Norwich is known as a city of history, culture, shopping and a tourism destination. Now it is becoming known for its collection of gardens of quality and character and interest as another new garden opens in Norwich this year for the National gardens Scheme. Norfolk a county known for its magnificent rural gardens and its great horticultural product now has an urban area that has NGS city gardens to visit.  They are all accessible by public transport.   Discover what is over the garden gate and hidden behind the city’s walls!

A popular place for many years and still a favourite, attracting visitors annually, is the Bishop’s garden open 1 -5 on the last Sunday in June, 27th admission £3, children free.   It is a four acre walled garden dating back to the 12th century.

The Bear Shop, Elm Hill, Norwich is opening for the first time for the National Gardens Scheme, the location featured in many famous films. It is open 11 – 4.30, Admission £3 or combined with Strangers Hall £4.50, children free.  The garden is considered to be based on a design by Gertrude Jekyll, a small terraced garden behind a C15 house in the historic Cathedral Quarter of Norwich..

Strangers Hall is a quarter of an acre garden hidden  behind  the home of wealthy merchants and mayors of the 16th and 17th Century.  It is an unexpectedly peaceful oasis in a busy part of the city. Strangers’ Hall museum, St Gregory’s’ Church and the Maddermarket Theatre provide a historic boundary to the garden.

Just outside of Norwich, Heronsbridge,  Bawburgh Road, Marlingford opens with  4 Mill Road on the 11th July.   It is open 11 -5 with a combined admission of £4, children free.  There is a story to this garden (ask the owner). The River Yare runs the length of the garden, with plenty of wildlife especially the kingfisher. The beds are a mixture of herbaceous perennials and shrubs. There are fruit and other trees, one old ash  which is kept for nesting birds and other inhabitants.

North Lodge, Bowthorpe Road, Norwich opens twice  on the 18th and 25th July, 11 -5, admission £2.50, children free.   A town garden of 0.1-acre to Victorian Gothic Cemetery Lodge, (not open), created from a barren area with challenging triangular plot over the past ten years. Strong structure and attention to internal vista including Gothic conservatory, a formal pond, pergola, and classical-style summerhouse with  predominantly herbaceous planting.  Adjacent is associated historic parkland cemetery also worth a visit.

The Exotic Garden opens on the 1st August, 1- 5, admission £4.50 with the renowned “Will Giles featuring his “Exotic city garden” covering approximately 1 acre on a South facing hillside. It includes a new ½-acre garden with the largest treehouse in Norfolk.  In high summer the garden is a riot of colour among towering architectural plants such as cannas, bananas, aroids, palms etc giving the garden a truly subtropical feel, especially with its use of houseplants as bedding. New xerophytic garden (desert garden).

To end the Norwich garden trail is Plovers Hill outside the city at Buckenham Road, Strumpshaw.  It is open on the 8th August  11-5, admission £3.50, children free. It is the home of assistant county organisers James and Jan Saunt,  a 1-acre garden of contrasts, small C18 house (not open) with RIBA award winning orangery.  The gardeners pride and joy is the formal lawn hedged with yew and lesser species, huge mulberry, gingko, liquidambar and Japanese bitter orange, herbaceous borders with a range of varied plants, garden sculpture and water feature.  It has a kitchen garden with orchard and soft fruits.

James Saunt said  “The NGS gardens posses a beautifully tranquil atmosphere in and just outside of the city centre.  More and more city garden owners are transforming their homes to incorporate green or tropical gardens. It is also interesting to find large gardens within Norwich.  For many years only a few gardens have opened regularly.  The awareness of “The National Gardens Scheme Yellow Book” and the increased interest in garden design and grow your own has led to many gardeners becoming enthusiasts and aiming for high standards.   It is very rewarding for them to achieve the recognition of the NGS and share their  gardening passion with  visitors while raising money for worthwhile charities”.

For more garden days out ideas visit your local Tourist information, garden centre, nursery or open garden to pick up a Norfolk NGS Garden Guide or visit www.norfolkgardens.org.

If your garden is blooming, now is the time to contact County Organiser Fiona Black to discuss opening your garden.for the NGS.  Tel 01692 650247. Or visit the NGS team in the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural tent at the Royal Norfolk Show 30th June & 1st July 2010.