ. One ticket price covers entry to all gardens. These are lovely spring gardens with collections of Alliums, Tulips and forget-me-nots in amongst shrubs and spring blossom. Two of the gardens have vegetable plots, one garden has a woodland area with bluebells, and another garden is focussed on wildlife. In all of the gardens there will be collections of pots full of spring flowers. Lots to see and many different gardening styles. There will be refreshments in the nearby church and a plant sale. The gardens opening in Carlton are:
Home Farm House CV13 0BZ, Woodmill CV13 0BU, Bumble Cot CV13 0BY, 64 Main Street CV13 0EZ and Penwood Cottage CV13 0EZ. All the gardens are on or close to 64 Main Street.
Over the weekend of 18th and 19th May we have six gardens opening. Hedgehog Hall at Tilton on the Hill LE7 9DE opens Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th 11.00 – 4.00pm. There is a Lavender walk, herb border, a colour themed long border and serpentine island bed planted with perennials. More plants are displayed on the terraced part of the garden and in a walled courtyard with a collection of hosta, acers, ferns, wisteria and climbing hydrangea.
Also open both days (Sat) 12noon – 4.00pm and (Sun) 12noon – 3.00pm is 8 Hinckley Road, Stoke Golding, CV13 6DU. A small south facing garden with water features and some unusual perennials and climbers, with shrubs and various seating areas. There will be a plant sale offering many garden perennials.
The New Barn, Newbold Road, Desford, LE9 9GS also opens Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th 11am – 4.00pm. A large, sloping garden of three quarters of an acre with wonderful views. This is a plant lover’s garden which includes the national (plant heritage) collection of Geranium Phaeum, over 60 cultivars with many included in the plant sale. There is also a large collection of Benton Irises and many other unusual plants
Opening from 1.00pm to 5.00pm on Sunday 19th is 1 The Dairy, Swadlincote, DE12 8DU. A Japanese themed garden which includes a large Japanese Koi Carp pond, goldfish pond and a stream. The planting has a Japanese connection viewed from winding paths and planted with over 100 rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas and acers.
On Sunday 19th 10.30am – 5.00pm Goadby Marwood Hall and the Old Rectory at Goadby Marwood near Melton Mowbray LE14 4LN are opening together. One ticket price covers both gardens and there is so much to see. Goadby Hall has a chain of five lakes covering 10 acres with lakeside walks and wildflowers. The Old Rectory has a beautiful walled garden, a courtyard garden, and a coach house walk recently designed by Bunny Guinness. Both gardens will have impressive displays of Wisteria, Allium, flowering shrubs, bluebells, forget-me-nots and Rhododendrons. Refreshments will be available in the 17th century village hall.
On the bank holiday weekend we have three gardens opening starting with Westview Great Glen LE8 9EH on 25th & 27th 11.00am – 4.00pm. Wisteria, blossom and Lilac will provide scented blooms together with Cornus kousa. Colourful borders will display Allium, Clematis, Geum, bearded Iris and many early summer perennials.
On Sunday 26th Westbrooke House near Market Harborough, LE16 8AX opens 10.00am – 4.30pm. A large garden which has multi coloured perennial borders around the main lawn planted with oranges, yellows and reds, leading to the woodland path. There is a walled garden with herbaceous planting, a kitchen garden and a courtyard with a collection of over 270 miniature and very small hosta.
Thanks to the generosity of our garden owners and visitors the National Garden Scheme donated a record of £3,403,960 to some of the UK best-loved nursing and health charities, which included £76,000 raised by Leicestershire.
Visit the National Gardens Scheme website: ngs.org.uk for more details
Carol Bartlett Leicestershire National Garden Scheme Publicity volunteer