Enjoy our finest gardens at their virtual best...
THE country’s top gardens are currently closed to visitors due to lockdown restrictions, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy what’s going on behind their gates. Many owners have been busy filming so garden-lovers can enjoy a virtual tour from the comfort of their homes. Here’s a few of the best.
ARUNDEL CASTLE GARDENS
A formidable Norman castle looms over 40 acres of landscaped grounds with a fabulous walled garden set in the shadows of the West Sussex market town’s 19th Century Gothic Revival cathedral. In spring, the garden usually attracts large numbers to its tulip festival, with more than 80,000 bulbs blooming this year. Log on to enjoy the spectacle with regular updated video footage. tulipfestival.co.uk
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY BOTANIC GARDEN
Based in the heart of this bustling city, the 40-acre garden contains an enviable collection of plants. Each week, head of horticulture Sally Petitt films a walk around the garden while pointing out some of its seasonal highlights. botanic.cam.ac.uk
EXBURY GARDENS
Thousands usually make the journey to this Hampshire woodland garden in spring to marvel at its collection of rhododendrons and azaleas. In order to make sure fans get their fill of the 200-acre landscape, staff regularly post videos on its Twitter, Facebook and Instagram feeds. Don’t miss the drone footage of the garden’s famous azalea bowl, where evergreen varieties with pink, white and red flowers rub shoulders. exbury.co.uk
NATIONAL GARDENS SCHEME
Famed for its Yellow Book directory of 3,700 private gardens open for the charity across England and Wales, the National Gardens
Scheme is currently closed for the first time in its 93-year history. Undeterred, scores of owners have filmed tours of their gardens that can found on the charity’s website. ngs.org.uk
THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW
A virtual Chelsea Flower Show is set to run from May 18 to 23, the dates the actual event was due to take place. Each day, a leading garden designer will give a tour of their own private garden, while those logging on can go behind the scenes at nurseries and vote for their Chelsea plant of the decade. rhs.org.uk
SCOTLAND’S GARDENS SCHEME
More than 500 private gardens usually open to raise money for charity. During lockdown, organisers have invited garden owners to submit virtual tours of their plots for sharing on its website. Among them are Shepherd House in East Lothian and Parkvilla, a Victorian garden in Aberdeenshire. scotlandsgardens.org
SHOW OFF YOUR OWN GARDEN
Today has been designated Garden Day by gardening app Candide, which is encouraging users to come together virtually and celebrate their gardens. It wants folk to post videos or live-stream their garden on social media, or to simply post a selfie with their favourite pot plant using #GardenDayUK. gardenday.co.uk