Chestnut Farm Crocus
Chestnut Farm, West Beckham

March is a time when early perennials begin to flower and bring some colour into the garden.  Crocus, primroses and hellebores start to take advantage of increased sunlight and a warming of the day.

Three gardens are opening their doors during the month of March:

Chestnut Farm, West Beckham is opening 3 acres of mature gardens to visitors on 1st March The garden has collections of many rare and unusual plants and trees and 100+ varieties of snowdrops, drifts of crocus and seasonal flowering shrubs. There will also be a display of garden sculptures by local blacksmith Toby Winterbourne, and visiting nurseries and plants on sale. Opening times are 11am to 4pm and entrance is £5.00, children are free.   Light refreshments will be served to raise funds for other charities.

East Ruston Old Vicarage

East Ruston Old Vicarage will be opening for the NGS on 14th March.  A regional finalist in last year’s English Garden’s ‘The Nation’s Favourite Gardens’, this 32 acre garden has both traditional borders and modern landscapes., walled gardens, rose garden, exotic garden, topiary and box parterres, water features, Mediterranean garden, and a monumental Fruit Cage. Both rare and unusual plants abound. Opening from 12.00 noon  to 17.30, entry is £10 for adults and £1 for children.

Gayton Hall

Gayton Hall opens its gates to visitors on Sunday 29th March.  This rambling semi-wild 20-acre water garden, has over two miles of paths, and contains lawns, lakes, streams, bridges and woodland. Primulas, astilbes, hostas, lysichiton, gunnera and spring bulbs will be on show. A variety of unusual trees and shrubs, many labelled, have been planted over the years.

All the open gardens will be serving refreshments. Please check the website for information about wheelchair access and whether the garden is dog friendly.  If you have not yet got your free booklet listing all the 2019 National Garden Scheme ‘Gardens to Visit’ then you can find one at your local  library, garden centre or tourist information centre.  Alternatively you can find out about gardens open throughout 2019 by accessing our website:  ngs.org.uk and searching for Norfolk gardens. The booklet and website also highlight gardens that will open by appointment.

Sunday 1st March 11am – 4pm   Chestnut Farm, Church Road, West Beckham, Holt, NR25 6NX

Saturday 14th March 12pm – 5:30pm East Ruston Old Vicarage, East Ruston, Norfolk, NR12 9HN

Sunday 29th March 1pm – 5pm   Gayton Hall, Gayton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. PE32 1PL

The National Garden Scheme Community Gardens Award

Since its foundation in 1927, The National Garden Scheme has donated over £55 million to its beneficiaries, with current annual donations reaching £3m.

Charities supported by the National Garden Scheme  in 2018 were:

o   Macmillan Cancer Support

o   Marie Curie

o   Hospice UK

o   Queen’s Nursing Institute

o   Horatios Gardens

o   MIND

o   Carers Trust,  Perennial, Parkinson’s UK

o   Treloar’s and KIDS

o   Bursaries and community projects were also funded

Registered Charity 1112664

www.ngs.org.uk