FOUR SHIRES v COUNTRYFILE
M GARDENS TO visit WHERE THINGS FOR YOUR GARDEN WON'T COST THE EARTH
Spring Gardening Starter plants and seedlings
Pansies and violas
Garden ornaments and stoneware Alpine and herbaceous plants Containerised roses
LEAMINGTON SPA
STRATFORD UPON AVON
SOUTHAM A423
Pots and containers DAVENTRY
A world of
FARNBOROUGH GARDEN CENTRE
BANBURY CHIPPING NORTON BICESTER Open six days a week:
Tue - Sat 9am - 5.30pm Sundays 10.30am - 4.30 Open Bank Holiday Mondays
on A423 SOUTHAM ROAD Nr FARNBOROUGH, BANBURY, OX17 1EL
50 FOUR SHIRES v MARCH 2012 Tel: (01295) 690479 The Garden Lovers Garden Centre
March is the month when gardeners get back into gear. The snowdrops are over, more and more daffodils are coming out and tulips will soon be here. But some thoughts may be not only on planting and sowing, but also on garden visiting.
There is a long-standing British tradition of going to see what other gardeners are doing, and this is nurtured by the National Gardens Scheme. It started 85 years ago, at first to raise money for nurses’ pensions (no NHS then), but it was such a success that it has continued every year. Now the Scheme raises millions of pounds each year for charities (Macmillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie Cancer Care are two of the beneficiaries) from visitors to over 3,000 gardens in England and Wales. In Warwickshire this year 125 gardens are opening from February until October, and there are similar numbers in neighbouring counties. Among the Warwickshire group is Charlecote Park which also opened 85 years ago, and there will be a special celebration of that on Saturday, June 16. Few gardens have such staying power: since 1927 most of the
stately-home gardens that opened then have changed or been neglected. But these early gardens have been replaced by thousands of smaller gardens that are more relevant to today’s gardeners. The garden owners that open today are happy to discuss ideas and problems with like-minded enthusiasts. Details of all the garden openings are on the National Gardens Scheme website
ngs.org.uk. For free local leaflets about openings in local counties apply to: Buckinghamshire: Maggie Bateson, 01494 866265. Gloucestershire: Nick Kane, 077684 478668. Northamptonshire: David Abbott, 01933 680363. Oxfordshire: Catherine Pinney, 01491 612638.
Charlecote Park (above) is celebrating the 85th anniversary of the NGS with a birthday party on June 16th. Photo: The National Trust. Agdon House (left), one of the Warmington village group, opening on 24 June. Photo: Keith Browne. Church Lane, Leamington Spa (below) is open by appointment from March to July. Photo: Keith Browne.
A361
A425
A422
B4100
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