24 May Glorious gardens opening around Colchester this summer
Some of the National Garden Scheme’s largest Essex gardens can be found in the north east corner of the county and make an idyllic day out as the summer gets into full swing. Many offer homemade teas and some have plants for sale with proceeds going towards the health and nursing charities supported by the Scheme.
Horkesley Hall in Little Horkesley CO6 4DB is always a popular garden to visit in early spring and here is a chance to see it when it opens on Sunday 29 May (2pm until 5pm). This is a romantic eight-acre garden surrounding a classical house in a magnificent parkland setting. There are some exceptional trees including a vast gingko and over 50 varieties of iris from a disbanded National Collection. Admission to the garden is £6 for adults with children free and visitors can enjoy homemade teas and extensive plant stall.
Two gardens are new for the National Garden Scheme this year. On 5 June, Jankes House in Wakes Colne CO6 2AT will be open from 2pm until 5pm. This is a half-acre country garden with a good mix of flowers including roses and camassia, shrubs, vegetables and fruit. Botanical artwork by the garden owner will be available to purchase and entry to the garden is £5 for adults and children free.
The second is Bucklers Farmhouse in Coggeshall CO6 1SB, opening on the 10 and 12 June 1.30 to 5.30pm. This extensive garden includes a yard, pond and orchard as well as a structured garden containing shrub roses and perennials and an impressive collection of succulents. Topiary yew hedging is a feature and has been used to
build a charming knot garden.
Nearby in Feering is Feeringbury Manor CO5 9RB which opens for the Scheme every Thursday and Friday until 29 July (then again 1 September until 14 October), 10am until 4pm. There is something of interest to see every month in this well established ten-acre garden: mature trees, amazing herbaceous borders, two ponds and a river as well as some interesting sculptures.
The one-acre garden at Oak Farm in Wakes Colne CO6 2AH is the perfect place to find inspiration for drought tolerant planting schemes. It has been created on an exposed site with views across the Colne Valley and new ideas are always being trialled. It is opening on five dates over the summer: 8 and 19 June, 6 and 20 July, 7 September. 2pm until 5pm each day with admission for adults £5 and children free.
Later in the summer, on the 27 and 28 August, Spring Cottage in Elmstead Market CO7 7AG opens 1.30 to 4.00pm and is a stunning garden developed around a seventeenth century cottage which has had some inspiration from Beth Chatto gardens just down the road. A perfect time to see this garden when tender and hardy perennials provide a riot of colour. Admission for adults is £4 and children go free.
