| Oxford Botanic Garden |
This is one of the oldest botanic gardens in Britain having been founded in 1621. Outside the front entrance is a large rose garden donated in memory of the university staff who developed penicillin.
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| Blenheim Palace |
Blenheim Palace is the home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. It was built between 1705 – 1722 for John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough in grateful recognition of his magnificent victory at the Battle of Blenheim
in 1704.
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| Oxford |
Oxford is an ancient and picturesque university city which dates back to the 8th century and sits on the banks of the rivers Cherwell and Thames. The university which is the oldest in Britain, probably dates from the 12th century and consists of a large number of colleges, many of which are among the finest buildings of their age.
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| Ascott |
There are 30 acres which epitomise Victorian gardening, with an extensive collection of mature trees set in rolling lawns. There is
a wide range of topiary set in formal gardens as well as two
stately fountains.
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| Stowe Landscape Gardens |
The National Trust who own Stowe have £12m to restore Stowe to its condition in the mid 19th century. Stowe has been influenced by many famous garden designers, including Vanbrugh, Bridgeman, Kent and ‘Capability’ Brown. The influence of all of these designers meant that by the mid 19th century the garden was diversified into a number of distinct ‘scenes’ each having a complete character of its own and the aim is to reinstate these ‘character’ areas.
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| Biddulph Grange |
This has been described as ‘one of the country’s most unusual gardening discoveries and restorations’. It is one of the most remarkable and innovative gardens of the 19th century. Features include an Egyptian garden with a pyramid and obelisks of clipped yew and a Chinese garden with a watch tower and temple.
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| Ness Gardens |
Mr A Bulley began gardening on this site in 1898 using seeds from plants collected for him by George Forrest, the noted plant hunter. Ness Gardens now extends to over 60 acres, including areas of specialist interest such as the native plant garden which houses plants raised from seed or cuttings from wild plants and used for propagation or the re-stocking of natural habitats.
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| Chester |
Chester is one of Britain’s most appealing cities. It is famed for its picturesque black and white buildings. The centre of town is called The Rows and is made of a group of double decker streets, where stairs lead up to first floor shops. There is also a Norman cathedral, extensively restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott.
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| Bodnant Gardens |
This is one of the finest gardens in the country not only for the magnificent collections of Rhododendrons, Camellias and Magnolias but also for its beautiful setting above the River Conwy and the extensive views of the Snowdon Range. The garden, covers 80 acres and has many interesting features, the best known being the laburnum arch. Others include the lily terrace, curved and steeped pergola, canal terrace and dell garden. In the dell is the tallest redwood in the country, the 148 foot sequoia sempervirens. |
| Conwy Castle |
Conwy Castle is one of the famous Welsh castles. It is an imposing fortress that was built between 1283 – 1289 by Edward I and helped to complete the conquest of the Welsh princes in North Wales. Conwy castle remains a masterpiece of medieval military architecture. |
| Savill Garden |
A woodland garden which covers 35 acres and contains a range of Rhododendrons, Camellieas, Magnolias, Hydrangaes and a variety of other shrubs and trees producing a wealth of colour, particularly in spring and summer. A fantastic collection of Hostas and Ferns flourishes in the shadier areas. A more formal area is dedicated to modern roses, herbaceous gardens, a range of alpines and an attractive dry garden. |
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| Winchester |
Winchester was the royal capital of Saxon Wessex and of England until the late 12th century. As soon as William the Conqueror landed in England he built a great castle at Winchester, of which only The Great Hall remains. The castle was destroyed during the Civil War but in the 1680s Charles II commissioned Christopher Wren to build a new palace. Sadly it was never completed and became an army barracks. Winchester is dominated by its massive cathedral (one of the longest in Europe) which was also begun just after the Norman Conquest. Around the cathedral there are ancient streets with buildings from many ages. |
| Cranbourne Manor Gardens |
Cranbourne Manor has been called ‘the most magical house
in Dorset’. Imaginative plant selection in the borders in the courtyard is possibly the highlight. There are also several smaller areas surrounded by tall clipped yew hedges, a walled white garden, extensive woodland and wild areas. |
| The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens |
The Gardens extend to 166 acres and include approximately 12,000 different species and cultivars, with many rarities, in total there are over 40,000 plants. There are 11 National Collections, including Quercus and Hamamelis. Amongst trees and shrubs Eucalyptus Nitens
and Niphophila, Magnolia Cylindrica and the Acers are worthy of particular attention. |
| Newcastle House |
This brings new meaning to the term ‘plantsmans’ garden for here is indeed a creation by an unusually knowledgeable plantsman. There are many unusual trees, as well as a variety of climbers and shrubs. Some, like Roses and Clematis are well known, others rarely heard of and even more rarely seen. |
| Dyffryn Gardens |
This is one of Wales’ largest landscaped gardens and has been described as one of its best kept secrets. It is an Edwardian garden, created out of a Victorian original between 1906 – 1914, which was designed by Thomas Mawson, a leading landscape architect. |
| Bath |
Bath owes it fame and beauty to its hot water springs. The Celts had a shrine to the water goddess Sulis here but Baths story really begins with the Romans. They call it Aquae Sulis and enjoyed the pleasures of soaking in the warm water over four centuries. The extensive remains of their baths are at the heart of the city, near the handsome medieval Abbey church. Most of Bath today, however dates from Georgian times when the fashionable world came ‘to take the waters’. |
