Gardens The South Hams is blessed with a climate in which local and exotic species thrive ‘A plantsman’s paradise’
You will find the Garden House, near Yelverton, only six miles from Tavistock. Maintained and developed by the Fortescue Garden Trust, it has caught the eye of many a gardener, including TV presenter Toby Buckland, who said: “It’s a plantsman’s paradise – I love it!” This inspiring garden on the edge of Dart-
moor covers 10 acres and showcases gardening at its best. Colour and scent fill the garden and throughout the seasons there is always a show-stopping design to enjoy. The iconic view to St Andrew’s Church – one of
the most popular spots in the garden – sees visitors lingering on oak benches surrounded by blooms. The garden is divided into several distinct zones, providing visitors with the chance to linger, taking in the surroundings. The Summer Garden, plant- ed in a naturalistic style, and the Cottage Garden,
bursting with wildflowers, are world-famous. Later in the summer, the Walled Garden takes centre stage: two acres of terraces and borders are a gardener’s paradise, while plenty of pathways and hidden spaces are great fun for young explorers. The well-stocked plant centre offers plants
that mirror the garden planting. The tearooms are free to visit and are the perfect spot to enjoy a treat, especially in May, when the wisteria draped over the house is ‘scent-sational’. If you visit in August, try to catch the outdoor theatre’s The Legend of King Arthur on Satur- day, August 3, or pop along on Friday, August 16, to meet the Space Detectives and learn all about the starry skies. Great fun for all ages. See the full events programme online at
thegardenhouse.org.uk, where you will also find all of the attraction’s visiting details.
Unparallelled treat
If you haven’t visited Overbeck’s before, you’re in for a treat. Carved into the cliff- side 80 metres above the sea, Overbeck’s’ garden overlooks the Salcombe estuary. Its extraordinary position provides breathtaking views and the perfect environ- ment for a diverse range of plants to flour- ish. To walk around the garden is like being transported to far and distant lands. In the upper parts of
the garden you would be forgiven for think- ing you were in the Mediterranean as you look across the blue sea to the golden sands of Mill Bay and Sunny Beach Cove. The planting also attempts to fool the senses – sun loving plants are happy here and many fill the air with aromatic scents such as lavender, rose- mary and citrus. As you descend into
the lower parts of the garden you enter a very different, subtropic- al world, with large, lush foliage of bananas, palms and bamboos. Brightly coloured exot- ic flowers compete for your attention – ginger lilies, canna lilies and salvias to name a few. The dappled shade
of the woodland gar- den offers a peace- ful place for rest. The subtle tones of moss-covered rocks and Japanese acers cre- ate a calm atmosphere that contrasts with the rest of the garden. New for 2019 – the staircase hall and gallery have been redecorated and repre- sented to reflect the Edwardian era. Please
feel free to take a seat in the drawing room to admire the garden through the large bay window or gaze out to sea from the gallery. With pictures and autograph books of the soldiers’ time here during the First World War, you can imagine them enjoying their time by the sea, very much as it would have been when it was a Red Cross convales- cent hospital. You can learn more about this and about Otto Over- beck, who donated the house to the National Trust, as you explore. This year we are
pleased to be work- ing in conjunction with veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress, to include an exhib- ition called ‘Exploring the Trauma of Com- bat through the World War One Heritage of Overbeck’s’. This project will
share the stories and experiences of soldiers affected by the trauma of the First World War and their convales- cence at the VAD Hos- pital at Overbeck’s. Through partnership
work with the charity, we will explore how the experiences of soldiers 100 years ago reflect the lives of modern-day servicemen and -women and how the therapeut- ic activities developed at Overbeck’s can have
real benefits for veterans suffering from PTSD, stress and anxiety today. After your explora-
tion of the garden and house, our tearoom team will be on hand to serve you with freshly prepared sandwiches with a varied choice of locally sourced fill- ings, including crab, a popular choice. There are also various soups, salads, cakes and ice- creams. If you feel like treating yourselves, you can book a sump- tuous afternoon tea – call us on 01548 842893 and we can arrange this. Pop in to the shop and take home some local preserves, souven- irs or even a statuette of The First Flight – unique to Overbeck’s. Overbeck’s is open
daily until Sun- day, November 3, 11am-5pm. Free entry to National Trust members. See our web- site for full details of entry prices and all the great events going on at Overbeck’s this year. When you visit, donate, volunteer or join the National Trust, your support helps us to look after special places for ever, for everyone. You can contact us
by calling 01548 842893 or emailing overbecks @
nationaltrust.org. uk, or follow us on Facebook. Registered charity 205846.
Enjoy an ‘enchanting’ day
“One of the finest gar- dens 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 val- ley on the edge of Dart- moor (just 10 minutes off the A38), Lukes- land’s noted collection of camellias, rhodo- dendrons and azaleas provides a spectacular show of colour in the spring against a won- derful backdrop of wildflowers. In October and Nov-
ember, 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 ser- ies of charming and unusual bridges and its ponds are home to wild birds, trout, tad- poles and toads. With home-made
soup and cakes served up by the family in the new extension to the Victorian billiard room,
and a children’s trail to keep the younger gen- eration amused, these gardens have some- thing for everyone. Plants, cards, pre-
serves and beautiful bowls, turned from Lukesland wood, are on sale. Dogs on leads are welcome. In 2019, the gardens
are open from 11am to 5pm on Sundays, Wednesdays and bank holidays in the spring (March 31-June 16) and autumn (October 6-November 17). On Saturday, June 8, there will be a classic car rally and cream teas at Lukesland from 2pm till 5pm. Normal entry applies. Proceeds will go to Harford Church and the Blood Bikes charity. For further details
of openings and other special events, call 01752 691749, or go to
lukesland.co.uk
or
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 31st March - 16 June
AUTUMN
Open Suns, Weds 11am - 5pm 6 October - 17th November
Entry Adults £6 Children Free Home-made soup & baking
01752 691749
www.lukesland.co.uk or Facebook 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28
