Somerset Gardens

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The Walled Gardens of Cannington and Tea Rooms, Bridgwater

Tel. 01278 655 042

Located in the village of Cannington, Somerset, the Walled Gardens lie within the grounds of a medieval Priory and many of its fine buildings, including the walls of the garden, remain. Having undergone extensive redevelopment, the gardens were officially opened by HRH the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward in 2009 and have also been accredited as a ‘quality assured visitor attraction' by VisitEngland.

The gardens have classic and contemporary features such as the 'hot' herbaceous border; the blue garden; a sub-tropical walk; and a Victorian style fernery, amongst others. There is also a botanical glasshouse where arid, sub-tropical and tropical plants can be seen and two smaller gardens within the walls (The Bishop's and Australasian Gardens) are areas of real tranquility.

The gardens provide a superb facility for students at Bridgwater College Cannington Centre to gain essential hands-on experience working with a whole range of plant groups. The state-of-the-art botanical glasshouses have been built to accommodate plants from seven different climate zones, all supported by a computer-controlled environment system and resulting in a superb facility for work-based learning. Many of the plants on sale in the plant shop have been grown on-site at Cannington.

Church Street, Cannington, Bridgwater, Somerset. TA5 2HA. Tel. 01278 655 042

Prices Adults £3.50, Family Ticket (2 adults & 2 children) £6.00, Children (aged 5-16 yrs) £2.50, Children under 5 yrs FREE, Groups & coaches welcome with prior arrangement, Concessions (senior citizen, student wheelchair user) £2.50. A motorised wheelchair is available on a first come, first serve basis Groups (15+)(includes guided tour, hot drink and cake) £6.00

Open Winter (1 Nov - 28 March) Mon - Fri 10am - 4pm, Open 27 & 28 Nov for Christmas Craft Fair, Summer (27 March - 31 Oct) Daily 10am - 5pm, Closed 17 Dec - 3 Jan 2011.

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Fyne Court, Bridgwater

Tel. 01823 451 587

A real hidden Somerset gem. The former pleasure grounds of the partly demolished home of pioneer 19th-century electrician Andrew Crosse. Spend a magical time walking through the woodland garden and the delightful meadows on the wider estate, then play one of a variety of games on offer in the courtyard.

Broomfield, Bridgwater, Somerset. TA5 2EQ.

Prices Admission Free

Open 3 Jan - 23 Dec 2011 9 - 5 Mo Tu We Th Fr; 8 Jan - 18 Dec 2011 10 - 5 Sa Su.

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Gants Mill & Garden, Bruton

Tel. 01749 812 393

MILL & GARDEN VISITS Summer afternoons in the garden. Guided tour of historic watermill with miller Brian. Grinding barley, generating electricity. Alison's flower garden with running stream. Tea & cake in the fuchsia conservatory. Riverside amble to the top weir. Plants & garden sculptures for sale.

Gants Mill & Garden, Bruton, Somerset. BA10 0DB. Tel. 01749 812 393

Prices You only pay for your first visit of the year; then keep re-using your ticket. £6 Basic entrance fee (the garden and riverside walk), plus guided tour of the mill. £4 Basic entrance fee (garden and walk). £1 School-age children: garden, mill tour and riverside walk. Younger children free. No concessions. Groups of 20+, making one group payment: £7.50 incl. garden, mill tour, tea & cake.

Open We are open on second Sundays from 2pm to 5pm from May to September. In 2011 this is May 8, June 19, July 10, August 14 and September 11. Mill tours are about every half hour, with the last one at about 4pm..

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The Chalice Well, Glastonbury

Tel. 01458 831 154

Chalice Well is one of Britain’s most ancient wells, nestling in the Vale of Avalon between the famous Glastonbury Tor and Chalice Hill. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and orchards it is a living sanctuary in which the visitor can experience the quiet healing of this sacred place. For over two thousand years this has been a place where people have gathered to drink the waters and find solace, peace and inspiration.

The Chalice Well is among the best known and most loved holy wells in Britain. Many legends are attributed to its chalybeate waters, which flow ceaselessly at a steady rate and temperature that never varies. Not least among these is that they represent the blood of Christ miraculously springing forth from the ground when Joseph of Arimathea buried or washed the cup used at the Last Supper. For others the waters are acknowledged as the essence of life, the gift from Mother Earth to sustain its living forms and so a continuous spring like Chalice Well is a direct expression of an unbounded life force.

Prices Standard Admission (Gift Aid Admission): Adult - £3.60 (£4.00); Senior - £3.00 (£3.30); Child (5 - 17) - £1.80 (£2.00)

Open Open 365 days a year April 1st - October 31st 10:00 am to 6:00 pm * November 1st - March 31st 10:00 am to 4:30 pm * * Last admission is 30 minutes prior to above closing times..

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Greencombe Gardens, Porlock

Tel. 01643 862 363

Greencombe is a post-war garden, having been started in 1946 by Horace Stroud. It is a strip of 3.5 acres on the edge of ancient woodland. The light comes from the north, with a sweep of sky down to the Bristol Channel. To the south rise wooded slopes, that tumble between high Exmoor and the sea. The name comes from the combe (or valley) behind, which is the only one in this arc of hills with a sward of grass but no water. Since September 1966 it has been in the care and custody of Joan Loraine whose dedication to the garden has produced what you see today. Although most of these wonderful plants have been deliberately planted in their present positions, the garden gives you the impression that it occurred naturally and that the paths wander around the plants that already existed, so natural is the layout. For at least the last 37 years Greencombe has been an organic garden using between 25 and 30 tons of home produced compost and leaf-mould each year. The gardens contain four national plant collections: Erythronium (small mountain lilies); Polystichum (the thumbs-up fern); Vaccinium (Wortleberries world-wide) and Gaultheria (berries for bears).

Prices Admission: Adults - £6.00; Over 60s - £5.00; Under 16s - £1.00

Open The gardens are open to the public from the first Saturday in April to the last Sunday in July on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. (Closed Thursday and Friday) between 2.00pm to 6.00pm..

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Lytes Cary Manor, Somerton

Tel. 01458 224 471

This intimate manor house was the former home of medieval herbalist Henry Lyte; here visitors can learn about his famous 16th-century plant directory, Lytes Herbal. The manor spans many years with its 14th-century chapel and 15th-century Great Hall. In the 20th century it was rescued from dereliction by Sir Walter Jenner. Its Arts and Crafts-style garden is a combination of outdoor rooms, topiary, statues and herbaceous borders. Explore the walks through the wider estate and riverside and discover many features typical of farmed lowland England, including ancient hedges, rare arable weeds and farmland birds.

Charlton Mackrell, Somerton, Somerset. TA11 7HU. Tel. 01458 224471

Prices Gift Aid Admission (Standard Admission prices in brackets) House and garden: adult £8.10 (£7.30), child £4.10 (£3.70), family £20.30 (£18.30). Garden only: adult £5.75 (£5.20), child £2.95 (£2.65)

Open House, garden, shop and catering 12 Mar - 30 Oct 11 11 - 5 Every day except Thursday. Estate walks Open all year Dawn till dusk Every Day..

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East Lambrook Manor, South Petherton

Tel. 01460 240 328

One of the best-loved privately owned gardens in England created by the late Margery Fish, celebrated plantswoman and gardening writer. Her natural gift for combining old-fashioned and contemporary plants in a relaxed and informal manner has created a garden of immense beauty and charm. The Grade 1 listed garden is renowned as the premier example of the English cottage garden style and is noted for its specialist collections of snowdrops, hellebores and hardy geraniums.

Visitors can continue to enjoy the gardens while also visiting the famous ‘Margery Fish Plant Nursery’, which remains a place of pilgrimage for keen plant buyers. A specially designed display bed showcases an extensive collection of hardy geraniums in summer or snowdrops in February.

In the centre of the gardens, the 17th century Malthouse houses a cafe serving tea, coffee, local Burrow Hill apple juice and a selection of Aunt Sally’s excellent locally made cakes. The Malthouse is home to the Malthouse Gallery. Exhibitions of paintings, usually by local West Country artists, take place at peak times of the year and paintings and cards can be purchased.

East Lambrook Manor Gardens, South Petherton, Somerset. TA13 5HH.

Prices Adults: £5.50, Senior Citizens: £5.00 Pre-booked groups of 10 or more: £4.80 Children under 16: Free entry

Open Open 10am to 5pm. March and April Open Tuesdays to Saturdays and Easter Bank Holiday Monday. Closed Sundays and all other Mondays. May, June and July Open every day. NGS open days on Saturday 14th May and Sunday 10th July. August, September and October Open Tuesdays to Saturdays and August Bank Holiday Monday. Closed Sundays and all other Mondays.

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Hestercombe Gardens, Taunton

Tel. 01823 413 923

Hestercombe is a unique collection of three gardens spanning three centuries of garden history and design. All have undergone acclaimed restoration works and today provide important examples of gardens in contrasting styles that continue to grow and develop. Hestercombe offers a great destination for an exciting short stop or a wonderful leisurely day out. Walk the gardens, visit the Coffee Shop and Stables Restaurant to enjoy delicious refreshments - or browse in our beautiful Gardens Shop which is filled with interesting and unusual gifts, books and a well stocked plant centre. Entry to these areas is FREE. The Children's Playground, situated adjacent to our sunny comfortable picnic area, offers a safe haven for the little ones - aged up to 7 - with easy access to all facilities. Entry to the playground and picnic area is FREE. And don't forget to visit our Bat Roost with its hi tech viewing room! - DOGS WELCOME on a short lead.

Hestercombe House, Hestercombe, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset. TA2 8LG. Tel. 01823 413923

Prices Adults £8.90* Senior Citizens £8.30 * Half price / reciprocal adults £4.45 * Half price / reciprocal Senior Citizens £4.15 * Children £3.30*, Students £4.75* Wheelchair users £4.40* (helper is FREE) FREE entry to the Courtyard: Stables Restaurand and Coffee Shop, Lutyens Art Gallery, Gardens Shop and Plant Centre Ample FREE parking - DOGS WELCOME. Family Super Saver - £22 (2 adults and up to 4 children) - SAVE up to £9

Open Gardens: open daily all year (except Christmas Day) 10a.m.- 6p.m. (last admissions 5p.m.) Gardens Shop & Plant Centre: daily 10a.m. to 5.30p.m. (5p.m. Oct-Mar) The Courtyard comprising the Coffee Shop and Stables Restaurant: daily 10a.m. - 5.30p.m. (5p.m. Oct - Mar).

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Cothay Manor Gardens, Wellington

Tel. 01823 672 283

Cothay Manor, a 15th century medieval manor, is open by appointment for group visits. One of Somerset’s finest historic houses, Cothay is surrounded by twelve acres of magically romantic gardens that are open to the general public Tue, Wed, Thur, Sun and B/Hols, 11am - last entry 4.30pm.

Cothay Manor, Greenham, Wellington, Somerset. TA21 0JR.

Prices Prices: £7.00 per Adult, Children under 12yrs: £3.00.

Open The gardens will be open to the general public from 1st Sunday in April until end of September: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays: Opening times: 11am - last entry 4.30pm..

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Tintinhull Garden, Yeovil

Tel. 01935 823289

Created last century around an attractive 17th-century manor house (available as a holiday let), which has two ground-floor rooms open to visitors, the garden is one of the most harmonious small gardens in Britain. It features secluded lawns, pools and colourful borders. There is also an attractive kitchen garden (the produce is used in the kitchens at nearby Montacute House), woodland walk and orchard to explore. In the courtyard is a fascinating exhibition completed by the Tintinhull Historical Society. Even the car park is set among picturesque orchards where sheep graze contentedly.

Summer family activities. Pick up an explorer sheet from the exhibition and explore the beautiful villlage of Tintinhull.

Tintinhull Garden Farm St, Tintinhull, Somerset. BA22 8PZ

Prices Gift Aid Admission: (Standard Admission prices in brackets) Garden: adult £6.20 (£5.55), child £3.05 (£2.75), family £15.45 (£13.85)

Open Open Wednesdays to Sundays from 12 March 2011 - 30 October 2011 from 11am - 5pm.

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