The National Trust and National Trust for Scotland are much-loved institutions in the UK. With more than 300 properties and over 200 stunning gardens dotted across the UK, there is something for everyone. And spring time, when gardens are coming to life and the sun is making an appearance, is the perfect time to sample the best they have to offer! Don’t know where to start? Well, check out six of our favourites below:
Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire:
Crathes Castle is one of th
e most beautiful and exciting gardens in the country. With eight separ
ate sections highlighting a different season or style, as well as perfectly manicured hedgerows and trees, the garden is stunning all year round.
And for the more adventurous of you, there is also a Go Ape on site, allowing you to witness the majesty of the garden from the top of a tree!
For more information, visit http://www.nts.org.uk/Visit/Crathes-Castle/
Cotehele, Cornwall:
No garden encompasses the image of Cornwall quite like Cotehele. The 1300 acre estate features dense woodland, a water mill and manor house, a large garden and even a quay!
The gardens themselves are famous for some of the more unique features on display. Most notably, the giant ornamental hand bursting out of the soil, and doubling as a raised flower bed. But don’t let it be the sole attraction, the mother orchard, hand-cut flower garden and the manor house’s terraces are all impressive features in their own right.
For more information, visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele/features/a-garden-for-all-seasons-at-cotehele
Blickling Estate, Norfolk:
This working garden in Norwich has gardeners available to answer queries from the public, of
fering assistance and advice on different plants and flowers, as well as offering to help children plant seeds themselves – there is a real community spirit here!
You might think that this might leave the gardeners with little time to work on the estate. You’d be wrong. The garden is a masterpiece of horticulture, featuring unusual plants such as hellebores in a variety of colours, as well as more unusual varieties of honeysuckle.
As well as this, mysteries abound at Blickling. Try and find the two secret tunnels in the garden. We won’t say where they are!
For more information, visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling-estate/features/discover-the-gardens-at-blickling-estate
Quarry Bank, Cheshire:
While the garden at Quarry Bank is pretty spectacular, what makes the estate really special is the surrounding scenery. Backing onto the Wirral coastline, with dramatic cliffs and beaches in view, and with a small river flowing through the garden down to the sea, the scenery alone is enough to recommend the garden on.
However, this isn’t all the estate has to offer. The upper garden has recently been restored to become a working garden for the first time since Queen Victoria sat on the throne. As part of this, the giant glasshouse at the centre will be restored throughout the year until it meets, or even exceeds, its original glory.
For more information, visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank/features/exploring-the-gardens-at-quarry-bank
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
Although not the biggest garden on this list, at a modest 5.5 acres, this site packs a lot of character into a relatively small space.
Complete with ornamental topiary, a rose garden that rivals the best in the country, a large shrub garden and a series of ha-ha designed to keep the roaming wildlife from getting to the more delicate plants, the garden encourages exploration and the occasional game of hide and seek. The estate also features a woodland dotted with pathways that have been known to not only play host to humans and animals, but also some of the world’s fastest rally cars, so check the events schedule before visiting!
For more information, visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chirk-castle/features/relax-in-our-glorious-gardens
