Gardens The gardens and specialist nurseries in our area offer an unrivalled variety of plants
A Horticultural Tour of the Globe
Strawberry Valley Secret
Hidden in lovely Strawberry Valley just a mile outside Dartmouth is Devon’s best-kept secret. Spring at Fast Rabbit Farm Garden is a feast for the senses.
The show starts with drifts of snowdrops, primroses, camellias and daffodils in early spring, followed by foxglove and bluebell displays and then the full flowering of magnolias, crab apples and rhododendrons that is the May festival.
If you have never visited Plant World's amazing hilltop garden centre you just don't know what you are missing! The four acres of landscaped hilltop gardens representing each of the five continents has been called Devon's 'little outdoor Eden' and has been featured on TV many times including on BBC's Gardeners' World. Rare and exotic flowers, trees and shrubs from around the world are for sale, and you can see them growing in their correct 'country', whilst the children spot Katy Koala in Australia and the Yeti on “Everest” during their trip around the world gardens.
The recently revamped plant nursery now stocks a wide variety of highest quality rare and unusual plants, seldom seen at most garden centres. These range from shrubs to herbaceous perennials, alpines, grasses and even succulents, almost all being grown on site from our own seeds and cuttings. All plants are accompanied by large, informative display labels to help both experienced and amateur gardeners find the right plants for them. We also have a knowledgeable and very friendly nursery team who are always happy to assist.
The hilltop café offers one of the most incredible panoramas in the country, with unbeatable views of the River Teign estuary to the north and the twin peaks of Haytor rising above Dartmoor in the west. The extensive but simple menus include paninis, toasted sandwiches and jacket potatoes, locally produce being used whenever possible. In addition a good range of home-made cakes and the famous Devon Cream Teas are sold, with a high class espresso machine supplying the finest quality coffee.
From the Penn Inn roundabout/flyover follow signs to Milber and Combeinteignhead for only 50 metres and then take a sharp right turn. Plant World is 1.5 miles further on, at the very top of the long hill past the Water Gardens/Teign Fitness centre.
A considerable amount of work has been applied to the Mediterranean garden with its cedar shingle-roofed gazebo and seating area.
There are miles of pathways through woodland and meadows, where quiet visitors can see deer, herons, kingfishers, jays and ravens.
Picnic by the lake or near one of the waterfalls and enjoy the music of moving water and the cries of hunting kestrels. Finish your visit with a browse around the extensive plant centre, which specialises in acid-loving and herbaceous plants.
The whole 40 acres takes two hours. Open every day. Teas served on Sundays.
Dogs welcome. See our website for more information.
FAST RABBIT FARM
ASH CROSS, DARTMOUTH Tel. 07813 504490
Website:
www.fastrabbitfarm.co.uk E-mail:
catchall@fastrabbitfarm.co.uk
SPECIALIST NURSERY AND GARDEN Featured on Television and Radio
FOR SALE: Wide range of rhododendrons, camellias and many unusual shrubs and perennials Now 43 acres of planted woodland, waterside garden and woodland walks. Dogs on leads welcome.
GARDEN OPEN DAILY Garden open from 11 am to 5 pm Free car park and toilets. Adult £5.00, Child 50p.
www.fastrabbitfarm.co.uk
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‘One of the finest
gardens of its kind in the South West’ Good Gardens Guide
‘What a glorious, tranquil place – divine plants’ ‘Enchanting garden and a lovely cup of tea!’
These are just some of the comments from appreciative visitors to the spectacular 24-acre Lukesland Gardens, Ivybridge. Tucked away in a peaceful woodland valley on the edge of Dartmoor (just 10 minutes off the A38), Lukesland’s noted collection of camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas provides a spectacular show of colour in the Spring, against a wonderful backdrop of wild flowers. In October and November the reds and golds of Lukesland’s fine trees and shrubs reflected in the many pools and waterfalls of the Addicombe Brook are also well worth
seeing. The brook is criss-crossed by a series of charming and unusual bridges and its ponds are home to wild birds, trout, tadpoles and toads. With home-made soup and cakes served up by the family in the Victorian Tea Room and a Children’s Trail to keep the younger generation amused, these gardens have something for everyone. Plants, cards, preserves and beautiful bowls, turned from Lukesland wood, are on sale. Dogs are welcome on a lead. In 2017 the gardens are open from 11am – 5pm on Sundays, Wednesdays and Bank Holidays in Spring (26th March – 11th June) and Autumn (8th October – 12th November). The house is also open for guided tours by the owners through
www.invitation
toview.co.uk on 8th June and 9th November. For further details call 01752 691749 or go to
www.lukesland.co.uk or
www.facebook.com/ lukeslandgardens
Harford, Ivybridge, PL21 0JF
Spring & Autumn Openings
“A gem of its kind’ - The Good Gardens Guide 24 acres of magnificent Camellias, Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Champion Trees. Ponds, Pools and Waterfalls
SPRING
Open Suns, Weds & Bank Holidays 11am - 5pm 26th March - 11th June
AUTUMN
Open Suns, Weds 11am - 5pm 8th October - 12th November
Entry Adults £5 Children Free Home-made soup & baking
01752 691749
www.lukesland.co.uk or Facebook
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