As the sun begins to dust off his hat and the frost recedes for the spring, English Heritage gardens become awash with fresh colours as flowers and plants start to peek out from the soil. Come and enjoy the flowering buds as they blossom into spectacular gardens.
Walmer Castle & Eltham Palace
With its spectacular location on the Kent coastline, the elegant gardens at Walmer Castle offer stunning views out to sea. As the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, successive residents have left their mark on the house and gardens - from Wlliam Pitt's Kitchen Garden to The Queen Mother's Garden, presented to Her Majesty on her 95th birthday.
Spring: Towards the end of winter, the bright yellow of the Jasminum nudiflorum and the Galanthus snowdrops light the path through the woodland walk, while further into spring the Queen Mother's Garden really comes alive.
The gardens at the medieval Eltham Palace were created during the 1930s by keen horticulturalists Stephen and Virginia Courtauld. They incorporated a spring bulb garden, sunken rose garden and various ornamental plantations amongst the lawns and borders. Learn how to design an impressive border on the tour from Head Gardener Jane Cordingly.
Spring: The 'plantsman's paradise', Eltham Palace has almost room-like gardens with evergreen shrubs, complimented by spring flowering bulbs and hellebores. The southern moat bank is also planted with a range of naturalised spring bulbs.
Check out the upcoming gardening events at Walmer Castle and Eltham Palace.
Witley Court, Worcestershire
One hundred years ago, Witley Court was one of England's great country houses, surrounded by spectacular landscaped gardens. After a devastating fire in 1937 the house and vast gardens fell into a long decline, but today Witley's fortunes have turned with a long term restoration programme to bring the magnificent gardens back to life.
Spring: As the warmth of spring encroaches, a rainbow of colour attacks the gardens with bright purple, pink, white and red Rhododendrons taking over the flower beds. The different coloured gravel of the East Parterre is perfectly complimented by the emerging loud colours of the bedding plants.
Osborne House, Isle of Wight
Looking out to sea over woodland and elegant gardens, it is easy to see why Queen Victoria found it "impossible to imagine a prettier spot" after a visit to the house. As her residence in the country, the glorious grounds feature fountains, formal terraced gardens, a summerhouse, miniature fort and an intriguing Swiss Cottage, where the royal children could learn domestic skills.
Spring: The terraces remain quiet in February and March with the early signs of Daffodil growth and Camellias starting to flower, but move down to the Pleasure grounds to where an eclectic party of late winter/early spring plants will be in full swing.
Meet the gardeners who tend to the vast gardens this season, with workshops, tours and the chance to pick up some tips to try at home.
Brodsworth & Belsay Hall
Intriguingly, Victorian Brodsworth Hall has been conserved 'as found' - as it was when the last resident left. In contrast to the house, the gardens have been restored to their original splendour, with elegant fountains, an Apline rock garden, flower garden, Victorian summerhouse, fern dell grotto and plenty more.
Spring: Approximately half a million snowdrops will bloom during February and 36 different varieties of daffodil bring a touch of summer back to these magnificent gardens.
The huge grounds of Belsay Hall are packed with an impressive array of shrubs and flowers. The unique Quarry Garden is a fantasy of ravines, pinnacles and exotic plants. The landscape of the garden is of special interest, with the formal garden by the hall blending into the wild woodland style of the quarries.
Spring: The daffodils flower freely during the beginning of spring at Belsay Hall, providing a carpet of buttery yellow stretching across the Grade I listed gardens. Dog's Tooth Violets and Spring Snowflakes collect in snow-like drifts, illuminating the dark edges of the surrounding woodland. Early spring also brings out the deep blue flowers whcih wash over the terraces.
'Meet the Gardeners' at Belsay Hall & Brodsworth Hall and pick up tips from the people that tend to these beautiful gardens all year round.
