With many magnificent gardens open this year, the National Gardens Scheme in Norfolk is enticing visitors to plan a garden day out and venture further afield to benefit from gardens within easy reach of each other, opening on the same day. Garden enthusiasts are encouraged to down tools and enjoy the results of others hard work and sit and enjoy the views and peace in these wonderful gardens. Gardens surrounding halls and farmhouses and small ones in towns and villages, can all be found to provide that garden day out of ones choice.

Lexham Hall and Narborough Hall, both set in parkland, open on Sunday 16th May. With a splendid show of spring colour, including wisterias trained on walls and arches and spring flowering clematis, they are only 10 miles apart. Both gardens, although very different in layout, have extensive walks along the River Nar, woodland, topiary and walled gardens.

One of the first new gardens to open is 5 Batterby Green, Hempton, a cottage garden packed with plants opening the same day as Derwen, Whissonsett Road, Colkirk on Sunday 23rd May. With six NGS gardens open this week-end, there is a challenge for the keen visitor to see how many they can enjoy, starting at 11 o’clock in the morning!

Chelsea Award winning garden designer Clare Agnew opens the garden at Oulton Hall (featured on the front cover of 2010 Norfolk NGS Garden Guide) on Sunday 30th May. A short journey to the north coast will provide the opportunity of visiting a new open garden. Warborough House is a seven acre garden on a steep chalk slope, surrounding a nineteen century house (not open) with views across the Stiffkey valley and to the coast.

NGS County Organiser Anthea Foster said “If your garden choice is large and formal, small and quirky or just the wow factor of interest, plan a NGS garden day out in Norfolk this year. Throughout the open garden season a combination of gardens can be enjoyed at a relatively low price. A chance to down your garden tools and admire the hard work of another gardener. With seventy five gardens and fourteen new gardens this year, several varied garden days out can be planned. Sit back and enjoy the view in a private show garden while helping raise funds for the charities of the National Gardens Scheme”.

If your garden is of high quality, character and at least forty-five minutes interest Contact County Organiser Fiona Black to discuss opening your garden. Tel 01692 650247

For more garden day 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.