Seasonal
Guide to Gardens and Nature Reserves in the Cotswolds
Lorna
Parker
Lorna Parker continues her series of articles looking at
what flowers and garden features are at their best in this season, with an A-Z
of where to find them. The precise month of flowering, given in brackets, will
often vary according to weather and location and many plants will remain in flower
for several weeks overlapping calendar months. We have also introduced information
on public gardens that are wholly or partially accessible to wheelchair users
but please do check with each garden to what extent. As for private gardens, please
contact owners directly to discuss your needs, and they will advise.
MAY
AND JUNE
Azaleas (May-June): Abbey House; Bowood
House & Garden; Lydney Park; Westonbirt Arboretum
Bluebells (mid
April-May): Ashcombe Wood; Batsford Arboretum; Betty Daw's Wood; Bowood House
and Garden; Chipping Croft; Chosen Hill; Coaley Peak; Cotswold Farm; Cranham Woods;
Dowdeswell Wood; Five Acre Grove; Forest of Dean; Hidcote Manor; Highnam Court;
Hodges Barn; Home Farm, Huntley; Kiftsgate Court; Kites Hill; Lineover Wood; Lydney
Park; Sezincote; Siccaridge Wood; Standish Wood; Sudeley Castle; Three Groves
Wood; Urn Cottage; Westonbirt Arboretum; Willow Lodge; Woodchester Park
Camellias
(March-May): Abbey House; Batsford Arboretum; Westonbirt Arboretum; Willow Lodge
Clematis (June-Sept): Abbey House; 25 Bowling Green Road; Chipping
Croft; East Leach House; Hidcote Manor; Hodges Barn; Lydney Park; The Old Chequer;
Rosemary Cottage; Sezincote; Snowshill Manor; Stone House; Sudeley Castle; Urn
Cottage; Willow Lodge
Flag Irises (June-Aug): All along disused
Thames & Severn Canal
Hardy Geraniums (June-July): Hidcote Manor;
Hunts Court; Kiftsgate Court; Rosemary Cottage
Irises (cultivated)
(May-June): Abbey House; Hidcote Manor; Rosemary Cottage; Tinpenny Farm
Laburnums
(late May-early June): Abbey House; Eastleach House; Hodges Barn; Lydney Park;
Mill Dene; The Old Barn; Sezincote; Westonbirt Arboretum; Willow Lodge
Lilacs
(May-June): Eastleach House; Hidcote Manor; The Old Barn; Sezincote; Sudeley Castle;
Westonbirt Arboretum; Willow Lodge
Lilies (June-July): Abbey House;
25 Bowling Green Road; Chipping Croft; Hidcote Manor; Highnam Court; Sezincote;
Sudeley Castle; Willow Lodge
Lily of the Valley (May-June): Siccaridge
Wood (GWT)
Magnolias (spring flowering) (Mar-May): Batsford Arboretum;
Chipping Croft; Cotswold Farm Garden; Eastleach House; Hidcote Manor; Highnam
Court; Hodges Barn; Kiftsgate Court; Lydney Park; Miserden Park; Sezincote; Upton
Wold; Westonbirt Arboretum; Willow Lodge
Orchids (wild) (June-July):
Clattinger Farm; Edge Common; Gwen & Vera's Fields (GWT Reserve); Beverston Castle;
Clarke's Pool Meadow SSSI; Cotswold Farm Garden; Elliott (Swift's Hill); Haresfield
Beacon; Minchinhampton & Rodborough Commons; Painswick Beacon; Snows Farm Nature
Reserve; Strawberry Banks; Willow Lodge; Common Spotted Orchid, Fragrant Orchid,
Pyramidal Orchid and others Peonies
(May-June): Abbey House; Chipping Croft; Conderton Manor; East Leach House; Hidcote
Manor; Kiftsgate Court; Rosemary Cottage; Sezincote; Sudeley Castle; Upton Wold;
Willow Lodge Primulas
(alpine primulas Mar-May; border primulas June-July): Hidcote Manor; The Old Corn
Mill; Sezincote; Willow Lodge Rhododendrons
(late flowering) (May-June): Abbey House; Bowood House & Garden; Lydney Park;
Westonbirt Arboretum; Willow Lodge Roses
(June-July): Abbey House; Bourton House; 25 Bowling Green Road; Cerney House;
Chipping Croft; Conderton Manor; Cotswold Farm; Eastleach House; Grange Farm;
Hidcote Manor; Highnam Court; Hodges Barn; Hunts Court; Hullasey House; Kelmscott
Manor; Kempsford Manor; Kiftsgate Court; Lacock Abbey; Mill Dene; Moor Wood; The
Old Barn; Pear Tree Cottage; Pound Hill House; Rodmarton Manor; Rosemary Cottage;
Stone House; Sudeley Castle; Tinpenny Farm; Upton Wold; Urn Cottage; Weston Mews;
Willow Lodge Snakeshead
Fritillaries (April-May): Lacock Abbey; North Meadow at Cricklade; Stone House;
Sudeley Castle Tulips
(late April-May): Abbey House; Conderton Manor; Cotswold Farm; East Leach House;
Hidcote Manor; Highnam Court; Hodges Barn; Hullasey House; Kiftsgate Court; Mill
Dene; The Old Chequer; The Old Corn Mill; Urn Cottage Waterlilies
(June-Sept): Chipping Croft; Cotswold Farm; East Leach House; Hidcote Manor; Highnam
Court; Rosemary Cottage; Trull House; Willow Lodge Wisterias
(May-June): Abbey House; Chipping Croft; Cotswold Farm; East Leach House; Hidcote
Manor; Highnam Court; Kiftsgate Court; Sezincote; Upton Wold; Urn Cottage; Willow
Lodge
SEASONAL FEATURES
Herbaceous
Borders: Abbey House; Bourton House; Ewen Manor; 25 Bowling Green Road; Cerney
House; Chipping Croft; Eastleach House; Frampton Court; Grange Farm; Hidcote Manor;
Highnam Court; Hodges Barn; Humphrey's End; Hunts Court; Kelmscott Manor; Kiftsgate
Court; Lammas Park; Mill Dene; Miserden Park; Moor Wood; The Old Chequer; Pear
Tree Cottage; Pigeon House; Pound Hill House; Rodmarton Manor; Rosemary Cottage;
Sezincote; Snowshill Manor; Stone House; Sudeley Castle; Trull House; Urn Cottage;
Stanway House; Tinpenny Farm; Upton Wold; Urn Cottage; The Vicarage; Weston Mews;
Willow Lodge
Spring Blossom (April-May): Batsford Arboretum;
Betty Daw's Wood; Chipping Croft; Conderton Manor; Cotswold Farm Garden; Grange
Farm; Gwen & Vera's Fields; Hidcote Manor; Highnam Court; Hodges Barn; Hullasey
House; Humphrey's End; Lydney Park; Mill Dene; Miserden Park; The Old Barn; Pear
Tree Cottage; The Old Chequer; Rodmarton Manor; Sezincote; Snowshill Manor; Stone
House; Upton Wold; Westonbirt Arboretum; Westbury Court; Willow Lodge
Waterside
Gardens: Abbey House; Batsford Arboretum; Chipping Croft; Colesbourne Park;
Cowley Manor; East Leach House; Grange Farm; Hidcote Manor; Highnam Court; Humphrey's
End; Lacock Abbey; Lydney Park; Mill Dene; Owlpen Manor; Pound Hill House; Sezincote;
Snowshill Manor; Stanway House; Stone House; Upton Wold; Westbury Court; Westonbirt
Arboretum; Willow Lodge
In many respects the waterside is at its best in
spring. Marginal plantings, now in flower, have the space to look showy whereas
later on growth becomes so lush as to be in danger of obscuring individual plants.
Most cultivated water gardens will contain primulas, hostas, lilies and irises
while wild flowers found beside ponds, canals and rivers include the marsh marigold,
flag irises, saxifrages and buttercups.
Wild Flowers
- Gardens: Batsford Arboretum; Colesbourne Park; Cotswold Farm Garden; Cowley
Manor; Dyrham Park; Eastleach House; Hidcote Manor; Hodges Barn; Home Farm, Huntley;
Hullasey House; Humphrey's End House; Lammas Park; Laycock Abbey; Miserden Park;
Newark Park; The Old Corn Mill; Painswick Rococo Garden; Rodmarton Manor; Rosemary
Cottage; Stone House; Sudeley Castle; Trull House; Upton Wold; Urn Cottage, Charfield;
Willow Lodge; Westonbirt Arboretum
Wild Flowers - Nature Reserves &
Commons: Nature Reserves & Commons: Ashcombe Wood; Clattinger Farm; Cleeve
Common; Daneway Banks; Edge Common; Elliott (Swift's Hill); Greystones Farm (&
Salmonsbury Meadows); Haresfield Beacon; Lineover Wood; Minchinhampton & Rodborough
Commons; North Meadow at Cricklade; Painswick Beacon; Prestbury Hill; Selsley
Common; Snows Farm; Strawberry Banks
Wild flowers awakening in early spring
in undisturbed meadowland, woodland and grassy banks start with snowdrops and
aconites, followed by wild daffodils and wood anemones, cowslips and oxslips,
celandines, primroses and, later, a haze of bluebells.
Woodland
Gardens: Abbey House; Batsford Arboretum; Colesbourne Park; Conderton Manor;
Cowley Manor; Ewen Manor; Highnam Court; Hodges Barn; Home Farm, Huntley; Lacock
Abbey; Lammas Park; Lydney Park; Newark Park; The Old Barn; The Old Corn Mill;
Painswick Rococo Garden; Willow Lodge; Westonbirt Arboretum
On the deciduous
woodland floor early in the year, snowdrops and aconites contrast with bare trees,
evergreens and greensward. Soon wood anemones, violets, primroses and carpets
of bluebells emerge while many spring flowering trees and shrubs display their
blossom and the tender greens and browns of opening leaves. GARDENS
(Open
to the public either on a regular basis or by appointment by telephone or letter
- all have an entrance charge)
Abbey House, Malmesbury (01666 822212)
Open daily March-Oct 11-6pm *UK's largest collection of roses 
Batsford
Arboretum, Moreton-in-Marsh (01386 701441). Open March-October, daily,
10-5pm; winter, weekends only, 10-4pm *Special collections of oaks, mountain
ash & white beams, magnolias, maples, bamboos, firs, pines, Japanese cherries
Bourton House
Garden, Bourton-on-the-Hill (01386 700754) Open on restricted days May-Oct,
10-5
Bowood House and Gardens, Derry Hill, Calne (01249 812102). Open
daily, mid April-mid June, 11-6pm or dusk
Cerney
House, North Cerney (01285 831300) Open Tues, Wed, Fri, Sun April-July 10-4pm
*National Collection of Tradescantia
Chipping
Croft, Tetbury (01666 503178) Private visits welcome by appointment
Colesbourne
Park, nr Cheltenham (01242 870264). Open on restricted days Feb-April 1-4.30pm
*Special collection of snowdrops, hellebores, daffodils
Conderton Manor,
Tewkesbury (01386 725389) Private visits welcome by appointment
Cotswold
Farm Garden, Duntisbourne Abbots, Cirencester (01285 821857). Private visits
welcome by appointment
Dyrham Park, Dyrham, nr Chippenham (0117 937
2501) (NT).
Open daily exc. Wed & Thurs, April-Oct 11-5pm
Eastleach
House, Eastleach Martin, Glos GL7 3NW. Private visits welcome by appointment
to be made by letter
Ewen Manor, Ewen, Cirencester (01285 770206) Open
Mon-Fri, May-Jul, 11-3.30
Grange
Farm, Evenlode, nr Moreton-in-Marsh (01608 650607) Open on restricted days
May-Jun
Private visits welcome by appointment
Hidcote Manor Manor Garden,
Chipping Campden (01386 438333) (NT). Open on Sat-Wed March-Oct 10.30-5pm
Highnam
Court, Highnam (01452 308251). Private visits welcome by appointment
Hillesley
House, Hillesley, nr Wotton-under-Edge (07971 854260) Open on restricted days
Jun-Aug, 2-6
Private visits welcome by appointment
Hodge's Barn,
Shipton Moyne, nr Tetbury (01666 880202). Private visits welcome by appointment
from April-10 Aug
Home Farm, Huntley (01452 830209) Private visits
welcome by appointment Feb-May, 2-5
Hullasey House, Tarlton (01285
770132) Open on restricted days May-Jun, 2-6 Private visits welcome by appointment
Humphrey's End House, Randwick (01453 765401). Private visits welcome
by appointment
Kelmscott Manor, Kelmscott, Lechlade (01367 253486)
Open Wed & some Sats, Apr-Sept, 11-1 & 2-5
Kempsford
Manor, Kempsford (01285 810131) Open most Wed & Sun Feb-Sept 2-5pm
Kiftsgate
Court, nr Chipping Campden (01386 4438777). Open on Wed, Thurs, Sun in April,
May, Aug, Sept; Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun in June-July 12-6pm
Lacock Abbey,
Chippenham (01249 730227) (NT) Open daily, March-Oct 11-5.30pm
Lammas
Park, Cuckoo Row, Minchinhampton (01453 886471). Private visits welcome by
appointment
Lydney Park, Lydney (01594 842027). Open on Sun & Wed,
mid-March-June 11-6pm
Mill Dene, School Lane, Blockley (01386 700457)
Open Tues-Fri, April-Oct, 10-5.30pm
Miserden Park, Miserden (01285
821303) Open on Tues, Wed, Thurs April-Sept 10-5pm
Moor
Wood, Woodmancote (01285 831397) Open for NGS on restricted days Jun-Jul,
2-6
Private visits welcome by appointment 20-30 June
*National Collection
of rambler roses
Newark Park, Ozleworth, Wotton-under-Edge (NT). Open
Wed & Thursday, April-Oct
The Old Barn, Upper Dowdeswell, Cheltenham
(01242 820858). Private visits welcome by appointment
The Old Chequer,
Draycott, Moreton-in-Marsh (01386 700647). Private visits welcome by appointment
in April and June
The Old Corn Mill, Aston Crews, nr Ross on Wye (01989
750059). Private visits welcome by appointment
Owlpen Manor, Uley,
Dursley (01453 860261) Open Tues-Sun & BH Mon, April-Oct 2-5pm
Painswick
Rococo Garden, Painswick (01452 813204). Open daily Jan-Oct 11-5pm
Pear
Tree Cottage, Gotherington, nr Cheltenham (01242 674592). Private visits welcome
by appointment
Pound Hill House, West Kington (01249 782781) Open daily
Mar-Sept 2-5pm and by appointment
Red
House, Staunton, nr Gloucester (01452 840505) Open on restricted days May-Jun,
2-6
Private visits welcome by appointment
Rodmarton Manor, Cirencester
(01285 841253) Open on Wed, Sat May-Aug; Mon, Wed, Sat Jun-Jul 2-5
Rosemary
Cottage, 8 Peter Street, Frocester, Stonehouse (01453 827607). Private visits
welcome by appointment
*National Collection of Rosmarinus officinalis -
best viewed in April
Sezincote, nr Moreton-in-Marsh (01386 700444)
Open on Thurs, Fri, BH Mon Jan-Nov
Snowshill
Manor, nr Broadway (01386 852410) (NT). Open Wed-Sun Mar-Oct 11-5.30pm Stone
House, Wyck, Rissington, Cheltenham (01451 810337). Private visits welcome by
appointment from April-end Sept
Stanway House, Winchcombe, Cheltenham
(01386 584469) Open Tues, Thurs & Sat, Jul-Sept, 2-5
Stone House, Wyck,
Rissington, Cheltenham (01451 810337)
Private visits welcome by appointment
from April to the end of September
Sudeley
Castle, Winchcombe (01242 602308) Open daily Mar-Oct 10.30-5.30pm
Tinpenny
Farm, Fiddington, Tewkesbury (01684 292668). Private visits welcome by appointment
Trull House, nr Tetbury (01285 841255) Open on Sat & Wed April-Aug 11-5pm
Upton Wold, nr Moreton-in-Marsh (01386 700667). Private visits welcome
by appointment. National collection of Juglans
Urn Cottage, Charfield,
nr Wotton under Edge (01453 843156). Private visits welcome by appointment
Westbury
Court Garden, Westbury-on-Severn (01452 760461) (NT). Open Wed-Sun, April-Oct
11-6pm
Westonbirt
Arboretum, nr Tetbury (01666 880220). Open daily all year, 10-8pm or dusk
*18,000 trees and 17 miles of walks to explore
*National Collections
of Salix and Acer (Japanese cvs)
Weston
Mews, Weston under Penyard, Ross-on-Wye (01989 563823) Private visits welcome
by appointment from late May to mid September
Willow Lodge Garden and
Arboretum, nr Longhope (01452 831211) Private visits welcome by appointment
NATURE RESERVES/COMMONS
Nature
Reserves/Commons mentioned in the above list (Unless otherwise stated, all are
open at all times - admission free)
Ashcombe Wood (WT) Swainswick
Betty Daw's Wood (GWT) 2 miles north east of Newent *Wild daffodils
and primroses
Chosen Hill (GWT) On south- & east-facing slopes of Churchdown
Hill
Clattinger Farm (WWT) Opposite entrance to Swillbrook Lakes Nature
Reserve, nr Minety
*Snake's head fritillaries in April
Cleeve Common NE
of Cheltenham
Coaley Peak (GWT) West-facing slope of Cotswold scarp
between Frocester and Nympsfield
Cranham Wood, East of Cranham
Daneway
Banks, SSSI (GWT) West of Sapperton Public footpaths and bridleways open at
all times - admission free Dowdeswell Wood (GWT) Northern slopes of Chelt
valley east of Charlton Kings
Edge Common (NT) South of Edge
Elliott
(Swifts Hill) SSSI (GWT) South east of Elcombe, Stroud
Five Acre Grove
(GWT) West of Stroud near Leonard Stanley. Open to GWT members at all times -
admission free
Forest of Dean
Greystones Farm (& Salmonsbury Meadows)
SSSI (GWT) East of Bourton-on-the-Water Footpaths & the Oxfordshire Way open at
all times - admission free
*Scheduled ancient monument and historic farm buildings
in Bourton-on-the-Water
Gwen & Vera's Fields (GWT) South of Greenaway's
Wood, north east of Newent View from entrance gates only
*Wild daffodils
Haresfield Beacon (NT) On top of Cotswold scarp south east of Haresfield
Iron
Mills Common (NT) Between Nailsworth and Minchinhampton
Kites Hill
Nature Reserve (World Land Trust) South of Prinknash Park
Lineover
Wood SSSI (WT) On Cotswold scarp above Charlton Kings
Minchinhampton
& Rodborough Commons (NT) West of Minchinhampton
Neu-Lindsey (GWT)
Adjoins western edge of Minchinhampton Common, south of St Chloe Open to GWT members
at all times - admission free
North Meadow at Cricklade (English Nature
Reserve)
*Holds 80% of British population of snakeshead fritiallaries
Painswick Beacon, On Painswick Hill north of Painswick
Prestbury Hill
Reserve (BC) NE of Cheltenham *Butterfly Conservation Site
Selsley
Common, South West of Selsley
Siccaridge Wood (GWT) In Frome Valley
west of Sapperton.
*Lily of the Valley
Snows Farm (GWT)
On valley side opposite Slad Village. Access by permit only from GWT (01452 383333)
Standish Wood (NT) West of Whitehill
Strawberry Banks (GWT)
Adjoins
Three
Groves Wood Three Groves Wood (GWT) North side of Frome Valley east of Chalford
Vell Mill Daffodil Meadow (GWT) Adjoins River Leadon, east of Dymock
*Wild daffodils
Wingmoor Farm Meadow (GWT) In Severn Vale, north of
Cheltenham Access by permit only from GWT (01452 383333)
GWT =
Gloucester Wildlife Trust (01452 383333)
NT = National Trust (0870 4584000)
WT
= Woodland Trust (01476 581135)
SSSI = Site of Special Scientific Interest
Partially or wholly accessible to wheelchair users. Please check with each garden
for more information. Lorna Parker is currently
writing a book on the gardens of the Cotswolds |
