Exmoor Open Gardens

Updated: 20 April 2004 (Note: NGS for Somerset only at present - Devon will be added soon)

DATES 2004	National Gardens Scheme Opening	LOCATION	GARDEN	DETAILS
	3 Apr 19 Jun	PORLOCK	Stowleys	TA24 8HD (Rev R L Hancock) Bossington Lane. NE of Porlock of A39, 6m W of Minehead. Medium sized garden, approx 2 acres with magnificent views across Porlock Bay and the Bristol Channel. Daffodils, roses, unusual tender plants incl. leptospermum, drimys and embothrium. Parking in paddock next door to garden. TEAS. Adm £1.50 Chd free. (2-6pm)
	6 May 24 Jun 22 July 2 Sep	BROMPTON REGIS	Hartford Lodge	(John and Denzil Sims) 4.5miles NE of Dulverton. From Dulverton follow signs Brompton Regis. Through village , carry straight on to Hartford where rd bears L. A terraced plantsman's garden only 7 years old. Lots of unusual plants and shrubs, many propagated by the owners. Of particular interest are trilliums, hellebores and pulmonarias in spring, salvias and lobelia in summer, asters, gladioli & tritonias in autumn, plus many varieties of cornus, acer and salix. Adm £2 chd free. 2-5pm. Private visits welcome by appt. tel. 01398 371117
	20 Jun	STOGUMBER	Stogumber Gardens	TA4 3TN A358 NW from Taunton for 11m. Sign to Stogumber near Crowcombe. Six delightful gardens of interest to plantsmen in lovely village at edge of Quantocks. Maps of garden locations will be supplied. Homemade TEAS in Village Hall. Combined Adm £3.00 Chd free. 2-6pm; BROOK COTTAGE: Mrs M Field. Good plants incl lilies in a lovely setting, small pond for added interest, BUTTS COTTAGE: Mr & Mrs Morrison. Cottage garden with old roses, old fashioned perennials, alpines, pond, small vine house an organic veg garden. COURTLAND: Mrs M Jenkins. Small garden developed in 1998 with mixed borders, bonsai, greenhouse and antique horse trough plant container. CRIDLANDS STEEP: Mrs A M Leitch. Large and interesting garden with collection of trees and wildlife pond. KNOLL COTTAGE: Mr & Mrs J D Leech. 1.5acre garden started from fields in 1998. Extensive mixed borders, pond, new woodland, fruit and vegetable area. POUND HOUSE: Mr & Mrs B Hibbert. An old orchard on terraced sloping site, garden started 2000. Young trees, shrub borders, herbaceous plants, rockery, organic veg garden, courtyard with climbing plants and herbs.
OPENING	NGS	LOCATION	GARDEN	DETAILS
	Sun 30 May	UPTON Near Wiveliscombe	Bittescombe Manor	(Mr & Mrs D Wood) 6m N of Bampton, on B3190. On B3227 Taunton-Wiveliscombe rd, follow signs to Huish Champflower. L at Castle Inn, L at B3190 to Upton. 5 acre garden 950ft up on the Brendon Hills. Walled garden with newly planted topiary, pleached lime, shrubbery, large water garden and herbaceous borders. Cream Teas in aid of Upton Church. Adm £2.50 chd free. Private visits welcome May, June, July by appt. Tel 01398 371240
	27, 28 Mar 24, 25 Apr	MINEHEAD	Uplands	TA24 8DQ (Mr & Mrs Scott) Centre of Minehead Wellington Sq. turn L into Park St (signed Porlock) 2nd right Western Lane. At top turn L. Plse. park in road. 1/4acre gently sloping garden with fine views. Variety of small trees and shrubs surround colour themed herbaceous beds, with lilies, delphiniums and roses. Clematis and honeysuckles on trellises. Low retaining walls with unusual dwarf plants. Narrow paths and steps unsuitable for pushchairs. Adm £1.50 Chd free. (11am-4pm) Private visits welcome by appt: please telephone 01643-704185
APRIL-JULY see notes	Apr 4, May 15, Jun 27	PORLOCK	Greencombe	TA24 8NU (Miss Joan Loraine) 0.5m W of Porlock, L off road to Porlock Weir. 58 yr-old garden on edge of ancient woodland, overlooking Porlock Bay. Choice rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, maples, roses, hydrangeas, ferns, small woodland plants and clematis. National collections of Polystichum, (the Thumbs-up fern), Erythronium (dogs-tooth violets), Vaccinium (blue-berries) and Gaultheria. Completely organic with compost heaps on show. TEA. Adm £4.50 Chd £1.00 Over 100 years old free. SORRY-NO DOGS Sats, Suns, Mons, Tues, Weds, April, May, June, July (2-6pm). Private visits please ring 01643-862363
OPENING	NGS	LOCATION	GARDEN	DETAILS
MARCH-AUG see notes	Various- see notes	ELWORTHY	Elworthy Cottage	TA4 3PX (Mike & Jenny Spiller) 12m NW of Taunton on B3188. 1 acre plantsman's garden. Many unusual herbaceous plants. Large collection of hardy geraniums (over 200 varieties); hellebores, pulmonarias, campanulas, penstemons, violas, grasses and plants for foliage effect. Wide selection from the garden for sale. TEAS. Adm £1.50 Chd free. Nursery & Garden open Weds, Thurs, Fri, March to Jun. Thurs only July-Sept (10-4pm) For NGS: 13 May, 3, 10, 17, 27 Jun, 15, 18 Jul, 29 Aug, 2, 26 Sept. (Suns and Mons:1.30-5pm, Thurs 10-4) Coaches and groups welcome, by appt. tel:01984-656427 www.elworthy-cottage.co.uk
OPEN ALL YEAR		ARLINGTON	Arlington Court National Trust	EX31 4LP 7m NE Barnstaple on A39. Nestling in the thickly-wooded valley of the River Yeo lies the 1,400-ha (3,500-acre) Arlington Court estate. At its centre stands Arlington Court, the intimate and intriguing Victorian home of Miss Rosalie Chichester. Crowded with treasures amassed from her travels, her collections include model ships, tapestry, pewter and shells. In the basement, from May to Sept visitors can view the comings and goings of Devon’s largest colony of Lesser Horseshoe bats via the newly-installed ‘batcam’. Arlington’s stable block houses one of the best collections of 19th-century horse-drawn vehicles in the country and offers carriage rides around the grounds. The 12-ha (30-acre) gardens are largely informal, featuring a beautiful Victorian garden complete with conservatory and ornamental ponds leading to a partially-restored walled kitchen garden. Stunning walks take in historic parkland grazed by Jacob sheep and Shetland ponies, leafy woodlands, a tranquil lake with heronry and bird hide, deep forests and stream-fed valleys. Opening House, carriage collection & Victorian garden: 29 March to 2 Nov: daily except closed Tues. Tues from 1 Jul to 2 Sept: gardens, shop, tea-rooms and bat lobby only 10.30–4.30. Times: Gardens, shop, tea-rooms and bat lobby open 10.30, house and carriage collection open 11. Last admission 4.30, closes 5.30.
MAR-OCT		INSTOW	Tapeley Park Gardens	EX39 4NT (Off A39 on B3233. ) Near Bideford Large Country House surrounded by 20 acres of mainly organic gardens in 4 distinct themes, with a rich and fascinating variety of flowers, shrubs, veg, and wild life; Italian Terraces, Traditional walled Kitchen Garden, Organic Permaculture Garden and The Lake. Woodland walks. Children's adventure playground (hidden in the Wild Garden). Tea Rooms. Plants sales. Pets, Highland Cattle and Black Berkshire Pigs. Scotts Clematis (RHS Gold medal winners) are based here stocking 500 varieties. Open 19 Mar-end Oct 10am-5pm closed Sats. Reasonable wheelchair access. Dogs welcome on leads. Tel (01271) 342558
OPENING	NGS	LOCATION	GARDEN	DETAILS
OPEN ALL YEAR		GREAT TORRINGTON	Rosemoor Gardens RHS	EX38 8PH 1 mile S Great Torrington on B3220 Stunning 40 acre garden in the beautiful Torridge Valley. Lake, Arboretum, Formal Gardens. For all gardeners from novice to professional, or just for those who appreciate the peace and tranquility of the English Garden. Explorer trails for children. Free Parking area and picnic area. Licensed restaurant, Plant Centre and Gift Shop. *Open* all year 10am-5pm, 6pm in the summer. Guide dogs only. *Tel* (01805) 624067
OPEN ALL YEAR	9 Mar 8 Jun	CHEDDON FITZPAINE near Taunton	Hestercombe Gardens	TA2 8LG (Mr P. White) 4m N of Taunton. Follow tourist information daisy symbol. Encompasses over 3 centuries of garden history in 50 acres of formal gardens and parkland. Famous Edwardian gardens designed by Lutyens and Jekyll created in 1904-6, together with landscape garden designed by Copplestone Warre Bampfylde in the 1750's. 40 acres of lakes, temples and woodland walks. Light refreshments and Teas. Adm £5.20 chd £1.30 OAP £4.90. 10-6 (last adm 5). Tel:(01823)413923 Mrs J Manning
OPEN ALL YEAR	Thur 5 Aug	DUNSTER, near Minehead	Dunster Castle	TA24 6SL 3 miles south-east of Minehead on A39 Terraces of sub-tropical plants, shrubs and camellias surrounding the fortified home of the Luttrell family for 600yrs; fine views. Self-drive battery operated car available for disabled. *Open:* 10 am - 4.30 pm; daily; Closed 25 & 26 December.
OPENING	NGS	LOCATION	GARDEN	DETAILS
March - November	19, 20 Jun 17, 18 Jul 28,29 Aug 18, 19 Sept	SAMPFORD PEVERILL, near Tiverton	Sampford Shrubs	EX16 7EN 6m E of Tiverton. From M5 junction 27 follow signs to 'Minnows' camping site then continue 300 metres up Holbrook Hill (on Holcombe Rogus Rd). A specialist retail nursery growing a wide range of hardy plants. 2-acre, 20yr-old S-facing garden. Herbaceous borders look their best in midsummer and contrast with wild flower areas; an organic vegetable garden and polytunnel; woodland garden; national helenium collection flowering on NGS open days during summer. Regional Carlton TV, various local press Open: March to June: Every day 9 to 5, Sundays 10am-4pm July to November. Thurs, Fri, Sat, 9am-5pm (or dusk if earlier), Sunday 10am-1pm. Tel: 01884 821164
OPEN ALL YEAR		MARWOOD, near Barnstaple	Marwood Hill	EX31 4EB Opposite Marwood Church, 4 miles north of Barnstaple, 0.5 mile west of B3230. 20 acre valley garden created by Dr J.A. Smart. The landscaping is delightful with three small lakes, a large bog garden and a rock and alpine scree. A supreme example of a plantsman's collection of supreme plants; roses (mainly old-fashioned & climbers); rhododendrons & azaleas; plants under glass; daffodils; good herbaceous plants; fine collection of trees; alpine plants; birches; Eucalyptus; camellias; hebes. The National Collections of 'Iris ensata' , tulbahias and astilbes are held here.