72 By the Dart • Gardens to Visit


Blackpool Gardens Blackpool Sands, Dartmouth, TQ6 0RG


Directly behind Blackpool Sands beach is a secret garden behind a small green door. In 2000 the Newman family began restoring the garden, adding to the collection of semi-trop- ical plants gathered from the four corners of the world. Now stands a beautiful ‘plantsman’s garden’ reflecting the family’s use of the land over the centuries. As recently as the 1970s, this garden regularly supplied vegetables and flowers to London’s markets. Gently sloping paths criss-cross through the trees and shrubs, revealing glimpses of the sea. Visit the Crow’s Nest and the path above the Captain’s Seat for spectacular views of Start Bay. A host of rare and unusual specimens, many from the Southern Hemisphere, thrive here, in- cluding varieties of Leptosper- mums and Callistemons, Embothriums, Olearias and Pittosporums. Open every day from April to the end of september,10am to 4pm, subject to weather condi- tions. No dogs allowed. The garden paths can be damp and slippery, so sturdy footwear is recommended. A guide to the plants and shrubs is available when you purchase your entry ticket from the car park attendant at Blackpool Sands car park. A delicious after-garden drink or snack is avail- able from the Venus Café on the beach. For more information see www.blackpoolsands.co.uk


Fast Rabbit Farm Gardens Ash, Dartmouth, TQ6 0LR


Fast Rabbit Garden occupies 42 acres of the secluded strawberry Valley, three miles outside Dartmouth. Nurtured since 1991, it’s thought to be the largest garden featuring acid-loving plants in Devon. Vivid blooms and the ever-present sound of water as it splash- es, trickles and cascades through the valley, creates a magical sense to the place. Lucky visitors can catch a glimpse of the kingfisher by the river or diving for fish in the lake. The Mediterranean Garden has been enhanced over the winter with new paths, viewing platforms and extensive new planting. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy the tranquility of the garden. A self-serve refreshment facility is now a permanent feature in the plant centre. Intriguingly they also run ‘clothing optional’ days for local naturists to ‘Adam and Eve it’ in the gardens, one Saturday a month during the summer. The gardens are open every day from 11am to 5pm. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leads. For more information visit www.fastrabbitfarm.co.uk


Dartington Hall Gardens Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6ED


The Dartington Hall estate houses 1,200 acres of Grade 2 list- ed gardens. And the lawns, terraces and borders are bursting into colour right now. There’s a real sense of history and culture around these gardens, from a 1,500 year-old yew tree to a reclining Henry Moore sculpture, commissioned by Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst in tribute to Dartington’s first arts administrator. Moore’s serene figure quietly spends her days against a row of ancient chestnut trees. There’s a lovely brook, quirky cottage and a ‘sunny border’, which runs the length of the terraces. Finish off with a visit to The White Hart Inn or The Green Table Café for some seriously good food and drink. The gardens are open everyday from dawn to dusk. They are free to enter and there’s a pay and display car park on site. A mobility scooter is available to hire. Dogs are not allowed at the main gardens and are restricted throughout the estate. See www.dartington.org for more details.


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