As well as raising money for charity they are passionate about the physical and mental health benefits of gardens too. Whilst their core beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute, they also support charities doing amazing work in gardens and health and grant bursaries to help community gardening projects.
Here are some of the beautiful private gardens that you can visit locally this year.
4 St Andrews Road
Bedford, Bedfordshire
Saturday 10th July 10am - 4pm
An elegant, multi-functional urban garden set within a semi-formal layout featuring clipped beech hedges softened by colourful shrubs and perennials and a rose pergola. Focal points have been created to be enjoyed from both within the garden as well from the house.
Adult: £3.50 Child: Free
Royal Oak Cottage
Kempston Rural, Bedford, Bedfordshire
Sunday 18th July 12pm - 5:30pm
¾ acre garden created on the land of an old beer house, with wildlife in mind. There are old orchard trees, herbaceous beds, a small oriental garden and a vegetable plot. A blue and white border surrounds an old renovated piggery building. Agapanthus and blue hydrangeas are a patio speciality. Shallow ponds support newts and other amphibians. The wildflower meadow is Austrian scythed in August.
Adult: £5.00 Child: Free
1a St Augustine's Road
Bedford, Bedfordshire
Saturday 7th August 12pm - 4:30pm
A colourful town garden with herbaceous borders, climbers, a greenhouse and pond. Planted in cottage garden style with traditional flowers, the borders overflow with late summer annuals and perennials including salvias and rudbeckia. The pretty terrace next to the house is lined with ferns and hostas. The owners also make home-made chutneys and preserves which can be purchased on the day.
Home-made teas.
Adult: £5.00 Child: Free
192 Kimbolton Road
Bedford, Bedfordshire
Saturday 11th September 2pm - 5pm
A third of an acre cottage garden specialising in many varieties of roses. There are also vegetable and soft fruit patches and an orchard. The garden includes over 90 roses.
Adult: £5.00 Child: Free
Howbury Hall Garden
Renhold, Bedford, Bedfordshire
Sunday 12th September 2pm - 5pm
A late Victorian garden designed with mature trees, sweeping lawns and herbaceous borders. The large walled garden is a working garden, where one half is dedicated to growing a large variety of vegetables whilst the other is run as a cut flower business. In the woodland area, walking towards the large pond, the outside of a disused ice house can be seen.
Adult: £5.00 Child: Free
Pre-booking to all open garden events is essential. For more information visit www.ngs.org.uk
