Inspired by the 100th Anniversary of world-famous National Trust garden, Hidcote Manor, the year long celebrations offer the chance to see behind the scenes at more than 25 of the area’s most treasured gardens. As well as a new exhibition at Hidcote for 2007, unique activities and events will be taking place throughout the Cotswolds. Head gardeners will offer tips, former Chelsea judges will conduct personal tours and visits, the renowned naked gardeners of Malmesbury will take care of pruning and organic food demonstrations will take place.
The celebrations will also give visitors the opportunity to delve behind the famous Cotswolds dry stone walls and unlock the secrets of many privately owned gardens, as they prepare to open up to the public as part of the National Gardens Scheme, The Yellow Book (www.ngs.org.uk). For a small charge, visitors can view private gardens and often chat with the gardeners – a great way to pick up gardening pointers. Local horticultural events from village fetes to flower shows will also be taking place throughout the year as part of the celebrations.
As seasons come and go, visitors will be able to seek out some of the special trees and plants from the Cotswolds, from the Westonbirt Red, Barnsley Mallow, and Painswick Snowdrops to Hidcote Lavender; Pocket Handkerchief Tree or Kiftsgate Rose.
The gardens participating include Kiftsgate Court Gardens, Painswick Rococo, Sudeley Castle, Westonbirt Arboretum and Hidcote Manor, to name but a few, and each will be organising a whole host of events throughout the year which can be viewed on the www.cotswolds.com website or viewed in the Gardens Guide 2007, available from Tourist Information Centres.
Below is just a taste of what’s on throughout 2007 in The Cotswolds:
February: Snowdrops at Painswick Rococo Garden
March: Blenheim Palace Garden Tour
April: Meet the Gardener with a tour of stream garden, Hidcote Manor
May: Natural Gardening for Beginners, Snowshill Manor
June: Readers Day on Herbs, “The English Garden”, Mill Dene Garden
July: HDRA Organic Gardening Weekend with Organic Food Demonstrations, Sudeley Castle
August: Bourton-on-the-Water Horticultural Show
September: Putting the Garden to Bed at Snowshill Manor Gardens
October: A Tale of Two Parks, Parmore House, Cheltenham
November: Autumn Lecture Lunches at Hidcote Manor Garden
December: Enchanted Christmas, Westonbirt Arboretum
Talking about Westonbirt Arboretum’s involvement, Marketing Manager Kellie Lovett added: “Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, was once the pleasure garden of the wealthy Victorian Holford family and is now one of the most visited gardens in the country. The Year of the Cotswold Garden celebrations not only highlights our popular garden, but hundreds of other intriguing gardens and local events that many people may never have heard about.”
The Year of the Garden idea was developed by the Cotswolds & Forest of Dean Destination Management Organisation (DMO). Visitors can find out more by visiting www.cotswolds.com to view a comprehensive calendar of events, by ordering a brochure online, or by dropping into local Tourist Information Centres to pick up a Gardens Guide brochure. Brochures are also available by calling 01452 425673. Web users can download discounted admission vouchers valid for 2007.