National Garden Scheme: Which gardens are open in West Berkshire and North Hampshire
From Island Cottage at West Mills in the centre of Newbury, to Streatley, Pangbourne, Tadley and Kintbury, there are a variety of open gardens to admire this summer and raise money for charity in the process.
Part of the National Garden Scheme, most gardens also offer refreshments and plants for sale. You can book in advance on the National Garden Scheme's website or turn up on the day, unless stated otherwise.
Some gardens are also open by arrangement between April and Sep for groups. Check on the website listing and please contact the garden owner to discuss your requirements and arrange a date for a group or bespoke visit.
Wynders and Thurle Grange, Rectory Road, Streatley are opening on May 14 and 15 between 10am and 4pm each day.
Last year the gardens raised a record £6,000 in just one weekend and they hoping to beat that target with even prettier gardens and more plants than ever.
Teas and homemade cakes will be on sale, with proceeds to Streatley Primary School, with ticket and plant sales going to the National Garden Scheme's charities. Classic and modern sports cars will also be on display and children can play in the playground. Entry is strictly by pre-booked ticket.
On Sunday, May 22, Rookwood House, Stockcross, will be opening its garden to visitors from 11am to 5pm.
The valley garden, a work in progress, has elements all visitors can enjoy. A rose covered pergola, fabulous tulips, giant alliums, and a recently developed jungle garden with cannas, bananas and echiums. A kitchen garden features a parterre of raised beds, which along with a bog garden and colour themed herbaceous planting, all make Rookwood well worth a visit. Tea and light refreshments will also be available.
Rookwood will also be open for a day on September 11.
Stockcross House, Church Road, Stockcross will be open on Sunday, June 5, 12noon-5pm.
Two-acre garden set around a former rectory (not open). Deep mixed borders with emphasis on strong, complementary colour combinations. Large orangery, wisteria and clematis clad pergola, folly with pond reflecting the church tower. Croquet lawn and pavilion. Naturalistic planting and pond on lower level. Small stumpery. Kitchen garden. Home-made teas available.
Povey's Cottage, Stoney Heath, Baughurst, Tadley is open on both Saturday, June 11 and Sunday 12, 1pm-5pm.
Herbaceous borders, trees and shrubs, a small orchard, greenhouses, fruit cage, vegetable garden and a small wildflower meadow area. Beehives in one corner of the garden and chickens in another corner. A feature of the garden is an unusual natural swimming pond.
Rooksnest, Ermin Street, Lambourn Woodlands is open midweek on Wednesday, June 22, 11am-4pm.
A 10-acre traditional English garden with rose garden, herbaceous garden, pond garden, herb garden, fruit, vegetable and cutting garden and glasshouses. Many specimen trees and fine shrubs, orchard and terraces. Garden mostly designed by Arabella Lennox-Boyd.
On Sunday, July 3, you can visit Island Cottage, West Mills, Newbury, between 2pm and 5pm.
A pretty, small waterside garden set between the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal. Interesting combinations of colour and texture to look at rather than walk through, although visitors are welcome to do that too! A deck overlooks a sluiceway towards a lawn and border. Started from scratch in 2005 and mostly again after the floods of 2014. Being simplified for 2022 for manageability. Refreshments available.
Other properties in the area which are also open by appointment only include Lower Bowden Manor, Pangbourne, The Old Rectory, Inkpen, Boxford House, Boxford and The Old Rectory, East Woodhay.
The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to nearly 4,000 private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Guernsey, and raises money for nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake.
To view all the gardens that are open over the summer and to book tickets visit https://ngs.org.uk/
More than £63 million has been donated to nursing and health charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute.
The National Garden Scheme also supports charities doing work in gardens and health and grant bursaries to help community gardening projects.
