In East Anglia, we are blessed with several beautiful gardens, from the old historic houses to the keen amateur gardeners who open their grounds up to the public for the National Open Garden scheme.
The National Open Garden scheme is closely connected to nursing and raises money for several charities including Macmillan,Marie Curie, the Queen’s Nursing Institute and many more. There are over 3,700 gardens around the country and with many beautiful locations in our region.
There are also some estates and larger garden shows around the East of England this summer. These allow you to look around some stunning gardens created by professionals and buy things for your own garden.
Mannington Estate really is Norfolk’s hidden gem. Nestled away in the heart of the countryside sits Mannington Hall, surrounded by a moat and beautiful gardens. It is known for its Heritage Rose Gardens which were largely created by Lord Walpole’s in the 1980s. Here you can see over 1,000 varieties of roses arranged in their date of origin. June is the best time to visit when the roses are in full bloom, and the air is heavy with scent. Along with the formal gardens, you can also visit the wildflower meadow, boardwalks and bird hides.
Mannington will hold an open evening as part of the National Garden Scheme from 6pm on 21 June as well its regular 11am – 5pm Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday openings.
Ely Cathedral’s Flower Festival, Kaleidoscope of Life, promises to be an unmissable day out. Taking place 21-14 June, visitors can look forward to over 100 magnificent displays, shopping, music recitals and demonstrations by leading floral experts. The festival will be officially opened by special guest, Garden Designer Diarmuid Gavin at the preview evening on Wednesday 20 June with the theme focusing on the four seasons of life.
Highlights will include a water feature, a floral arc the length of Ely’s impressive nave and an entire transept dedicated to commemorating the end of WWI. The crowning glory is a 12 metre wide kaleidoscope of flowers positioned in splendour directly under Ely’s famous Octagon tower. In addition to the thousands of flowers, the beautiful 14th century Lady Chapel will host an exciting programme of musical performances by choirs from across the world. Visitors to the festival will also be able to enjoy floral demonstrations and shopping in the Gift & Craft Marquee.
Woburn Abbey just off the M1 in Bedfordshire is hosting its annual Woburn Abbey Garden Show on from 23-24 June. This show has several award-winning nurseries showin, and Gardeners World presenter Adam Frost and gardeners question time panellist Pippa Greenwood, are hosting Q&A sessions. New for 2018 is a field kitchen, set up in the kitchen garden with live cooking demonstration by Celebrity Chef, Rachel Green. Plenty of retail therapy including a luxury gifts hall and quality stands offering a plethora of garden furniture, sculpture, tools and horticultural hardware.
Sandringham House Flowers Show on the 25 July has incredible show gardens for inspiration as well as many other things to see and do, with plenty of exhibitors you can also buy the plants or anything else that you may need for your garden.
Fuller’s Mill Garden is a beautiful waterside garden in West Stow, Suffolk. The gardens themselves have a lot to look at with both dry planting and marshland. On 15 July, the gardens will be hosting the Suffolk Garden and Plant Show offering refreshments, a chance to buy plants and a chance to look around this hidden gem of a garden.
Marks Hall in Coggeshall has its annual Garden and Country Show from 21-22 July. This event has so much going on from gardening to classic cars, it’s a great family day out. It also gives you the opportunity to explore the gardens including the walled garden to woodland – this place has loads to see!
Hyde Hall in Chelmsford RHS Garden has a big flower show on the 1–5 August. With workshops, talks and nurseries there is plenty to see and do, as well as several refreshment stands. You can also take the chance to look at the stunning gardens.
