Latest news with #NationalGardenScheme
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Spoilt for choice with six brand new gardens to visit
A good few Christmases ago now, my mum bought me a wild plum tree as a present in a gift box. It has been planted in a large container on the patio ever since and seems to have flourished well. It looks stunning in the garden and is so pretty with its abundance of pale pink flowers, which blossom in early spring. In autumn the deep-red, sweet plums can be eaten straight from the tree! This deciduous tree naturally sheds its leaves every autumn and will remain in its dormant phase all winter. Fresh, new leaves will grow in spring and it's well worth the wait. This year I have been surprised to find some small fruit growing on it too for the very first time. Across Sussex this weekend, there are actually six brand new gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme. Kotamaki in Broad Oak, The Old Manor and Shorts Farm in Nutbourne, 8 Rushy Mead in West Broyle, Swallow Lodge and Talma in Horsham. Spoilt for choice! Look out the full details on the scheme's website at A couple of others you could visit are Alpines in High Street, Maresfield, near Uckfield, opening today (Saturday) from 11am to 5pm with entry £6. It is a largely level, one-acre garden, incorporating the ornamental and the edible. It offers a riot of colour and scent over many months, especially early summer with large and rampant mixed borders containing many scented roses. The other is Farleys Scuplture Garden in Muddles Green, Chiddingly, near Lewes opening especially for the scheme today from 10am to 4.30pm with entry £5. Designed as different themed rooms for sculpture, Farleys garden presents their permanent collection of works chosen by photographer Lee Miller and surrealist artist Roland Penrose alongside works by contemporary guest sculptors. Over the years, giants, goddesses, mythical creatures and Roland's own work has populated the garden in the company of work by their artist friends. You may recognise part of the garden as having been featured as the view through the window in the movie 'Lee' starring Kate Winslet. A really pretty plant in the garden is Chiastophyllum oppositifolium, it is an alpine succulent, closely related to sedum but more suited to shady gardens. It is a clump-forming perennial, and is ideal for using in pots too, as you can see from the one growing at Driftwood. Its unusual dangling yellow flowers contrast beautifully with the fleshy leaves, which change colour from mid-green to red. Also known as Lamb's Tail, Chiastophyllum oppositifolium is easy to grow and is also suitable for growing in rockeries and rock walls. A great statement plant. A couple of months ago, I mentioned a new plant that I'd recently added to the garden is Loropetalum chinense 'Fire Dance', which I've read is rarely seen in gardens. This handsome spreading shrub deserves to be much better known in my book. Its evergreen purple-bronze foliage provides fabulous year-round colour, and contrasts beautifully with the spidery, raspberry-red spring blooms, which are delicately scented and only adds to its charms. This magnificent hardy shrub is ideal for sheltered borders and woodland gardens where it makes an eye-catching specimen in spring and provides a beautiful backdrop for colourful summer perennials. Mine have both been planted in containers and are now looking radiant in the June sunshine. We have certainly had a tremendous number of birds visit the garden this year, with many nesting in the border hedging, two in particular are a pair of pigeons and many blackbirds, both of which are quite tame. The pigeons are often seen washing and drinking in the bird baths and corten steel pond. The love to perch on the rusty metal sculpture and one of the three arches across the central path as you can see. This year, the beach garden is a little wilder than it would be normally. I kept it neat and tidy up to the end of April when my surgery took place, but throughout May, I was really unable to get out there, while recovering from the knee replacement. To be honest, I'm not sure visitors will really notice but I certainly do and I like to keep all the plants in check. You can see the ballota, growing beneath the metal sphere, is about to take over. Also called false dittany, it is a small, bushy shrub that thrives in hot, sunny and dry conditions. It's aided by a covering of felty, silver hairs that reduce water loss. In late summer it produces flowering spears that bear whorls of small pink flowers and is perfect for growing in sunny gravel gardens, like mine, where it'll inhibit weed growth and combine well with plants like bearded irises and phlomis. Read more of Geoff's garden at of book a visit before 3rd August by emailing visitdriftwood@
Wales Online
25-05-2025
- General
- Wales Online
The tiny Welsh village full of beautiful hidden gardens
The tiny Welsh village full of beautiful hidden gardens The gardens and allotments of Cefn Cribwr are the hidden jewel in the village's crown John Loveluck built ponds in his garden which are now home to rare newts, toads, frogs and dragon flies (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) You could drive through Cefn Cribwr and almost miss it. The village five miles from Bridgend, once home to an industrial ironworks, is spread out with a road running through it. People driving through might pass with barely a backward glance. But behind the unassuming houses and side roads are the hidden jewels in Cefn Cribwr's crown - the carefully tended and beautiful gardens of the village community and members of the thriving gardening club. Founder club member and now vice chair John Loveluck proudly ushers us into his garden. Stepping into the lovingly tended space is like entering a green tardis. John's garden opens out into new sections and sub plots just as you're admiring the last. At nearly 80 the retired stonemason is fit as a fiddle, something he thanks his love of gardening for. He's out every day in the garden behind his house as well as looking after his vegetable patch at the community allotments in the centre of the village. John is a leading light in Cefn Cribwr Gardening Club, something that grew from an idea he had one night in the now-closed village pub, the White Lion. The club, opened in 2008, is now at the centre of village life with members ranging in age from their twenties to their eighties. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Veronica Davies with her dog Dylan in her garden at Cefn Cribwr (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Article continues below Some are busy getting their gardens ready to open to the public next month, keen to show off their labours of love. The biggest annual event for the club, and probably the village, is Open Gardens Day when the members open their gardens to the public in conjunction with the National Garden Scheme to raise funds for charities including Marie Curie and Macmillans. The event on June 22, like the allotments, fosters some healthy competitive spirit as well as camaraderie in the village, John says. He's all for gardening as hobby and competition saying it keeps people physically and mentally fit and brings the community together. Cefn Cribwr allotments (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Back at his house John's garden is complete with streams and a pond stocked with carp and goldfish. The pond is abuzz with jewel-winged dragon flies and is also home to rare newts, toads and frogs, who sometimes oblige by sitting on the lily pads. The ponds, linked by streams, make up a large part of this garden which also includes flower borders as well as fruit trees. The large greenhouse is graced with a grape vine and tomatoes and there is the obligatory man-shed. As electric blue insects flit across the water of his ponds John explains that he has to keep hungry visiting herons away with wiring. Somehow they always find a way to slip their long beaks in for a quick fish snack. Other birds such as the nesting blue tits and blackbirds are less of a problem. Newts, toads, frogs and dragon flies are among wildlife in the ponds and streams in John Loveluck's garden in Cefn Cribwr (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) The five guinea pigs, who run wild nibbling the immaculately kept lawn, nominally belong to John's grandchildren. Luckily they leave his flowers alone, he jokes. John and his wife Anne enjoy sitting in a small arbour he built beyond the clipped and bright green lawn surrounded by flower beds. A sun room opens from their living room onto the patio, vibrant with pink and mauve pelargoniums and colourful cacti in pots. Anne admits she's no gardener so she's in charge of cooking and preparing the weekly stock of fruit and veg that John brings back from his allotment. These include melon, peppers, chard, tomatoes and other salad in the summer and in winter turnips and parsnips among other veg. For John his love of gardening is social life, fitness coach and hobby all rolled into one. He and Anne are looking forward to welcoming the public in to see their garden on June 22 and sharing the place they enjoy. Although there is now a community bought and run pub in the village John misses the old White Lion just a few steps from his door. It was here that the gardening club has its roots. "The gardening club started from a conversation in The White Lion," John recalls. "We were talking about the lack of allotments in Cefn Cribwr although we were keen gardeners." Soon the then leader of Bridgend Council, Huw David, was approached and it was agreed that an area of wasteland behind the village community hall on the main road through could be cleared. Mr David is now chair of the gardening club. But it was no mean feat clearing the scrub land that would be transformed into vibrant allotments. The council-owned land had once been used for tennis courts and was overgrown and unusable with rubble and weeds. It took 18 months of work to clear the area before allotments could even be dreamed of. While interested locals helped do the work a vast majority of the clearance was carried out by people on community service orders, something organised by community services in Bridgend. "Once the ground was cleared I put up a sign in the village shop asking if people were interested in having an allotment and there was a fantastic response," says John, "we had more people interested than plots so we had a waiting list and it was first come first served." At the same time as the allotments opening the Cefn Cribwr Gardening Club was set up - something that any villager can join whether or not they have one of the 12 allotments. "The joy of the allotments is the friendship up here. You can come up here on any day and there is always someone about, " says John Loveluck. (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) As secretary of the club, Veronica Davies is keen to get new members and for some years, apart from 2024 and during the pandemic, has arranged for the allotments and private gardens in the village to open for the annual National Garden Scheme Open Garden day. The event, being held on June 22 this year, brings hundreds of visitors to Cefn Cribwr not just to see people's beautiful usually private gardens, but also to visit the allotments and enjoy tea and cake in the community hall, organised by the gardening club. The club will also run plant and craft stall in the village hall to raise funds. A tractor is also organised to ferry visitors between gardens to cut down on traffic and add to the fun. "I think the club and the event does bring the village together," says Veronica, "the beauty is you can go into the gardens that are open and each one is so different. You learn a lot. "I would like to think the club has spurred on an interest in gardening in the village. We have six gardens opening on June 22 and sometimes others join in. You can see formal vegetable gardens, wild gardens, ponds and places to sit." As a keen plantswoman she's always on the look out for tips and says all gardeners enjoy sharing cuttings. She even moves wild flowers around her own garden to get them in just the right sppt to enjoy. The village, which has couple of thousand inhabitants, according to the census, can be windy as it sits atop a ridge between Pyle and Bridgend. Gardeners have to be aware of the weather but are also working in an area of natural beauty all around. Bedford Park, on the outskirts of the village is 40 acres of ancient woodland and meadows. It was not always so. It was once a hive of industrial activity when Birmingham industrialist John Bedford built a blast furnace there in 1780. He sank pits in the ground to mine ironstone and coal as well as founding a forge and brickworks. The ironworks were not successful and were shut after his death in 1791. Coal mining and brick making went on through the 19th century before industry at Bedford Park stopped after World War One. The ironworks, one of the most complete of their kind in Britain, can still be seen today and are protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Hidden behind the Cefn Cribwr community centre is a beautiful strerch of allotments filled with plants and wildlife (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Visitors on Open Gardens Day can enjoy the local industrial heritage against the backdrop of the more beautiful environment it is in the 21st century. John takes in the view but is happiest when he is working on the land. As well as enjoying tending to his allotment he likes to meet friends there every day and enjoys sharing a can with them on long summer evenings. Veronica is more of a solitary gardener and prefers to go to her allotment in the early morning when fewer people are about. It's a peaceful time for her to see to the courgettes, chard and sweetcorn she's growing this year, while at home she has flowers. The garden behind Veronica's house is only a few yards from the allotments and wanders down a slope from cultivated sections to wilder areas with fox gloves and even orchids. She and husband Peter are busy building a folly. Veronica likes plants for their sensory value and in the evening clusters of white-flowered sweet rocket fill the air with their heady scent. She is proud of the insects and pollinators her gardening encourages. but while cabbage white butterflies are abundant they are not always welcome visitors. In the face of hungry butterflies, caterpillars, slugs and insects Veronica prefers to "be as organic as I can". Her tip for getting rid of slugs is to boil up a few cloves of garlic in water, cool the end result and add to watering cans. "Water the plants that slugs love with the mixture and they don't like it," she advises. Veronica grows vegetables including sweet corn and chard on her allotment (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Like many gardeners the allotment and garden owners say their plants are suffering from the long dry spell and are wishing for rain - although preferably not on June 22. At nearly 80 John, a farmer's son, says he has seen weather patterns change. He has no doubt that global warming is real. With this in mind Cefn Cribwr Gardening Club is on the look out for more donations of 1,000 litre tanks to store the rainwater they collect from the roof of the community centre building to water their beds. Gardeners are never wasteful and they know water is valuable as well as expensive. "Maybe you could put in a word for us that we are looking for anyone who has some tanks to donate," John asks. Looking across the allotments in the full glory of a late May morning John tries to put into words what it means to him. The small orange flowers that will become beans, the bright green leaves and shoots and the promise of more to come are radiant in the sunshine. The air is abuzz with the sound of gently humming insects and birdsong. It is busy and peaceful all at once. "The joy of the allotments is the friendship up here. You can come up here on any day and there is always someone about. he says. "It's about community spirit and we are gardeners of all ages. Gardening keeps you fit and it's about friendship and camaraderie. "We sit here of an evening with a can and put the world to rights and talk about what we've been doing in the gardens. "There's competition too mind, " he adds with a sparkle in his eye - it's not all soft and glowing this gardening business. John nods across to Dai's allotment and mentions Dai won the gardening club award this year. But it's amiable contest and the group are always keen to share their success with tips, advice, cuttings and seeds. Gardening can cost money, even if it does also provide food, and sharing is part of the fun. "I have not yet met a gardener who is saving money from gardening but the fruit and veg we grow is fresh and tastes better than shop bought and we swap our fruit and veg," says John. "It's all year round - in the winter I grow brussel sprouts and kale and I have a green house." Veronica is busy getting her allotment and the garden behind her house ready to open on June 22 and frets that hers is more a wild "ramshackle" environment. But she says perfection is not required, or even possible in the plant world and the club, like the open garden event is open to all enthusiasts. "The biggest mistake is thinking your garden can be perfect. It will never be perfect," she says, secateurs in hand, running a critical eye across her flower beds. On a morning in May, with the sun shining and blue skies. it looks as near to perfection as can be. Article continues below * Six gardens will be open to the public in Cefn Cribwr as part of The National Garden Scheme open garden day on June 22 and you can find more details of that here. * Hundreds of gardens are opening right across Wales for the NGS open day, including a number of new ones not seen before. You can find out more details about gardens open across Wales on June 22 here.
South Wales Argus
24-05-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Victorian vicarage in Monmouthshire for sale for £2.1m
The Old Vicarage Penrhos, in Usk, built in 1867, is notable for its terracotta colour against the Monmouthshire landscape. The property boasts 50 acres of private grounds, including a separate one-bedroom cottage and outbuildings with potential for conversion, subject to planning. The main house is hidden behind a hedge and accessed via two sets of double gates. The house has landscaped gardens (Image: Blue Book Agency) A gravelled driveway winds through an array of specimen shrubs and trees to a parking area in front of the house, continuing on past outbuildings to a courtyard with additional parking. The interiors have been maintained by the current owner over the last 20 years. The bright and airy reception rooms retain their period features with high ceilings, exposed wooden floors, and large windows. The gardens are peaceful, with an emphasis on birdsong. The property retains a number of period features (Image: Blue Book Agency) The extensive gardens have been opened annually as part of the National Garden Scheme over the last 20 years. They include a parterre, kitchen garden, wildflower meadow, and ponds. Also included in the land are paddocks, some of which are used for sheep grazing, with a formal grazing agreement in place with a local farmer.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Alan Titchmarsh inundated with support as he makes move away from TV career
Alan Titchmarsh has secured a prestigious new role, stepping into the shoes of the esteemed Dame Mary Berry as President of the National Garden Scheme. Sharing the exciting news on his Instagram, Alan posted a photo of himself alongside Dame Mary, writing: "Honoured to be taking over from Dame Mary Berry as President of the National Garden Scheme." Acknowledging the challenge ahead, he added: "A hard act to follow - I'll do my best for this exceptional organisation, which provides unparalleled support to nursing charities through open gardens throughout the land." The news was met with an outpouring of congratulations from Alan's fans, who flooded the comments section with well-wishes. One fan exclaimed: "Congratulations Alan xxx," reports the Manchester Evening News. Another chimed in: "Many congratulations, Alan. The Presidency couldn't be in better hands. Love the NGS, so many beautiful gardens, whatever size. Bravo." A third supporter praised the decision, saying: "The perfect succession. The humble amateur gardeners' organisation of choice! So happy for you and us!". Someone else gushed: "Wonderful news Alan... and what a lovely photo of you two lovely legends xxx." Meanwhile, another fan expressed confidence in Alan's abilities, writing: "Congratulations, Alan! You're going to be great!! We love the NGS." In other news, Alan got emotional during a recent episode of his ITV show Love Your Weekend while discussing his parents with guest Elaine Paige. Despite being tasked with performing just one song, Elaine confessed to Alan that it "meant so much to her". "I never tired of singing that song because it is so emotional both lyrically and in terms of the tune," she shared with the host. "I still can't watch it without welling up. I was lucky enough, as you very sweetly coached me in the All-Star Musicals," Alan admitted. "Of course, I remember," responded Elaine, as Alan went on: "But you said to me because I had to sing a song I had never sung before and that my dad had sung to my mum." Elaine interjected: "You told me that, so I knew it was going to be emotional for you." Alan added: "You told me, 'Park that because it will get in the way of the song'. "Exactly because it is true," Elaine concurred. "And you did, especially the last note, your heart was in it, Alan. You sang your heart out, and it was noticeable, it was heartbreaking."
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC's Jules Hudson says 'fingers crossed' as he makes major announcement
BBC's Jules Hudson says 'fingers crossed' as he makes major announcement Escape to the Country star Jules Hudson took to social media to share a moving announcement ahead of an upcoming event, and the BBC presenter was inundated with support from fans. Jules Hudson from Escape to the Country has been warmly supported after sharing heartfelt news with his fans online. The beloved BBC presenter is prepping his residence, affectionately named 'Chez Hudson', for a charity event. Sharing with his substantial Instagram following of 66.7k, Jules expressed: "We are getting ready to open our garden for the second time, second year running in support of the NGS, the National Garden Scheme. Now, every year they raise around three and a half million pounds in support of some fantastic charities supporting research into dementia, Parkinson's and cancer, to name but a worthy few." Elaborating on the community spirit, he added: "Across the country this year, thousands of gardens will be open, supporting their good work, and we are playing a small part, along with three other gardens here at our village in Eden Bishop. BBC's Jules Hudson says 'fingers crossed' as he makes major announcement (Image: BBC ) "So you don't just get to see our garden, you get to see some of our fine neighbours' examples as well. There's tea and cake, so if you want to join in and come and see us, it's next Sunday, the 18th of May. Details are on the NGS website." Concluding with excitement for the event, Jules added: "Fingers crossed we'll see you then, and they do say that the weather is going to be like this. Where else would you fancy a cup of tea and a slice of something naughty?" Article continues below Fans of Jules were swift to flood the presenter's post with excited comments regarding the event. Jules said they had been busy getting their garden ready (Image: (Image: Jules Hudson) ) One user commented: "Wouldn't that be a lovely outing?" While another added with enthusiasm: "This is excellent work and God bless you all for your kindness." Someone else wrote: "This is fantastic, thank you for all you do!" In other news, Jules caused quite the buzz among his followers when he shared that Escape to the Country will soon return to our televisions, reports the Express. The television sensation eagerly informed fans on Instagram of his new project while disclosing that filming for the series scheduled for 2025 is underway in the Lake District. Jules Hudson shared an update with fans (Image: (Image: Jules Hudson) ) Alongside capturing some candid moments beside Lake Windermere, he shared a snippet of life on set, noting the stunning April weather and acknowledging his crew with a wave. He jovially penned on his Instagram: "Fun in the sun! It's been a busy year so far working on a brand new secret show (shh! ) But so pleased to be back in the saddle filming my first Escape to the Country of 2025, with our amazing crew who really make the magic happen. Loving the Lakes! @escape_country." Article continues below Recently an episode aired in which Jules assisted a pair seeking a Suffolk haven from their Berkshire town, aiming for a property with potential as a holiday let. In the episode, Jules showcases a variety of splendid choices fitting the couple's substantial budget, each offering thrilling prospects for paying guests. The pair are faced with the decision of prioritising either their business or their home. Escape to the Country is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
