Leicestershire National Garden Scheme Open Gardens June 2026

The New Barn in Desford, LE9 9GS opens on 6th and 7th June from 11am to 4pm. A sloping ¾ acre plantsman’s garden with many unusual plants, including the national collection of geranium cultivars.
On the 7th June, a group of gardens opens in Leicester, LE2 1LW, at Stoneygate and Knighton Gardens. There are six very different and interesting small and medium gardens displaying a variety of planting styles with a range of early summer flowering. The gardens are 3m south of Leicester city centre and within a 2m radius in south Leicester. Street parking at all addresses except 20 Ripon St. Gardens are open from 12noon to 5pm one admittance fee for all gardens.
The Cottage, Birstall LE4 4EA opens on the weekend of 13th and 14th June, from 11am to 4pm. A medium-sized town garden wrapped around a C16 cottage with mature evergreens planted with alliums, hosta, ferns, callas, salvias, hardy geraniums, climbers, roses, and wide herbaceous borders.
Opening together the same weekend are two gardens in Newbold Verdon. One admission covers both gardens. The Lodge Brascote, Newbold Verdon,LE9 9LE opens 11am to 6pm on the 13th and 10am to 4pm on the 14th. A large country garden with themed borders, inc moon, pink wedding, bronze and a recently planted golden border to celebrate 50 yrs of gardening. Around the garden and in the greenhouse are plants that have originated in China.
The second garden, The Old Rectory, Newbold Verdon, LE9 9NN opens 11am to 6pm on the 13th and 10am to 4pm on the 14th. There is a large, well-established rose garden which flowers from June to October. Many established trees oaks, horse-chestnuts, mulberry, poplar, birch, olive, and sweet chestnut.
The Secret Garden at Glenfield Hospital, LE3 9QP opens on the 27th and 28th June, 10.30am to 3pm. Set within the grounds of the Glenfield Hospital, the Secret Garden is 1 acre in size, hidden behind the walls of a Victorian Walled garden which has been lovingly designed and restored for the benefit of all those who visit it and in consideration of the rich history and heritage of the garden and the wider Leicester Frith site.
For more details of our open gardens, visit https://www.ngs.org.uk
Thanks to our volunteers and visitors, in 2025, Leicestershire opened 37 Gardens and had 9,289 visitors, resulting in net donation income of £69,094.
Carol Bartlett, Press Officer for Leicestershire