Plot a visit to a garden near Nailsea

EVERY year the National Gardens Scheme across England and Wales welcomes more than half a million visitors and raised more than £2 for charity.

Most gardens which open for the NGS are privately owned and open just a few times each year.

Some gardens open as part of a group with the whole community involved. 

The tradition of opening gardens of quality, character and interest is supported by patron, HRH the Prince of Wales.

In the past decade NGS has raised more than £25 for nursing, caring and gardening charities.

There are many gardens open to the public North Somerset and three on our doorstep.

These are:

The Caves, Downside, Backwell.

This the home of Sylvia and Graham Guest with is open in Sundays, April 25, May 2 and May 6.

It cost £3 for adults and children are free. Homemade teas are available. The Guests describe their garden as ‘a woodland garden created from a two acre field and inhospitable infill bank. There are many unusual trees and shrubs, wildlife areas including a large pond with stream wandering down from rocky outcrop. A summerhouse overlooks herbaceous borders in upper garden. Meandering paths thread through heavily planted bank. It boasts purple toothwort on one of the willows and many other spring flowers - badger permitting’.

Tyntesfield, Wraxall

The home of the late Lord Wraxall this property was included in the National Trust portfolio in 2002. As part of the NGS scheme its formal terraces, Holly Walk, Paradise arboretum and walled kitchen garden will be open on Saturday, July 24, but the house and garden are open most days for the summer season. For more details see  www.nationaltrust.org.uk. Garden only admission is £5.50 adults and £2.75 children.

43 West Town Road, Backwell

Open on Sunday, May 9, Saturdays June 2 and June 6, and Sunday, June 13, visitors are welcome by appointment at other times. Call Jane and Derek Farr on 01275 464957. Admission is £2.50 adults with children free. This is a medium-sized garden on several levels with a walled cottage courtyard with potted plants. The garden has herbaceous borders, lovely wisterias, phormiums, ferns, hostas, bamboo and roses as well as a pond, pergola, raised vegetable plot and a sunken garden. The entrance is up a steep slope alongside the Methodist chapel to a rear garden gate. Homemade teas are available.

All details can be checked by clicking HERE. 

* Transition Nailsea is offering free, easy gardening lessons for beginners. Call Sally on 01275 810571 or email trainsitionnailsea@gmail.com.

* The Friends of Nowhere Woods have developed another meadow at Gorden Valley. Workdays are on the first Sundays of the month from 10.30am-1pm. The next date is May 2. Call Claire Courtier on 01934 621802 or Pat Gilbert and Clive Bradshow on 01275 853436 for more details.

* Judges from the South West in Bloom competition are due to visit Nailsea in July. A 20-strong group has been busy planting flower beds in the town ready for the competition. Other flower beds in the town are jointly managed, with the one outside Tesco cared for by Nailsea Women's Institute. Guides have also created a flowerbed, planted in the shape of a trefoil, at Stockway South. This year's colour theme for the town is red, orange and yellow and baskets and pots across the town will start to be filled with summer bedding in May. Businesses will also be asked to decorate their windows with a floral summer theme, ready for the judging visit. The town has been awarded a gold medal in the South West in Bloom competition for the past two years.

*Nailsea Allotments Association plant sale for Children’s Hospice South West Charlton Farm is on Saturday, May 15, from 9.30am at the Whitesfield Road allotments.