Out & About July 2017

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The National Garden Scheme is the
most significant charitable funder of
nursing charities in the country, donat-
ing more than £50 million to charities
across the UK over the last 90 years.
Around 3,700 gardens open each year.
West Mills Allotments & Island Cottage
Garden , July 2, 2pm to 5pm, combined
admission £5
A 120-plot site containing a wide variety of fruit
and vegetables, some hens and an increasing
number of flowers. Visitors are welcome to
come look around the diverse styles of plot and
interact with this active garden community to
discuss the different gardening methods used.
A short walk away is Island Cottage, a small
town garden set between a backwater of the
River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal.
This garden was started from scratch in 2005,
and then again after the floods of 2014.
Features include a studio at Island Cottage
with a small art display by local artists and
plants for sale at both sites.
Teas will be available at Island Cottage,
weather permitting.
Jannaways, July 9, 2pm to 5.30pm,
admission £5, children free. Tea & biscuits
included
Three miles west of Newbury lies Jannaways.
The garden spreads across five acres and
encompasses a lake naturally fed by springs.
A circular walk from formal beds near the
house leads along a woodland path, crossing
a weir to wild flowers and specimen trees. A
pitch-perfect lawn, fish pond, pagodas and
many hidden gems provide visitors with a rich
panoply of vistas round every corner.
There is also a jungle gym for children to enjoy.
Wickham House, July 11, 11am-4pm,
admission £5, children free
This half-acre walled garden was created
from scratch in 2008 and was featured in The
English Garden magazine.
Designed by Robin Templar-Williams, the
different garden rooms have distinct themes
and colour schemes. As well as an arched
clematis and rose walkway, there is plenty to
see, including a wide variety of trees, planting,
pots brimming with colour and places to sit and
enjoy the views.
Visitors can also explore a separate cutting
and vegetable garden.
Further afield
Ivydene, Woodley, July 23, 10am to 5pm,
admission £4, children free.
Light refreshments
A small urban gardeners’ garden in Woodley,
with a mature tree fern walkway and many unu-
sual hostas, ornamental grasses and plants.
Visitors can also enjoy overflowing herbaceous
borders and a rose bed, of mainly patio roses.
The vertical garden and the Heuchera Tapestry
bed are new and developing.
The garden also features stained glass and
ceramic art to complete the picture.
The owner, Janet Bonney, is a previous BBC
Gardener of the Year finalist
Old Swan House, Stockbridge, every
Tuesday July 4 to July 25, 2pm- 5pm, admis-
sion £4, children free. Soft drinks & biscuits
included
This garden offers a loggia hung with creepers,
a mature fish pond with waterlilies, a long lawn
under a 100-year-old hazel, which faces mirror
herbaceous borders, and an ancient brick and
flint wall sheltering mixed planting and shrub
roses. Euphorbias, rosemary and lavender
abound.
There is a square of grass garden in gravel,
bounded by brick paths, a wildflower patch and
a partly mature orchard.
Tanglefoot, Winchester, Thursday July 6
and Sunday July 9, 2pm-5.30pm, combined
admission with Paige Cottage £6, children
free. Home-made teas in the village hall
Designed and developed by owners since
1976, Tanglefoot’s half-acre garden is a blend
of influences, from Monet-inspired rose arch
and small wildlife pond, to Victorian boundary
wall with trained fruit trees. Highlights include
a raised lily pond, small wildflower meadow,
herbaceous bed (a riot of colour later in the
summer), herb wheel, large productive kitchen
garden and unusual flowering plants.
How does your garden grow?
Since 1927 the National Garden Scheme has been inviting garden
owners to open their exceptional gardens to the public for good
causes, giving people unique access to some of Britain’s most
beautiful, memorable gardens for around the same cost of a cup of
tea and a slice of cake.