>February Events / charities / Events in Norfolk and Suffolk / Gardens and Gardening / Tourist Attractions Norfolk and Suffolk / walks / Wildlife February 13, 2018
Norfolk Gardens open for Charity
Over 80 Garden owners and members of the press attended the launch of the National Garden Scheme booklet Norfolk Gardens open for charity, 2018 which was held at Houghton Hall. The booklet contains details of over 60 beautiful gardens that will be opening their gates this year, 11 of which are opening for the first time.
County Organiser Julia Stafford Allen thanked Lord Cholmondeley who is a keen supporter of the NGS, for kindly hosting the event and also the sponsor of the booklet Savills and all the other advertisers.
Marie Curie is one of the many beneficiaries of the NGS and Hugo Stevens, Community Fundraiser, thanked garden owners for their hard work and that the NGS has become the biggest contributor in recent years. NGS also supports small local projects and it was good to see representatives from West Norfolk branch of the National Autistic Society and a Sensory garden in East Dereham, for adults with learning difficulties
The booklet heralds the 2018 season of garden visiting beginning with snowdrop walks this month, a huge variety of gardens through the summer finishing with an arboretum in October; something to suit all tastes. In many gardens you can share information with owners, enjoy delicious homemade teas and come away with some exciting plant purchases, and all in the name of charity.
Amongst the new gardens is Barton Bendish Hall, PE33 9DL near Downham Market with its traditional 10 acre country estate garden. Sundial Farm, NR15 26Q in Shelton near Norwich has 3 acres of exciting planting. We are also delighted that the well-known landscape architect George Carter is opening his formal gardens at Silverstone Farm, NR20 5EX near Dereham. These and many others are all featured in the fully illustrated booklet now available from good garden centres, local libraries and tourist information centres throughout Norfolk.
The garden visiting season starts off this month with the annual National Garden Scheme Snowdrop Festival. On Saturday 17th February at Horstead House in Mill Road, Horstead, NR12 7AU, with millions of these popular flowers on show in woodland and riverside settings. The garden is open from 11am to 4pm and admission is £4 with free entry for children. There will be homemade teas available.
On Sunday 25th February Bagthorpe Hall, near East Rudham, PE31 6QY has carpets of snowdrops along a circular woodland walk. Delicious warming soup made from vegetables grown on the estate farm will be available. The gardens are open from 11am to 4pm and admission is £4 (children free).
