FOUR secret gardens in Mid Cheshire will be opening their gates this summer allowing visitors to enjoy the flora and fauna of the season.
The National Garden Scheme gives unique access to more than 3,500 private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, raising money for nursing and health charities.
This year, visitors can enjoy four gardens in Mid Cheshire with venues in Knutsford, Aston by Budworth Oakmere as well as Oakmere and Norley.
Ten more green and colourful spaces will be welcoming people across Cheshire, if you want to travel a little further afield for a day out.
Around £70million has been raised over the years for Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute, with £3.4million being donated last year thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors.
Here are the four secret venues in Mid Cheshire open this summer followed by a list of the other Cheshire gardens that are also welcoming visitors:
Somerford
Somerford, 19 Leycester Road, Knutsford
Majestic trees surround this one-and-a-half-acre garden.
Hard landscaping and sculptures complement lush herbaceous and perennial borders.
Lawns are separated by a magnificent oak pergola.
Cube-headed hornbeams lead into the snail-trail walk and informal lawn and fernery.
Open days: Sunday, April 28 and Sunday, July 7
All Fours Farm
All Fours Farm, Colliers Lane, Aston by Budworth, Northwich
A traditional and well-established country garden with a wide range of roses, hardy shrubs, bulbs, perennials and annuals.
You will also find a small vegetable garden, pond and greenhouse as well as vintage machinery and original features from its days as a working farm.
The garden is adjacent to the family's traditional rose nursery.
Open days: Saturday, May 4, Sunday, May 5 and Monday, May 6, Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30
Stonyford Cottage
Stonyford Cottage, Stonyford Lane, Oakmere
Set around a tranquil pool, this Monet style landscape has a wealth of moisture loving plants, including iris and Candelabra primulas. Drier areas feature unusual perennials, rarer trees and shrubs. Woodland paths meander through shade and bog plantings, along boarded walks, across wild natural areas with views over the pool to the cottage gardens. Unusual plants available at the adjacent nursery.
Open day: Sunday, May 5
Norley Court
Norley Court, Marsh Lane, Norley
Norley Court is a large spring garden with rhododendrons, azaleas, pieris, a bluebell wood and embothyriums flowering against a backdrop of North Cheshire views. A variety of trees are planted along the banks, including cornus, a handkerchief tree, Judas trees, sorbus, an Arbutus unedo and others.
Open days: Sunday, May 12 and Sunday, May 26
This garden is open for appointment by arrangement from April 27 until June 23 for groups of between five and 12.
Tirley Garth Gardens
Tirley Garth Gardens, Mallows Way, Willington, Tarporley
This 40-acre garden is terraced and landscaped, designed by Thomas Mawson who is considered the leading exponent of garden design in early 20th century.
It is the only Grade II Arts & Crafts garden in Cheshire that remains complete and in excellent condition.
The gardens are an important example of an early 20th century garden laid out in both formal and informal styles.
By early May, the garden is bursting into flower with almost 3,000 rhododendron and azalea, many are 100 years old.
Open day: Sunday, May 12
Tiresford
Tiresford, Tarporley
Established 1930s garden undergoing a major restoration project to reinstate it to its former glory.
Fabulous views of both Beeston and Peckforton Castles offer a wonderful backdrop in which to relax and enjoy a delicious tea.
This year we hope to realise our long-term plan to recreate the kitchen garden and to repair the fountain amongst the new hot borders of the sunken garden.
Open day: Sunday, May 12
Hathaway
Hathaway, 1 Pool End Road, Tytherington, Macclesfield
South-west facing garden of approximately one fifth of an acre, laid out in two parts.
Lawn area surrounded by mature, colourful perennial borders and a rose arbour.
The small pond has now become a large one, located in the lawn, with goldfish and a larger patio.
Small mature wooded area with winding paths on a lower level.
Front laid to lawn with two main borders separated by a small grass area.
Open days: Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12
Bolesworth Castle
Bolesworth Castle, Tattenhall
The Rock Walk, which stretches for half a mile above Bolesworth Castle has stunning views across to the Welsh Hills and Liverpool.
It was originally planted up by Anthony Barbour in 1986.
Many new camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas and other spring plants have been added to the collection. New paths have been created and original stone features restored.
The walk will take you up the Bridge Walk before the climb up to The Rock Walk.
This is a strenuous walk (steep at times) and only suitable for keen walkers.
No children under 12 owing to steep drops down to the drive.
The walk then continues through the castle gardens and round the lake.
Open days: Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11 by pre booking only
10 Statham Avenue
10 Statham Avenue, Lymm
Beautifully structured quarter-acre south facing terraced garden rising to the Bridgewater towpath.
Hazel arch opens to clay paved courtyard with peach trees and kitchen herb bed.
Rose pillars lead to lush herbaceous beds and tranquil shaded areas, vibrant azaleas and rhododendrons in spring, peaceful, pastel shades in early summer and hydrangeas, fuchsias in late summer. Interesting garden buildings.
Open days: Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2, Wednesday, June 9, Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6
This garden also opens for appointment by arrangement from the end of April until August
Laskey Farm
Laskey Farm, Laskey Lane, Thelwall
One-and-a-half-acre garden including herbaceous and rose borders, vegetable area, a greenhouse, parterre and a maze showcasing grasses and prairie style planting. Interconnected pools for wildlife, specimen koi and terrapins form an unusual water garden which features a swimming pond.
There is a treehouse plus birds and animals.
Sunday, May 5 and Monday, May 6, Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27, Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21, Sunday, August 25 and Monday, August 26
This garden is open for appointment by arrangement between May and August for groups of between 20 and 50
Lane End Cottage Gardens
Lane End Cottage Gardens, Old Cherry Lane, Lymm
Formerly a nursery, this one-acre cottage garden is densely planted for year-round colour with many unusual plants.
Features include deep mixed borders, scented shrub roses, ponds, herb garden, walled orchard with trained fruit, shady woodland walk, sunny formal courtyard, vegetable garden and chickens.
Open days: Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12, Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11
Cholmondeley Castle Gardens, Cholmondeley, Malpas
Discover the romantic Temple and Folly Water Gardens, Glade, Arboretum, 100m long double herbaceous border walkway Lavinia Walk, ornamental woodland upon Tower Hill and the newly created Cholmondeley Rose Garden with 250 rose varieties.
Open day: Thursday, May 2
Hill Farm
Hill Farm, Mill Lane, Moston, Sandbach
The garden extends to approximately half an acre and is made up of a series of gardens including a formal courtyard with a pond and vegetable garden with south facing wall.
An orchard and wildflower meadow were established about six years ago.
A principal feature is a woodland garden which supports a rich variety of woodland plants. This was extended in April 2020 to including a pond and grass/herbaceous borders.
Open days: Sunday, April 21, Sunday, May 12 and Sunday, June 9
This garden is also open for appointments by arrangement until September
Highbank
Highbank, 110 Bradwell Road, Sandbach
Beautiful town garden, designed by Peter an RHS Gold Medalist, originally a builders’ yard of approximately one third of an acre.
The current owners of 37 years have planted trees, many unusual shrubs and perennials, some being allowed to naturalise, encouraging biodiversity, wildlife and nesting birds.
The garden is on different levels featuring lawns, a pond, water features, greenhouse and many seating areas.
Open days: Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12
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