71 FIVE OF THE BEST Local gardens to


Early summer is a wonderful time to visit the area’s majestic gardens. While the roadsides are alive with a riot of colourful wildflowers, these tended South Hams gardens are a real treat for the senses.


visit


Royal Avenue Gardens The Quay, Dartmouth, TQ6 9PS Starting with a nice, easy one the Royal Avenue Gardens in Dartmouth are much more than a great place to watch the music festival and regatta fireworks. The garden’s been a meeting place for bonfires and fairs in the town for centuries, and became an official park in1887 with funds raised to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. As HRH had landed at the new ground when she visited Dartmouth in 1856, the park was named Royal Avenue Gardens. These attractive gardens contain an ornamental foun- tain provided by Sir Henry Paul Seale; rose garden; war memorial; small pond; herb garden; Antipodean garden; bandstand; the Veale and Savill memorial garden; Mediterranean garden; and a community greenhouse. Due to its sheltered location gingko, New Zealand tree ferns, olives and the Chusan palm all thrive here.


Overbecks Gardens Sharpitor, Salcombe, TQ8 8LW


Tucked away on the cliffs above Salcombe is this hidden paradise. Surrounding the seaside home of scientist and inventor Otto Overbeck is a subtropical garden, bursting with colour and filled to bursting with exotic and rare plants. Entrance to the garden is through an avenue of Chusan palms (Trachycarpus Fortunei) and the views over the estuary and coast are amazing. There are two big gardening themes at Overbecks, the Mediterranean, and the sub-tropical. Big leaved sub-tropical plants start slow and build their presence through the season to dominate from August onwards, while the Mediterranean cistus and lavenders and santolinas are all at their best in early summer. Daily food specials, including delicious chunky crab sandwiches, are all freshly prepared for visitors to dine in the billiard room or take tea on the terrace. There is some limited parking on site. The gardens are open 11am to 5pm daily. There are also weekly garden tours every Wednesday at 2pm. See www.nationaltrust.org.uk/overbecks for more details.


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