GARDENS OPENING TO THE PUBLIC AGAIN
SPRING is struggling a bit this year, what with a trace of snow earlier this week, but the good news is that there will soon be some lovely gardens to visit in our region as part of the National Garden Scheme.
As well as firm favourite Grafton Cottage in Barton under Needwood, there are also plots in Abbots Bromley, Rocester, Tatenhill, Rosiston, Swadlincote, Ashby and Repton to explore.
The garden of Peter and Margaret Hagreaves at Grafton Cottage has often been featured in the Burton Mail. The garden will be open on dates including Sunday, June 27, and Friday and Sunday, July 9 and 11, with pre-booking available on the NGS website.
Mr and Mrs Hargreaves have been lovingly crafting their garden for 45 years. With an imposing purple wisteria climbing the front wall of the house, surrounded by wallflower and mauve and purple pansies, it is easy to see why the house and its garden has become so popular.
Last year, during the first lockdown, Mrs Hargreaves told how the garden had cheered the couple up during dark times. People also stopped to take pictures of the garden during their permitted exercise. She said at the time: “Everyone has been stopping and taking pictures. They say it’s cheering them up when they come down the lanes and just see it.
“It’s the colour which attracts people and the perfume from the wisteria and wallflower. It really does smell nice, especially in the evenings.”
Other garden openings coming up: 58a Main Street, Rosliston, Sunday, June 27, 11:30am-5:30pm; Sunday, July 18, 11:30am - 5:30pm
■ Warwick Glen, Ashby, Saturday, July 4, 10am-4pm;
■ The Beeches, Rocester, Sunday, May 23, 1.30pm-5pm;
■ 22 Pinfold Close, Repton, Sunday, July 11, 11am to 5pm;
■ Wild Thyme Cottage, Barton under Needwood, Saturday, October 30, and Sunday, October 31, 11am-4pm;
■ 7 Main Street, Walton on Trent, Sunday, June 27, 11am-4pm;
■ 13 Westfield Road, Swadlincote, Sunday June 13, 1pm5pm;
■ Bluebell Arboretum and Nursery, Smisby, Wednesday, June 16, 9am-5pm;
■ Calke Abbey, Ticknall, Saturday, June 19, 10am5pm;
■ Bankcroft Farm, Tatenhill, Thursday, June 17, 1.30pm-4.30pm;
■ 10 Chestnut Way, Repton, Monday, May 31, 12pm-5pm;
■ Askew Cottage, Repton, Monday, May 31, 1.30pm-6pm;
■ Repton Allotments, Monday, May 31, 1pm-5pm;
■ 10 Abbots Rise, Abbots Bromley, Sunday, May 16, 11am to 5pm.
The National Garden Scheme raises millions of pounds for nursing and health charities. Visitors must comply with current Covid regulations. For more details, visit the NGS website.