In a world full of distractions and deadlines, nature can be a powerful antidote. Thankfully, there are green spaces across the country for you to enjoy and privately-owned gardens waiting to be discovered.
There is something for everyone, whether you are green-fingered and looking for inspiration or just want to enjoy time away from it all.
In this post, we look at five secret gardens across the UK that are open to the public.
South Wood Farm, Devon
Cotleigh, Honiton, Devon, EX14 9HU
Designed by the renowned Arne Maynard, South Wood Farm is tucked away in a beautiful part of Devon.
A medieval yeoman farmhouse sits at the centre of this 17th-century-inspired garden with sweet-smelling roses and traditional herbaceous plants. The fruit and vegetables that grow here help to tie it in with the surrounding farmland, so you might say it’s still very much a working garden.
With thousands of bulbs planted, there is no shortage of flowers at South Wood Farm.
Maynard has combined the traditional with the contemporary, and it’s one of the few places you might find a wildflower meadow sharing the same space as a knot garden.
There is a page dedicated to South Wood Farm on the National Garden Scheme’s website. If you live nearby and you’re looking for garden inspiration or just a peaceful walk, we highly recommend you pay a visit.
Wyndcliffe Court, Monmouthshire
Wyndcliffe Court, St Arvan’s, Chepstow NP16 6EY
The gardens at Wyndcliffe are the creation of Eric Francis and Avray Tipping, and they’ve remained unaltered since 1922. This garden spans several levels and is designed in the Italianate ‘Arts and Crafts’ style.
The paved terrace with sculpted yew topiary trees drops down to a lily pond with a fountain. Beyond that, stone walkways lead out to a summerhouse, walled gardens, woodland, and ponds.
The Edwardian motor house at Wyndcliffe doubles up as a garden school for budding horticulturists and people interested in landscaping and garden design.
Course dates for spring 2023 have already been released and can be found on the Wyndcliffe Court website.
Perrycroft, Herefordshire
Jubilee Drive, Upper Colwall, Malvern WR13 6DN
Perrycroft house was built in 1895 for Birmingham industrialist and MP John W Wilson. Sat on 80 acres of land, the house is surrounded by magnificent gardens designed by the architect CFA Voysey.
The house is cleverly positioned to look out over the Herefordshire Beacon, also known as the British Camp – an Iron Age fort. Voysey took his inspiration for the garden from its beautiful surroundings and aimed to make sure the two blended seamlessly.
Visitors can admire the views from one of the benches that sit outside the house and then stroll down through the formal gardens that lead out to the grassy walks into the woodland beyond it.
The visiting hours for Perrycroft House and Gardens are listed on its website.
Combermere Abbey Gardens, Cheshire
Combermere Abbey Estate, Nantwich, Cheshire, SY13 4AJ
Combermere Abbey in Chesire is set amongst 1000 acres of beautiful gardens, parkland and woodland.
There is something here for everyone, from the croquet lawn to the secluded roses garden, but the jewel in the crown at Combermere has to be the world’s only fruit tree maze.
The apple and pear trees, gooseberry bushes, and currant plants that make up the maze produce an annual fruit crop. This is used to make a fabulous collection of jams, jellies, chutneys, and fresh pressed juices.
The maze lives in just one part of the three walled gardens that cover five and a half acres with a geometric garden and a restored Edwardian glasshouse that spills out into the fruit tree maze.
With views over the lake, Combermere’s woodland is a beautiful place to get lost for the afternoon amongst the ancient oaks, hornbeam, and beech trees.
You can find out more about Combermere Abbey and its gardens on its website.
Stone House Cottage, Worcestershire
Church Lane, near Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY10 4BG
Stone House Cottage is a small but perfectly formed garden set inside an old walled garden that its current owners have lovingly restored. It’s the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for inspiration for your own garden.
You can buy many of the things that grow in the garden from the adjoining nursery next door. The nursery specialises in wall shrubs, climbers, and herbaceous plants.
You won’t find neatly manicured lawns and garden borders at Stone House. This wonderfully wild garden is divided by hedges into small sections that each has its own collection of diverse plants.
Stone House Cottage opens for a limited number of weeks in the summer. We recommend you check the opening hours on the nursery’s website before you visit.
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