Hergest Croft Gardens
Description
From spring bulbs to autumn colour, this is a garden for all seasons. With over 60 champion trees and shrubs, Hergest Croft Gardens are recognised as "one of the best collections of woody plants held in private ownership". The Gardens hold the National Collections of Maples, Birches and Zelkovas but there are also a great variety of other rare and unusual trees. Park Wood is a sheltered valley with Rhododendrons over thirty feet tall. The Azalea Garden is a blaze of colour in May and June and contains the largest specimen of the Pocket Handkerchief tree in Britain.
The large old fashioned kitchen has a range of unusual vegetables. From March to May the Spring borders under ancient apples have a wonderful display of bulbs and primulas. The long double herbaceous borders are at their peak in July and August, and there is a good collection of old fashioned and modern roses. Recent plantings of autumn colouring trees and shrubs in the Maple Grove provide a spectacular end to the season.
Teas, and light lunches by award-winning Ridgeway Catering, specialise in local homemade food, are available in the old dining room. Rare and unusual plants can be found amongst the plants for sale, many grown from plants in the garden. There is a shop selling a wide range of gifts.
