The world famous garden at Hidcote Manor, in Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds, is 100 years old this year. So to celebrate this anniversary, 2007 has been designated The Year of the Cotswold Garden. Special events are being organised in gardens throughout this picture postcard region of England. These cover everything from tours with the head gardener - to workshops on how to prune your roses. It’s not just grand gardens like Hidcote, that are on show: small privately owned gardens are also opening up over the summer, so you can meet the owners and find out their gardening secrets.
Here’s the pick of the bunch to visit this year.
Hidcote Manor Garden, Chipping Campden – Hidcote is owned by the National Trust, a sign of its importance to gardening history. It was created by Lawrence Johnston, when he went to live at the manor house with his widowed American mother in 1907. Johnston, who had fought in the Boer War, showed great imagination creating ‘rooms’ in the garden – areas separated by high yew and beech hedges, which today provide excellent cover for all sorts of small birds. Over the years he added lots of other features – his White Garden, filled only with white flowering plants, inspired Vita Sackville-West, who created another – more famous – version at Sissinghurst in Kent. Johnston also added plants discovered on his travels – including some from the slopes of Kilimanjaro. Go today and you can wander for hours just soaking up the atmosphere. There are clipped topiary hedges, lush herbaceous borders, an informal stream garden, a pool that’s so smooth it acts as a mirror, and even a wilderness area to encourage wild birds.
Kiftsgate Court Gardens, Chipping Campden – This lovely private garden is just a short distance from Hidcote. It’s been in the same family since the end of the First World War, and is the creation of three generations of women gardeners. It’s most famous for its huge Kiftsgate rose, the largest rose in England which scrambles 20 metres up through a tree. There are lots of informal beds and little walkways, as well as a few surprises. A steep, sheltered bank is filled with all sorts of exotic plants – even bananas. The current owners have also created a strikingly minimalist water garden from an old tennis court.
Stone House Garden, Wick Rissington – The tiny village alone is worth a look, and this garden is tucked away down a lane. The owner Katie Lukas, has created the garden from nothing, and she has lots of rare plants and spring bulbs so it’s a great garden to visit for plant lovers. Every so often you get lovely views across the rolling countryside, and the trees give great autumn colour.
Painswick Rococo Garden, Painswick – This unusual garden was created in the 18th century and most people come in the spring to see the stunning displays of snowdrops. But there’s something to see at all times of year – and fans of home grown veg will love the vegetable garden. They often use produce grown here in the tea room – you can try delicious cakes like chocolate and beetroot sponge.
A good place to stay while exploring these Cotswolds gardens is Mill Dene, in Blockly. It’s a B&B run by a former Chelsea flower show judge, and the garden is a showpiece in itself. It’s a steep sloped garden arranged around an old mill house, which still has its original water wheel. You won't be able to resist taking pictures.
There are plenty more gardens to explore, and you can buy special passes that give you a discount. Details on all the gardens in The Year of the Cotswold Garden from www.cotswolds.com. Get there by train from £18 from London Paddington - First Great Western.
