FOURTEEN secret gardens in Wirral will be opening their gates this summer allowing visitors to enjoy the flora and fauna of the season.
The National Garden Scheme gives unique access to more than 3,500 private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, raising money for nursing and health charities.
This year, visitors can enjoy 14 gardens in Wirral with venues in Upton and Heswall.
Around £67million has been raised over the years for Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute, with £3.1million being donated last year thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors.
Here are the 14 secret venues in Wirral open to visitors this summer:
Inglewood
Inglewood, 4 Birchmere, Heswall, Wirral, Cheshire, CH60 6TN
By arrangement
A beautiful half-acre garden with a stream, large koi pond and 'beach' with grasses as well as wildlife pond and bog area. It's brimming with shrubs, bulbs, acers, conifers, rhododendrons, herbaceous plants and hosta borders. Interesting features include a hand cart, wood carvings and a bug hotel as well as Indian dog gates leading to a secret garden. There is lots of seating to enjoy refreshments.
Admission: Adult: £5 Child: Free
Rosewood
Rosewood, Old Hall Lane, Puddington, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 5SP
By arrangement
A year-round garden with thousands of snowdrops in February and camellias in autumn, winter and spring. Rhododendrons can be seen in April and May and unusual flowering trees from March to June. Autumn cyclamen in quantity from August to November. Perhaps the greatest delight to the owners are the two large Cornus capitata, flowering in June.
Admission: Adult: £4 Child: Free
Oakland Vale
6 Oakland Vale, Wallasey, Merseyside, CH45 1LQ
By arrangement
A very small walled town garden densely filled with tropical and exotic style plants. Bananas, tree ferns, cordylines and bamboo along with tetrapanax and paulownia form the backdrop to more unusual ‘exotic’ plants and a pond. The terraced front garden overlooking the Mersey is filled with grasses, ferns, phormiums and echiums along with drought tolerant plants.
Admission: Adult: £4 Child: Free
Framley
Framley, Hadlow Road, Willaston, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 2US
Monday, May 1
This five- acre garden holds many hidden gems. Comprising extensive mature wooded areas, under planted with a variety of interesting and unusual woodland plants - all at their very best in spring. A selection of deep seasonal borders surround a mystical sunken garden, planted to suit its challenging conditions. Wide lawns and sandstone paths invite you to discover what lies around every corner.
Admission: Adult: £5 Child: Free
18 Dee Park Road
18 Dee Park Road, Wirral, Merseyside, CH60 3RQ
Sunday, June 11, Wednesday, June 14 and Sunday, June 18
A long suburban garden backing onto private woodland. Mature garden laid to lawns, with mixed borders, leading on to numerous seating areas. The garden features a very unusual triple hexagonal greenhouse, which was originally purchased from the Liverpool Garden Festival site, c1984, before taking you through to a shaded wooded area where there are numerous different types of hosta on display.
Admission: Adult: £4 Child: Free
Willaston Grange
Willaston Grange, Hadlow Road, Willaston, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 2UN
Saturday, June 17
Willaston Grange is an Arts & Craft property. Thirteen years ago, the house and gardens had been derelict for three yrs. After months of detailed planning, the significant restoration work began. The gardens extend to six acres with a small lake, wide range of mature and rare tree species, herbaceous border, woodland and vegetable gardens, an orchard and a magical treehouse.
Admission: Adult: £5 Child: Free
24 Old Greasby Road
24 Old Greasby Road, Upton, Wirral, Merseyside, CH49 6LT
Sunday, June 18
A multi-interest and surprising suburban garden. Both front and rear gardens incorporate innovative features designed for climbing and rambling roses, clematis, underplanted with cottage garden plants with a very productive kitchen garden.
Admission: Adult: £4.50 Child: Free
Maggie's Wirral
Maggie’s Wirral, Clatterbridge Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 4JY
Sunday, June 18
Maggie's Wirral invites visitors in via a winding path through sun loving planting sheltered by wavy stone wall. The centre is set within varied colourful gardens with a peaceful woodland area that attracts wildlife. The Mediterranean garden has a shallow pool and sensory plants, paved areas for quiet contemplation and more active therapeutic activities. The greenhouse and growing area encourages involvement.
Admission: Adult: £5 Child: Free
The Coach House
The Coach House, The Village, Burton, Merseyside, CH64 5TE
Sunday, June 25
On a south facing sandstone hillside overlooking the Dee Estuary, this revitalised garden is just over an acre. There are sunny herbaceous borders and shady spaces, something for everyone.
Admission: Adult: £6 Child: Free
Briarfield
Briarfield, The Rake, Burton, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 5TL
Sunday, June 25
Tucked under the south facing side of Burton Wood, the garden is home to many specialist and unusual plants, some available in plant sale. This two-acre garden is on two sites, a short walk along an unmade lane. Trees, shrubs, colourful herbaceous, bulbs, alpines and water features compete for attention. Deliberately left untidy through the winter for wildlife, the snowdrops love it. Erythronium are a feature of the garden in April and May and it's always changing. Liz can’t resist a new plant!
Admission: Adult: £6 Child: Free
Burton Village Gardens
Burton Village Gardens, Burton, Neston, Cheshire CH64 5SJ
Sunday, June 25
With the light sandy soil, often on a south facing slope, the owners are focussing on drought tolerant planting and copious mulching. The Coach House has stunning views of the Welsh hills. The garden is full of colour with herbaceous borders, a cut flower area plus a productive fruit and vegetable patch. The wooded hillside is work in progress. Briarfield's sheltered site is home to many unusual plants, some available in the plant sale at the house. The one-and-a-half acre main garden invites exploration not only for its variety of plants but also for the imaginative use of ceramic sculptures. Period planting with a splendid vegetable garden surrounds the restored Edwardian glasshouse in Burton Manor’s walled garden. Paths lead past a sunken garden and terraces to views across the Cheshire countryside. Trustwood is a relaxed country garden, a haven for wildlife with emphasis on British native trees planted along the drive and the use of insect friendly plants. Chickens roam in the woodland.
Admission: Adult: £6 Child: Free
Burton Manor Walled Garden
Burton Manor Walled Garden, The Village, Burton, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 5SJ
Sunday, June 25
A walled garden dating back to early 20th century. Part of Burton Manor Gardens, it was re-designed in 1905 for Henry Neville Gladstone by Thomas Mawson. Restored in 2010, including the Edwardian Glasshouse by Foster and Pearson, by Friends of Burton Manor Gardens with a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund. Exciting new developments are taking place including a Mediterranean bed.
Admission: Adult: £6 Child: Free
Trustwood
Trustwood, Burton, Cheshire, CH64 5TG
Sunday, June 25
Trustwood is a typical relaxed country garden of three quarters of an acre. The owners' underlying aim over the past seven years has been to create a haven for wildlife. It has three distinct areas with more formal planting to the rear of the house with pergola and deep herbaceous borders, a large area of raised beds for fruit, flowers and vegetables to the front, and finally an area of woodland.
Admission: Adult: £6 Child: Free
Rose Brae
Rose Brae, Earle Drive, Parkgate, Merseyside, CH64 6RY
Sunday, July 23
An all-season, half-acre garden comprising bulbs, trees, shrubs, perennials and climbers. In July, roses, clematis, hydrangeas, phlox and agapanthus predominate together with ferns, grasses, flowering trees, topiary, a bulb lawn and a formal pool with water lilies.
Admission: Adult: £5 Child: Free
Ness Botanic Gardens
Ness Botanic Gardens, Neston Road, Ness, Neston, Merseyside, CH64 4AY
Tuesday, September 12
Looking out over the dramatic views of the Dee estuary from a lofty perch on the Wirral peninsula, Ness Botanic Gardens boasts 64 acres of landscaped and natural gardens overflowing with horticultural treasures. With a delightfully peaceful atmosphere, a wide array of events taking place, plus a café and gorgeous open spaces, it is a great fun-filled day out for all the family.
Admission: Adult: £7.50 Child: £3.50
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