PRESS RELEASE
THE NATIONAL GARDENS SCHEME
RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY – IT’S A NGS OPEN GARDEN DAY!
NGS SPRING GARDENS
Eager garden enthusiasts arrived with anticipation to visit the new Norfolk National Gardens Scheme garden, Sly’s Farm, North Creake last Sunday. Some visitors even appeared half an hour before the scheduled time to open. More than two hundred adults and some children enjoyed the fascinating one acre garden, bursting with spring colour. Clever underplanting with forget-me-nots, the grass Bowles Gold and narcissi Pippit provided continuity as the grass paths led to hidden areas, revealing a great diversity of plants throughout the garden.
Homemade teas were served were served from the conservatory and visitors were able to enjoy them on the terrace or in the garden room when the rain arrived.
Croft House, Dersingham, which is only open once, experienced good visitor numbers with the sunshine.
There is another opportunity to enjoy this unique walled garden at Sly’s Farm on Sunday 11th May from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Since 1927 the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) www.ngs.org.uk have raised over £40 million (£22 million in the last 10 years) funding charities to help people who are ill or under stress. Last year Norfolk raised nearly sixty thousand pounds.
Fifteen new gardens open for the NGS this year, with six this spring to support the worthwhile causes of the charities. This includes Fairhaven Woodland and Water garden, South Walsham on May 30th. They are open in the evening with music and a hog roast.
Louise Rout of Fairhaven said” I am delighted that the Fairhaven Trust has been accepted as part of the Norfolk NGS. It is wonderful time of year to enjoy the garden in spring with the lengthening of the extra daylight hours. Like all the garden owners as much attention is placed to the finest detail in the garden as if exhibiting at one of the forthcoming garden shows. The judging is the seal of approval from the visitor when they leave. However the one element that is out of our control is the typical “British weather” the wind, rain and even unexpected snow that may appear”.
County organiser Anthea Foster said “We are really proud to have so many new gardens of such as high standard this year. There are already more new gardens that will be supporting the scheme in 2009. New garden owners are always welcome especially in South Norfolk and the Breckland area. We also appreciate the gardens that have continued their support over the years.
Mrs Adel MacNicol of Stody Lodge was recently presented with a trowel for opening for ten years for the NGS by Alan Gray Ambassador of the National Gardens Scheme at Sly’s Farm with gardener owner Mrs Prudence Finch.
Please continue your support and visit one or a few of the new NGS gardens this summer. Discover for yourself the outstanding quality, unique character and history, along with an opportunity to meet the owners of the gardens that belong to the National Gardens Scheme in Norfolk. Many of the visitors return year after year to watch how the gardens mature. To complete the visit enjoy the home made refreshments and cakes. Pick up a plant complete with planting tips from the garden owner to help design your garden to a NGS standard”
For more information about opening your garden or advertising in the NGS leaflet contact County Organiser, Fiona Black on 01692 650247 To find out more about Norfolk open gardens visit www.norfolkgardens.org or visit your local tourist information centre for a leaflet
Sunday, 4th May 2008
· NEW Grasmere, 57 Ullswater Avenue, South Wootton PE30 3NJ. 11 - 5
· Devils End, Church Lane, Haddiscoe, NR14 6PB. 12 - 6
· Mannington Hall, nr Saxthorpe/Corpusty NR11 7BB 12 - 5
· Stody Lodge, Melton Constable NR24 2ER 2 – 5
Monday, 5th May 2008
· NEW Grasmere, 57 Ullswater Avenue, South Wootton PE30 3NJ. 11 - 5
· Hill Cottage, School Road, Edingthorpe NR28 9SY 11 - 5
· Witton Hall, nr North Walsham NR28 9UF 11 – 5
Wednesday, 7th May 2008
· Hoveton Hall Gardens, nr Wroxham NR12 8RJ 10.30 – 5
Sunday, 11th May 2008
· Plovers Hill, Buckenham Road, Strumpshaw NR13 4NL. 11 -5
· The Plantation Garden, 4 Earlham Road, Norwich NR4 7NH 2 -5
· Rivermount, Hall Lane, Knapton NR28 9SW 2 - 5
· NEW Sly's Farm, NR21 9JQ 11 – 4
Sunday, 18th May 2008
· How Hill Farm, Ludham NR29 5PG 1 - 5
· Lexham Hall, nr Litcham PE32 2QJ 11 - 5
· Stody Lodge, Melton Constable NR24 2ER 2 – 5
Saturday, 24th May 2008
· Woodlands Farm, Stokesby, Gt Yarmouth NR29 3DX 11 – 5
Sunday, 25th May 2008
· NEW Derwen, Whissonsett Road, Colkirk NR21 7NL. 11 - 4
· NEW Sol, Whissonsett Road, Colkirk NR21 7NJ. 11 - 4
· NEW East Lode, Nursery Lane, Hockwold-cum-Wilton IP26 4ND. 11 - 5
· Sheringham Park, Upper Sheringham NR26 8TL Dawn to dusk
· Stody Lodge, Melton Constable NR24 2ER 2 - 5
· Woodlands Farm, Stokesby, Gt Yarmouth NR29 3DX 11 – 5
Monday, 26th May 2008
· Chestnut Farm, West Beckham NR25 6NX 11 - 5
· NEW Derwen, Whissonsett Road, Colkirk NR21 7NL. 11 - 4
· NEW Sol, Whissonsett Road, Colkirk NR21 7NJ. 11 - 4
· Raveningham Hall, Raveningham NR14 6NS 2 - 5
· The Old Cottage, Colby Corner, nr Aylsham NR11 7EB 2 - 6
· Stody Lodge, Melton Constable NR24 2ER 2 – 5
Friday, 30th May 2008
· NEW Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden, South Walsham NR13 6DZ.
Evening Opening: 6 – 9
Notes:
The NGS support national, nursing, caring and gardening charities with a proportion of some openings going to other charities nominated by the garden owner. Major beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Queen's Nursing Institute, National Trust Horticultural Bursaries, Perennial - The Royal Fund for Gardeners' Children, Crossroads and Help the Hospices
Garden images can be supplied on request.
For press information contact Annette Bowler
Tel: 01603 301110 Mobile: 07979980623
E mail: annette.bowler@ntlworld.com
www.norfolkgardens.org
www.ngs.org.uk