Time Off - local garden visits Gardens to visit around Hampshire during March
Spring is certainly on the way – time to get out and about to see the emerging colour. We advise readers to make contact before embarking on a long journey.
Atheling Villas, Hythe
A delightful and inspirational garden throughout the season at this Victorian villa just outside Southampton, it is an oasis with layers of seasonal colour in just one-third of an acre. There will be something for every visitor here, from the thousands of spring bulbs, hellebores and pulmonarias to the early summer’s flowering trees, shrubs, more bulbs and herbaceous plants, many of them rare. Contrasts in the site comes from
Atheling Villas, Hythe an oasis with layers of seasonal colour in just one- third of an acre
the change of atmosphere with shady corners and sunny flower beds near shrubberies. Plants for hot sites are in the sunny front garden, along with wall trained evergreen and scented plants including dregea and trachelospermums, and by the path hardy salvias should be touched to release their aroma. From the shady border on the drive planted with species narcissus, bergenia, hellebores, astrantias and geranium nodosum, the rear garden is informal with meandering paths among structural trees and shrubs with woodland flowering bulbs and drought resistant plants. Teas are in the gardener’s cottage; there is a self-guide leaflet for visitors and a quiz for children.
Location: Atheling Villas, Hythe, Southampton SO45 6BR. Telephone: 023 8084 9349. Email: athelingvillas@tiscali.
co.uk Open: Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th March; Sunday 24th & Monday 25th April; Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th May; Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th June, all from 2pm – 5pm. Visitors are also welcome by appointment. Admission: £3, children free (share to the Children’s Society). Home made teas, and plants for sale.
Bere Mill, Whitchurch
In a lovely setting by the River Test, with a large lake next to a restored water meadow, Bere Mill is a very tranquil place to visit, with an Eastern
Bere Mill, Whitchurch has a idyllic setting by the River Test, with a large lake next to a restored water meadow
influence. Opened at intervals throughout the season from March until September for the NGS and for groups by appointment by owners Rupert and Elizabeth Nabarro, there’s plenty of opportunity to wander and find some real treats among its six acres. The water meadow is a site of special scientific interest and is grazed by Welsh mountain sheep and their lambs and Belted Galloway cattle. The Eastern influence is to be found in the Japanese Tea House, many different riverside irises and unique bridges. Walk by the riverside (taking care near the unfenced and unguarded rivers and streams), and in spring see the species tulips, some growing in the
grass and the bog garden. A later visit in May will find the peonies and the collection of wisteria in bloom. Add to this the double perennial flower beds and the swamp cypress avenue, to see a garden that is atmospheric and unusual.
Location: Bere Mill, Whitchurch, Hampshire RG28 7NH. Telephone: 01256 892210. Email:
rnabarro@aol.com Open for NGS: Sunday 27th March; Sunday 29th and Monday 30th May; Sunday 18th September, all from 1.30pm – 5pm. Admission: £5, children free (share to Smile Train). Home made teas are available and plants for sale. There is a special drop-off point for disabled visitors at the house.
Special interest heritage and garden holidays in the UK and Europe 0845 1212863
www.brooklandtravel.com
Country Gardener 43
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