Norfolk NGS Open Gardens – A sign of spring

The launch of the 2011 Norfolk National Gardens Scheme Guide is one of many signs that spring is on its way for garden enthusiasts and novices alike. The guide is an essential for garden lovers to explore many hidden garden gems across the county. Holme Hale Hall garden is the venue for the occasion by invitation of Mr & Mrs Simon Broke. Garden owners compare notes on opening for another season raising funds for the worthwhile charities of the scheme on the 8th February 2011.

The NGS is unique in encouraging everyone to get to know their neighbours and community by nurturing an interest in other people’s gardens. One day you might visit a garden that has opened on your doorstep, and the next you might be getting to know a gardener in a part of the county you’ve never been to before.

Every year, thousands of gardens throughout England and Wales get ready to welcome visitors through the National Gardens Scheme. Here in Norfolk, gardens range from the small and quirky to the large and grand. Very often you will have a chance to meet the owners, enjoy home-made refreshments, and purchase some exciting plants – you will find all the details in the 2011 Norfolk NGS Guide and on the NGS website.

This year the Norfolk guide features sixty nine open gardens. Many keen followers will be pleased that ten new gardens are showcased. Among these included are two gardens of county team members. County organiser Fiona Black opens The Old Rectory, Ridlington with West View, East Ruston. Assistant County Organser, Stephanie Powell opens with The Old Bakehouse and The Red House as North Creake gardens. Five more garden gates across the county will entice many to have a peep for the first time.

Many gardens open regularly every year with the opportunity to revisit and admire the garden maturing and changing. Heggatt Hall and Sundown, the redesigned garden of Elizabeth Bloom for those who missed a visit are open again this year. Lake House, Brundall is now open after many years of by appointment visits only. A chance for many who missed visiting these amazing gardens.

County organiser Anthea Foster said, “The 2011 Norfolk NGS Guide provides a trail of gardens to explore across the county. The NGS Yellow Book “The Garden Lovers Bible” also encourages individuals to discover what is on their own doorstep and neighbouring counties. Last year Norfolk raised £65,000 with additional amounts for charities nominated by the garden owners. Every garden is different and provides a great day out at a relatively low price, complete with tea and cakes!”

Now shake off the winter cobwebs and follow the NGS snowdrop trail, a snowdrop walk every week starting with Lexham Hall 13th February 11 – 4. Pick up a copy of the Norfolk NGS 2011 Guide at your local Tourist Information of Garden Centre or visit www.ngs.org.uk

Snowdrop Walks
Sun 13th Feb
LEXHAM HALL, nr Litcham PE32 2QJ
Open: 11-4. Adm: £4.50, chd free
Sun 20th Feb
BAGTHORPE HALL, Bagthorpe PE31 6QY
Open: 11-4. Adm: £3.50, chd free.
Sat 26th Feb
HORSTEAD HOUSE Mill Road, Horstead Norwich NR12 7AU
Open: 11-4. Adm: £3.50, chd free
Sun 6th March
CHESTNUT FARM, Church Road, West Beckham, Holt, NR25 6NX
Open: 11-4. Adm: £3.50, chd free.
This year 2010 new garden owner Graham Watts, Dale Farm has joined the Norfolk NGS team as Press Officer. Coincidently Dale Farm is the front cover of the Norfolk Guide by local photographer David Jones. Dale Farm is also featured in the NGS Yellow Book

· The NGS has 3700 gardens that open for charity. It is renowned for its gardens of high quality, character and interest.
· Charities which benefit from the NGS are: Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Crossroads Care and Help the Hospices, The Queen’s Nursing Institute, The Royal Fund for Gardeners’ Children, NGS gardeners’ careership (the National Trust) and Perennial – Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society.

2011 New Gardens
Horstead House, Horstead, Norwich, Norfolk, NR12 7AU
Open: Sat 26 Feb (11-4). Adm £3.50, chd free
Millions of beautiful snowdrops carpet the woodland setting, which has also been recently planted with scented winter flowering shrubs. A stunning feature are the dogwoods growing on a small island in R Bure, which flows through the garden. Small walled garden.
River Bure. Wheel chair access to main snowdrop area.
Location: 6m NE of Norwich. B1150 Norwich to North Walsham rd. Turn down Mill Road at mini r’about by Recruiting Sargeant PH. House at far end of Mill Rd by Mill Pond.
The Old Rectory, Ridlington, Nr North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9NZ
Open: Sun 22 May (12-5). Adm £5, chd free
Description: A tranquil 2 acre garden around a former rectory. Established trees and some topiary. Mixed borders of shrubs, perennials, roses and bulbs, raised vegetable beds. A peaceful spot for a cup of tea! Home-made teas.
4m E of North Walsham 4m N of Stalham. Take B1149 Stalham to Bacton Rd, turn left at By Way to Foxhill sign continue to Xrds turn R past farm continue for ½m house on R
West View, East Ruston, nr Stalham, Norfolk, NR12 9JN
Open: Sun 22 May (12-5) Adm £5, chd free
1 acre plantsmans garden incl borders with trees and shrubs underplanted with carpets of hellebores and bulbs, pergolas with roses and clematis, greenhouse with many interesting plants, a summer border with mixed perennials, vegetable parterre, tropical border, orchard and pond. Visitors also welcome by appointment April – July No Coaches.
3 m N of Stalham. Take B1149 Stalham to Bacton Rd turn R after East Ruston Church, continue ¾m turn R by Butchers Arms PH (Oak Lane), turn R into Youngmans Lane, 1st house on L
North Creake Gardens, North Creake NR21 9LG
North Creake House – The Old Bakehouse – The Redhouse.
Sun 12 June (12-5). Adm: Combined adm £5, chd free
Three very diverse gardens Creake House is a 2-acre, part walled garden with yr round interest, low maintenance in mind. It has a range of shrubs, roses and trees with some herbaceous plants and an informal pond, The Old Bakehouse a small informal garden with mixed planting, on the bank of R Burn, designed by owners to accommodate inherited garden ornaments. A plaque on the gate commemorates that this garden was the scene of the only major wartime incident to occur in North Creake. The Red House garden was created over 25 years by the present owners. Thickly planted with the aim of looking good throughout the year. Many unusual and doubtfully hardy plants, with a stream, shell garden and area specifically planted to attract butterflies.
Plants for sale at The Red House
2m S of Burnham Market & 5m NW of Fakenham on B1355. From Fakenham A148 W then 1st R on B1355, Creake House 1st drive on R in Wells Rd & The Old Bakehouse garden is 1st drive on L. The Red House 200yds N past the church
Furze House Rushall, Diss, Norfolk, IP21 4RT
Open Sats, Suns 11, 12 June; 20, 21 Aug (10-6). Visitors also welcome by appointment.
Adm £3.50, chd free
2-acre plantsman’s garden comprising herbaceous and shrub borders with cottage style planting in profusion. Lawned paths flow around many new island beds, incorporating established specimen trees, intensively planted with unusual shrubs, special perennials. Established, informal wildlife pond, large alpine scree area with water feature flowing through. 2 Haygrove polytunnels protecting tender and special specimens. Rose pergola, vegetable, fruit gardens.
Light refreshments & home-made teas
2m W of Harleston. A140 to Dickleburgh Village, turn R at church, then 3m on L. A143 Harleston r’about to Diss. Turn R Upper Harman’s Lane, turn L at T-junction, 1st house ½m on R
Hill Farm, Gressenhall, Gressenhall, East Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 2NR
Open: Evening Opening Wed 22 June (4-9). Visitors also welcome by appointment June & July, max 30 people. Adm £3.50, chd free
3 acres, set in mature parkland, includes water features, statues/stones, lily pond, varied rose gardens, yew hedging, vegetable garden, lawns with floodlighting for mature trees. Areas of garden still under construction. Refreshments: Light refreshments.
2 m W of East Dereham. A47 to East Dereham. Exit Dereham on old A47, heading West, down past George Hotel. 2nd R into Rushmeadow Rd. 1m. Entrance to drive on R.
Bank Farm, Saddlebow, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE34 3AS
Open: Sun 10 July (11-5) Adm £3, chd free
¾-acre windswept garden was created from a field in 1994. A low maintenance garden of contrasts, filled with trees, shrubs and newly planted perennials. Many features include large fish pond, small vegetable garden with greenhouse. Splashes of colour from annuals. Walks along the banks of Great Ouse. Dogs on leads. Wood turning demonstration by professional wood turner.
Short gravel entrance, Home-made teas.
3m S of Kings Lynn. Turn off Kings Lynn southern bypass (A47) via slip rd signed St Germans. Cross river in Saddlebow village. 1m fork R into Fallow Pipe Rd. Farmhouse ¼m by River Great Ouse.
The Urban Jungle Gardens, Old Costessey, Norfolk, NR8 5BG
Open: Sun 18 Sept (10-4). Adm £3, chd free
Rare collector’s species with the best of traditional plants, displayed in garden compositions that demonstrate a wide range of styles and climate zones. Vertical gardens. New ‘Edible Jungle’, a flamboyant garden combining exotic flowers, fruits and vegetables.
5m W of Norwich. From Norwich: on A1074 Dereham Rd. After 3m turn R at Longwater Rd, at T-junction turn L into West End for 1m, turn R into Ringland Lane. Garden 200yds on R. From A1067 Fakenham Rd: turn L into Sandy Lane, then on to Towerham Lane and down to T-junction, turn R into Ringland Lane. Garden 200yds on R