10 best spring gardens

Founded in 1927 to raise money for the Queen’s Nursing Institute, The National Gardens Scheme was launched to encourage owners of private gardens to open to the public for ‘one shilling a head’.

In the first year of operations, they raised £8,000 and by 1931, more than 1,000 gardens had joined the scheme.
In the same year, the now famous guide to the gardens, The Yellow Book – named after its startling bright cover – waspublished. This year marks the 85th anniversary of the NGS and to celebrate this milestone, 100 of the gardens that opened in 1927 will be reopening again.

Barnsdale Gardens

There are now more than 3,700 gardens involved in the scheme, which means that horticultural fanatics could be visiting up to 10 a day, raising money for charities ranging from Macmillan Cancer Support to Help The Hospices (the NGS raised over £2.6m for charity last year). So if you want to make the most of Britain’s magnificent spring gardens, turn the page for some of The Yellow Book’s best.

1. Aldsworth House Emsworth Common Road, Aldsworth, West Sussex PO10 8QT.

Sheets of crocus, daffodils and fritillaries under a 200-year-old plane tree. The six acres contain a walled and gravel garden, numerous borders and two miniarboretums. Specialities are hellebores, peonies, roses, epimediums, hostas, magnolias, clematis and very old fruit trees.
Open: Sunday 11, Tuesday 13 March; 27, 29 May (11am to 5pm).

2. Barnsdale Gardens The Avenue, Exton, Oakham, Leicestershire & Rutland LE15 8AH: 01572-813200, www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk

Consisting of 38 individual gardens and features, the Barnsdale television garden has a wealth of ideas.
Open: For NGS: Sundays 4 March, 21 October (9am to 5pm).

3. Capel Manor Gardens Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield EN1 4RQ: 0845-612 2122, www.capelmanorgardens.co.uk

A beautiful 30-acre estate providing a colourful and scented oasis surrounding a Georgian manor house and Victorian stables. Also, family events and activities.
Open: For NGS: Saturdays, Sundays 10, 11 March; 20, 21 October (10am to 5.30pm).

Capel Manor Gardens

4. Hestercombe Gardens Cheddon Fitzpaine, Somerset, Bristol & South Gloucestershire TA2 8L: 01823-413923, www.hestercombe.com

Georgian landscape garden designed by Coplestone Warre Bampfylde. Victorian terrace/shrubbery and stunning Edwardian Lutyens/Jekyll formal gardens make up 40 acres of woodland walks, temples, terraces, pergolas, lakes and cascades. Open: For NGS: Tuesday 6 March; 12 June (10am to 5.30pm).

5. Home Farm Newent Lane, Huntley, Gloucestershire GL19 3HQ: 01452-830210

Set in an elevated position with exceptional views. Walk through woods and fields amid spring flowers. Enclosed garden with fern border and heather bed. White and mixed shrub borders. Wear stout shoes in winter.
Open: Sundays 11 March; 15, 29 April (2pm to 5pm); Sundays 27 January, 10 February 2013. Visitors also by appointment.

6. Pembury House Ditchling Road (New Road), Clayton, nr Hassocks, West Sussex BN6 9PH: 01273-842805,
www.pemburyhouse.co.uk

Winter-flowering shrubs, hellebores and drifts of snowdrops. Special Hellebore Day on 9 March. Winding paths give a choice of walks through the garden, which is in the South Downs National Park.
Open: Friday 9 March, Special Hellebore Day (11am to 4pm).

7. Scotney Castle Lamberhurst, Kent TN3 8JN: 01892-893820, www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Scotney Castle’s garden has seen many changes since the 1920s when it first opened as part of the NGS open days. It has been a survivor – from bombs in the Second World War to the great storm of 1987, which brought down more than 90 substantial trees. March is all about atmosphere, with low mists across the moat and the first signs of spring to come. Over 20 acres of garden to explore.
Open: for NGS: Thursday 8 March (11am to 4.30pm).

Scotney Castle

8. Sherwood Newton St Cyres, Exeter, Devon EX5 5BT

National Collections of magnolias, Knaphill azaleas and berberis; 15 acres and two steep wooded valleys with wild flowers, spring bulbs. Extensive collections of magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, berberis, heathers, maples, cotoneasters, buddleias and hydrangeas. Open: Sundays 11 March, 8 April, 13 May, 14 October, 11 November (11am to 5pm).

9. The Georgian Garden 100 The Struet, Brecon, Powys LD3 7LS

This garden belongs to a County House, which for 200 years was home to the Assize Court judges when they visited
Brecon. A well-stocked, ancient walled garden with plenty of pretty seating areas. The River Honddu, which has SSSI status, runs along the bottom of the garden.
Open: every Wednesday 7 March to 31 October (11am to 4pm).

10.  The Old Vicarage East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BA

A Dorset Wildlife Trust Wonder Garden of 1.7 acres, with wildlife ponds. All-season colour with spring bulbs, bluebells, roses and herbaceous borders.
Open: Sunday 11 March (1pm to 4pm); Wednesday 18 April, Sunday 30 September
(2pm to 5pm).