Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life? A wander through one of the many National Open Gardens on Manchester’s doorstep should do the trick.
The National Open Garden Scheme opens up some of the country’s most beautiful gardens to the public, raising money for nursing and health charities through admission fees, and food and drink sales.
Check out some of our favourites that are just a short journey from the city centre.
A two-acre garden hidden in a secluded area of Arley Estate, The Old Parsonage is littered with ancient yew hedges and a variety of splendid greenery and blooms. There’s also a pond with gunnera and water plants making it the perfect spot for relaxation.
Located on the site of a demolished Victorian bleaching mill, a small group of volunteers have lovingly transformed the once-overgrown green space, which spans 12 acres and two lakes, into a welcoming landscape that still allows local wildlife to flourish.
World-renowned architect, Lord Foster, and acclaimed landscape designer, Dan Pearson (Best in Show winner at Chelsea Flower Show), have created a stunning space in partnership with the charity Maggie’s, which offers support to those living with cancer.
Within the garden sits a glass house and vegetable garden which are both used by people with cancer to chat together as they plant, weed and sow.
A 1.5 acre garden filled with rose borders, a vegetable area, greenhouse and a grass maze. There is also a network of connected pools that provide a home for both specimen Koi and terrapins, and a water garden complete with swimming pond.
An abundance of shrubbery and herbaceous beds create a wild array of colours and shades, offering the perfect peaceful retreat. There are several outhouses to explore, including the ‘Egg House’, and at the top of the garden you’ll find ‘Thomas’s Steps’ below the Bridgewater towpath, part of the Lymm Heritage trail.
Described as a ‘plant-lovers paradise’, a group of enticing gardens are spaced across the award-winning village and conservation area. There’s plenty to see here, including a sculpture gallery, which usually hosts demonstrations at 2pm, pond and plant nursery.
Visitors to Pear Tree Cottage can enjoy spectacular views of the West Pennine Moors and a wildlife pond that has become a haven for nesting birds. Elsewhere, the gardens are a hotbed for vegetable growing and a ‘secret garden’ provides guests with a tranquil green oasis.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Wed 10 May 2023
64 Carrs Wood in Hale Barns boasts two-thirds of an acre’s worth of landscaped garden overlooking the Bollin Valley. Guests can meander through a woodland walk or take a moment in one of the seating areas or terrace.