The National Open Garden Scheme returns once again, offering you the chance to visit wonderful gardens of all shapes and sizes throughout the county.
The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to over 3,600 exceptional private gardens in England and Wales, and raises impressive amounts of money for nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake. Here are a few lined up this summer for Wiltshire, but there are plenty more to discover on the NGS website.
Knoyle Place - 14 May 2022
Holloway, East Knoyle, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6AF
Very beautiful and elegant garden created over 60 years by previous and current owners. Above the house there are several acres of mature rhododendron and magnolia woodland planting. Among the many different areas in this 9 acre garden is a box parterre, rose garden, vegetable garden and, around the house, a recently planted formal garden designed by Dan Combes.
Twigs Community Garden - 22 May, 17 July 2022
Manor Garden Centre, Cheney Manor, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 2QJ
Delightful 2 acre community garden, created and maintained by volunteers. Features inc 7 individual display gardens, ornamental pond, plant nursery, Iron Age round house, artwork, fitness trail, separate kitchen garden site, Swindon beekeepers and the haven, overflowing with wildflowers.
Fovant House - 4 June 2022
Church Lane, Fovant, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 5LA
Tidworth Road, Boscombe, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0AB
Cadenham Manor - 9 June 2022
Foxham, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 4NH
This glorious 4 acre garden surrounds a listed C17 manor house and C16 dovecote. Divided by yew hedges and moats, its many rooms are furnished with specimen trees and fountains and statues to focus the eye. Known for its stunning displays of old roses, it also has bold swathes of spring bulbs, wisteria, bearded iris, a water garden in the old canal, plus extensive vegetable and herb gardens.
Salthrop House - Sophie Conran - 10 - 11 June 2022
Basset Down, Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN4 9QP
Salthrop House is a manor house garden set on the edge of the Marlborough Downs. A tremendous variety of perennials, shrubs, borders and pots unfurl themselves across this romantic garden and surround the sweeping lawn. You can wind your way through the woodland paths, enjoy a moment of peace by the pond or visit the new greenhouse and kitchen garden.
West Lavington Manor - 11 June 2022
1 Church Street, West Lavington, Wiltshire, SN10 4LA
5 acre walled garden first established in C17 by John Danvers who brought Italianate gardens to the UK. Herbaceous border, Japanese garden, rose garden, orchard and arboretum with some outstanding specimen trees all centred around a trout stream and duck pond. Children's activities. Picnics welcome.
Idover House - 19 June 2022
Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 4HW
Large mature country house garden with glorious lawns and mature trees and hedges inc 2 lofty wellingtonias. Formal symmetrical rose garden in pink and white, old fashioned borders, duck ponds, kitchen garden and wood sculptures.
The Old Mill - 15 July 2022
Reybridge, Lacock, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2PF
The Old Mill dates back to Doomsday and is surrounded by the River Avon. It lies in a very tranquil, picturesque setting, in the heart of beautiful Wiltshire countryside in the hamlet of Reybridge, which is within the parish of the NT village of Lacock. There are lots of areas to wander or to sit and relax, taking in and enjoying the wildlife all around you.
Horatio's Garden - 17 July 2022
Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre, Salisbury Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Odstock Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 8BJ
Award winning hospital garden, opened in Sept 2012 and designed by Cleve West for patients with spinal cord injury at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre. Built from donations given in memory of Horatio Chapple who was a volunteer at the centre in his school holidays. Low limestone walls, which represent the form of the spine, divide densely planted herbaceous beds. Everything in the garden designed to benefit patients during their long stays in hospital. Garden is run by a Head Gardener and team of volunteers.
Corsley House - 7 August 2022
Corsley, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7QH
A garden full of surprises to reflect the eclectic nature of a Georgian home with a secret Jacobean facade. A unique sculpted wave lawn and a truly exceptional walled garden. Many well preserved ancient outbuildings such as a potting and apple storage shed and a granary built on staddle stones. All gloriously overlooking the NT’s Cley Hill.
Pythouse Kitchen Garden - 8 September
West Hatch, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6PA
3 acres of walled working kitchen garden, in continuous use since C18, and managed with biodiversity in mind, with fruit-lined walls and gnarled apple trees leading to a glamping orchard (beehives beyond) via rosa rugosa-edged beds of soft fruit, vegetable and cutting garden. A restaurant and shop now occupy the old potting shed, with ancient kiwi and mulberry trees, as well as the deliciously scented 1920s HT rose, Mrs Oakley Fisher growing by the garden entrance.
Beggars Knoll Chinese Garden - Visit by arrangement
Newtown, Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13 3ED
New for this year, a tranquil Islamic-style tiled garden influenced by NW China. Remaining garden rooms are Chinese-style, separated by elaborate gateways inc moongate, with mosaic paths winding past pavilions, ponds and many rare Chinese trees, shrubs and flowers. Potager full of flowers and vegetables with chickens. Spectacular views to the Mendips. Map and garden tours by owners inc in ticket.
For more information and the full list of open gardens head to https://ngs.org.uk/
Check out our Welcome to Wiltshire guide with things to do, charity updates and more