A blossoming selection of open gardens to visit in and around Lancashire over the summer months
GRESGARTH HALL
Gresgarth Hall in Caton, near Lancaster has stunning gardens to explore thanks to owner Arabella Lennox-Boyd who has been designing gardens for 45 years and has landscaped more than 400 gardens worldwide. She’s transformed the grounds of Gresgarth Hall since moving here with her family in 1978.
Areas include house terraces and borders, lake and pond borders, wild garden, vegetable garden, hellebore and lilac walks, river and serpentine walk and rhododendron woodland.
Gardens open just once a month from February to November.
Entrance: £12. Sunday August 11, September 8 11am-5pm
gresgarthhall.com
PUBLIC GARDENS
Visit the RHS website to find details of impressive public gardens offering year-round colour like Tatton Park with its glasshouse, arboretum, Japanese garden and Mediterranean garden. This year’s Tatton Park Flower Show will be held July 17-21.
rhs.org.uk
NATIONAL TRUST
The National Trust manages a wealth of beautiful gardens such as Ormskirk’s Rufford Old Hall, Gawthorpe Hall near Burnley, Sizergh near Kendal and even Castlefield Viaduct; a Victorian steel viaduct transformed into a ‘sky garden’ in the heart of Manchester.
nationaltrust.org.uk
THE NATIONAL OPEN GARDEN SCHEME
The National Open Garden Scheme provides details of private gardens open for charity throughout 2024. The organisation raised £3,403,960 for good causes in 2023.
Some suggestions are included here, but please check prices and opening times online before visiting.
Ngs.org.uk
Yewbarrow House
A colourful four-acre garden filled with exotic and rare plants with dramatic views over Morecambe Bay. Features include an Orangery, Japanese garden with infinity pool, Italian terraces and restored Victorian kitchen garden. Dahlias, cannas and colourful exotica are a speciality.
Hampsfell Road, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6BE
August 4, September 1
2 Brookside
A recently created rural cottage garden, designed to support birds and other wildlife including bees and butterflies. Visitors will find three beehives, a pond, raised beds for vegetables, fruit trees, perennial flower beds, a small lawned area, water features, and enclosed patio.
Old Langho, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB6 8AP
July 27, 28 as part of Whalley District group opening
30 Bonds lane
A 90-year-old garden, which has been in the hands of the current owners for 30 years. To the front are formal lawns and beds of annuals with topiary and a side bed of perennials and gatepost features. There are three lawned areas to the rear, with the one now left as meadow and orchard. Varied planting throughout with a lot of hostas.
Garstang, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 1ZB
July 27, 28
Kington Cottage
Nestled in the village of Treales this generously sized Japanese garden has many authentic and unique features, alongside two ponds linked by a stream. The stroll garden leads down to the tea house garden. The planting and the meandering pathways blend to create a tranquil meditative garden in which to relax. New additions complete four Japanese garden styles.
Kirkham Road, Treales, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 3SD
August 4
The Growth Project
The project covers over an acre including a huge variety of organic veg, a wildlife pond, insect hotels, formal flower and Japanese gardens, potager, cut flower and woodland gardens. See the mock Elizabethan strawbale build, the witch’s hat, and railway station. Stroll down the pergola walk to the secret annual wildflower meadow, orchard and theatre.
Kellett Street Allotments, Kellett St, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL16 2JU
July 28
BLOOMING GOOD SHOWS
Chorley Flower Show
Chorley Flower Show is a celebration of gardening artistry in the glorious setting of Astley Park featuring a captivating array of floral displays, creative plant sculptures, exquisite arrangements and enchanting themed gardens.
The three-day show offers a host of competitions and exhibitions for seasoned professionals and amateurs. Professional gardeners will give demonstrations in the gardening theatre and the school and community garden competition is a chance for green-fingered locals to showcase their skills.
There’s also a range of horticultural traders, plenty of food and drink – including a new pup-up cafe for dogs and owners – as well as lots of live entertainment throughout the festival.
* Chorley Flower Show is in Astley Park from July 26-28. chorleyflowershow.com
Southport Flower Show
Huge crowds are expected over the four days of the Southport Flower Show which is this year celebrating its centenary.
More than 55,000 people will pour through the gates of Victoria Park to enjoy floral displays, live entertainment, food, shopping and celebrity guests.
Among the star names this year will be television gardeners Adam Frost, David Domoney, Carole Baxter and George Anderson. Local baker Jemma Melvin has created a dessert to mark the centenary and television chef Phil Vickery will be in the Cookery Theatre as will Matt Tebbutt and Nisha Katona.
Flower Show general manager Alan Adams said: ‘We plan to mark the show’s centenary with a wonderful event for all the family, with colourful floral displays, a packed programme of entertainment, food and drink, shopping and live music.’
* Southport Flower Show runs from August 15-18 at Victoria Park in Southport. southportflowersshow.co.uk.
