National Garden Scheme Leicestershire Open Gardens for September and October

There are gardens open in September and October where you can enjoy the autumn colours and a relaxing day out. Entrance fees for the gardens are modest and children are admitted free.
There is home-made tea and cakes on sale and every visit adds to the donations which the NGS makes annually to nursing and cancer charities, such as Macmillan Cancer support, Marie Curie and Hospice UK.
On the 1st September Washbrook Allotments, pictured above, Welford Road, Leicester LE2 6FP opens with over 100 whole, half and quarter plots growing a wide variety of fruit, vegetables and flowers. This is one of the best times to visit allotments gardens when most of the fruit and vegetables are matured ready to harvest. There will be a pop up café serving tea and delicious cakes, and a stall selling produce and plants grown on the allotments.
Also on the 1st September is Westview 1 St Thomas’s Road Great Glen LE8 9EH. This is an organically managed, small walled cottage garden with year-round interest. It includes rare and unusual plants, many grown from seed. Formal box parterre herb garden, courtyard garden, herbaceous borders, woodland garden, small wildlife pond, greenhouse, vegetable and fruit garden. There is also a restored Victorian water saving system which collects rain water from the roofs of out-buildings along with a number of quirky garden ornaments, some made from recycled materials.
There are two gardens open in October which have lovely autumn colours. On the 13th, Hammond Arboretum, pictured below, Burnmill Road, Market Harborough LE16 7JG which has 2.5 acres of unusual shrubs and trees including specimens from America, China and Japan. There are many mature trees dating back to 1913 and 4 champion trees which are defined as the largest or tallest of their kind in the UK. There are lovely walking areas through the woodlands and walking plans are available on request.
On the 20th October, Tresillian House, 67 Dalby Road Melton Mowbray (LE13 0BQ) opens for the last time for the NGS. The garden is three quarters of an acre with many mature trees including beautiful blue cedar trees, unusual planting together with a bog garden, a natural pond and a Koi pond added in 2015. This is a larger garden which provides a calm, tranquil oasis for a relaxing visit.
For more details, information, accessibility of gardens and full directions go to https://www.ngs.org.uk/find-a-garden/ and search by postcode or area. For groups and clubs, there eight more gardens which open by arrangement in September and October, contact details on the website.