As gardens burst into life and colour, Tracy Reid and Fiona Stubbs highlight some of this month’s most enticing open events
June arrives and roses are in bloom. What could be nicer on a summer’s day than enjoying a beautiful garden, perhaps with some tea and cake?
It’s a busy month with lots of gardens open for the National Garden Scheme including these two traditional cottage gardens.
Pear Tree cottage in Elmton opens on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June (1pm to 5 pm). A traditional garden in the cottage style, it features vegetables as well as flowers.
It opens alongside another garden, The Barn Chalico Farm, which is a newly developed garden, completely different in style. You can visit both gardens for a combined admission of £6, children go free. Dogs on leads are welcome.
Hill Cottage in Ashover opens on Sunday 29th June (11am to 4pm). It’s an absolutely perfect example of a cottage garden with roses, perennials and annuals in pots, small potager and greenhouse. Don’t miss the delicious home-made cakes. Admission is £4, children free.
If you are venturing further afield, then look out for three brand new gardens opening for the first time this year, all handily located for a walk in our beautiful Derbyshire countryside.
The Lodge, Tissington Gates, Tissington will be open on Saturday 13th June (11.30am to 4pm); Southcot, The Green in Brailsford will be open on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June (11am to 5pm) and Pingle Cottage in Stoney Middleton will be open on Wednesday 24th June (10.30am to 4pm).
Further details of all gardens open can be found on the website ngs.org.uk
Open Garden at 330 Old Road, Brampton, Chesterfield
One of Chesterfield’s most popular gardens will open on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th June (10.30am to 5pm).
Over the last 12 years, Christine and Julia Stubbs have welcomed visitors to their garden at 330, Old Road, Brampton – raising more than £20,000 in support of nursing charities. Proceeds from this year’s event will also benefit local charities.
A calming, peaceful haven, the garden includes shaded areas, a lavender walk, Japanese garden, decorative pond, topiary and seasonal flowers.
There are seating areas throughout the large garden, offering visitors the chance to relax and to enjoy refreshments, which include a selection of homemade cakes. Admission is £4 for adults and free for children.
Beeley in Bloom
The Peak District village of Beeley hosts a weekend of open gardens and entertainment on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June.
The annual Beeley in Bloom weekend raises funds for the maintenance and upkeep of the Cavendish Village Hall.
This year’s theme is Arts & Crafts and some of the gardens will have art/crafts displays, with many items available to buy. Gardens will be open on both days, from 11am to 4pm.
Cream teas will be served in the village hall, which will also host a cake stall and other refreshments along with a Chesterfield Art Club display and a gardening and plant sale.
The orchard nature trail will include children’s activities, including an ‘Eye Spy’ activity sheet to identify bugs and flowers.
At Spencer’s Yard, members of the Derbyshire Living History Society will recreate Georgian history. St. Anne’s church will be open, with a raffle held to raise funds for its upkeep.
The now famous annual Beeley duck race will round off the weekend on Sunday 21st, at 4pm.
Car parking is free and entry to the gardens and programme is £5 per person in each car.
Sowing the seeds of change – a new beginning for Wirksworth’s open gardens
The hidden gardens and courtyards of Wirksworth will once again open to the public over the weekend of 27th and 28th June, headed up by a new team of organisers.
Local residents and keen gardeners Angharad McLaren, Becky Coles and Victoria Philpott will organise and run the fundraising event, which has been running for 15 years.
This year’s event includes some additions, including seed bomb making workshops at the Feather Star pub, and a Gardener’s Question Time-style panel on the Saturday afternoon featuring professional garden designer Victoria and other experienced gardeners.
Several new gardens will open, with tea and cake offered in some. All money raised will go to charity.
Looking ahead, the new team hope to put their own stamp on the event, by offering speaking events with expert gardeners, a gardening themed market, events for children and a wider array of food offerings in the town.
Gardens will be open from 11am to 4pm on both days. Tickets cost £5 per adult, under 18s are free and each ticket allows entry throughout the weekend. Learn more at: https://www.wirksworthopengardens.co.uk/