This list is only a small part of the wide-ranging opportunities to enjoy gardens in England. Each town has its own garden society, and often just a walk through the village will be a grand garden tour. Most large houses open to the public boast fabulous gardens, and Harlaxton Manor is certainly one. Start your garden tour with the Harlaxton grounds, and then widen the circle to the village of Harlaxton, then Grantham, and on to Nottingham.
The brochures listed here are merely an indication of what is available.
In the area of Grantham, Marston Hall is open certain days featuring an ancient Laburnum of great size, and a 400 year old elm of astonishing girth in addition to a formal rose garden and herb garden (telephone: 01400-250225). Down the coast from Skegness is the African Violet Centre (and tea room), telephone 01553-828374.
Often private gardens in the area are only open on certain days, so it is good to consult the brochure put out by the Lincolnshire Old churches Trust that lists Lincolnshire Gardens Open to the Public (see the reserve collection in the library). The British Red Cross also publishes a brochure of Open Gardens (see the reserve collection in the library).
Nottingham offers a wide variety of gardens open to the public in addition to the expansive garden that is meticulously maintained around Nottingham Castle. You can consult the brochure listing open gardens put out by the British Red Cross or the National Gardens Scheme Charitable Trust. Both brochures are available in the RWC British Summer Study reserve collection in the library. In addition to private gardens open to the public, near Nottingham, you can also find the Naturescape Wildflower Farm (tel. 01949-860592) and the Greenwood Bonsai Studio (tel. (0115) 920-5757).
In the South of England, you can find many lovely gardens open to the public. Many of them are listed in the brochure "Classic Gardens: South Somerset--share the secret", or you can search the Somerset website (look out: they got really fancy with the graphics so this site can take awhile to load). If you are tired of flowers try the Larmer Tree Gardens in Salisbury, Wiltshire, or Bennets Water Gardens near Weymouth, Dorset.
For more formal Botanical Gardens, you can visit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses, or when you are in London, you must visit Kew Gardens for its astonishing grounds and lovely architecture.
See the Royal Horticultural Society for their listing of grand shows throughout England.
