September 5 – Round Lodge, 5 Court Mews, Jennett Tree Lane, Callow End, (WR2 4UA) 11am to 5pm (admission £3)
Country garden (quarter of an acre) within part of early Victorian walled garden. Two distinct areas divided by original kitchen garden wall. Coloured themed borders, original pond, island bed, lawns and terrace, through wall to small shade garden, orchard & kitchen garden. Delightful evocative garden with many old features.
September 5 – 24, Alexander Avenue, Droitwich (WR9 8NH) 2pm to 6pm (£3)
Beautifully designed garden giving a feeling of space and tranquillity with over 100 clematis varieties interlacing high hedges. Borders with rare plants and shrubs, sweeping curves of lawns and paths to a small woodland area with shade loving plants and drought free specimens in a south facing gravel front garden. Also alpine troughs. Listed as one of the great small gardens to visit in England in the Daily Telegraph in 2009)
September 11 – Marlbrook Gardens (Group garden), Marlbrook, Bromsgrove (B60 1DY) Evening opening with wine 6.30pm to 10pm (adm £6)
Three gardens, referred to as “unique” by the Daily Mail and included in a list of “50 great small gardens to visit” by the Daily Telegraph. Visit the gardens at the start of the evening and view them in the daylight and then go back in as dusk falls and see them with hundreds of lights to create a totally different atmosphere.
All three gardens are different: from “Sarancris” - a terraced garden built in an old sand quarry with many interesting features including a roof garden accessed by a spiral staircase, to “Round Hill Garden” - landscaped with four separate “rooms” and an impressive vegetable garden with raised beds, and “Oak Tree House” - a plantsman’s cottage garden on two levels, overflowing with mature plants, pots and interesting artefacts.
September 18 - Shuttifield Garden, Birchwood, Storridge (WR13 5HA) 1.30pm to 5.30pm (£3.50)
Shuttifield is a three acre plantsman’s garden, which features herbaceous borders, primula and stump bed, unusual trees, shrubs and perennials and colour themed for interest throughout the year. There are walks in an adjacent 20 acre wood for the more energetic, ponds, rhododendrons, azaleas and even a small deer park. There is also a lovely thatched gazebo where you can sit, admire the garden whilst enjoying a refreshing cup of tea and slice of cake.
October 8 - Croome Park, High Green (WR8 9DW) 10am to 4pm (garden only £3, children £1.50; house and garden £6 children £3.50. Concessions and NT members free)
This 700 acre garden designed by Capability Brown in the 18th century, with its restored shrubberies & flowering beds, ornamental lake and restored park land, is opening for the first time for the NGS. It is also open throughout the year as a National Trust property.
Children go free unless otherwise stated.
