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This is a plantsman’s garden with an extraordinary breadth and depth of plant varieties. There are over 200 old-fashioned roses (June to July), a timeline of apple trees, nooks and crannies galore. The magnificent Silver Fir (Abies Cephalonica) which has the largest girth in the UK was a gift from Joseph Banks , the botanist, in the 1840s; and the Hymalayan blue poppies Mecanopsis grandis Dalemain were propagated by Sylvia Hasell. In the Spring carpets of snow drops, aconites and later daffodils splash colour over the still sleepy earth. Different fashions in horticulture echo around the space from the formality of the Elizabethan Knot Garden; the surrounding Romantic, landscaped parkland with glorious views out to the High Fells; the herbaceous terrace; and the wild garden drawing from the work of William Robinson. The garden is well known having won the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award, sponsored by Christies in 2013 and is a Royal Horticultural Society Partner Garden

RHS Garden Bridgewater was created on the site of the former Worsley New Hall estate, a grand Victorian mansion built in the 1840s and demolished after World War II. The site was then subject to decades of decline before being acquired and extensively restored by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). The new garden was officially opened in 2021, providing a major horticultural destination in the North West of England.

The weather made a spectacular show at Dunge Valley Gardens in May 2024. With the Rhododendrons, Magnolias, Azaleas and Unusual Perennials and Trees in a natural, peaceful setting with streams and an abundance of birds and wildlife. People were overwhelmed by the beautiful colours and we thank all our visitors for coming. We are proud of what we have achieved here in the Peak District National Park on the Cheshire, Derbyshire border. Here’s hopefully to next year.

Lyme Park’s gardens and grounds feature historical landmarks like the 16th-century Cage hunting lodge and the 18th-century Lantern tower, while the estate was shaped over centuries

by the Legh family. The grounds include a formal garden, a deer park, and are known for the striking Pemberley fountain from the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice.

Lea Gardens, near Matlock, was established in 1935 by John Marsden-Smedley, owner of John Smedley Ltd woollen manufacturers, who created a spectacular rhododendron garden from an old quarry site. Inspired by his visits to other famous gardens, Marsden-Smedley collected over 350 species of rhododendrons and azaleas, utilizing materials from the quarry and his mill for the landscaping. The gardens have expanded to include around 500 varieties of rhododendrons and azaleas, featuring paths winding through woodlands to showcase the collection.

Fir Croft

World renowned plantsman’s garden, large screes and rockery. 3000 alpines, dwarf conifers and rare native plants, many not seen anywhere else. Spectacular tufa wall with rare alpines, ponds, lilies and cascade system. 2 National Collections; Sempervivium and Jovibarba. Peak District endangered plant collection pending (2026).Celebrating 40 consecutive years of NGS openings by the same owner.

Hare Hill Garden

Set in 10 acres is a delightful woodland garden with azaleas, rhododendrons and a historic walled garden at its heart.

The delightful walled garden at Hare Hill, Cheshire (National Trust) features spectacular white perennial borders, a pergola and unusual wire horse sculptures at the centre of each rose bed. There is also a woodland garden with many rhododendrons and azaleas, and pond areas which are in the process of being cleared. The surrounding parkland offers a permissive path to Alderley Edge, open at the same time as the garden.

Avenham Park was created in Preston in the 1860s alongside Miller Park, during the Great Depression and Cotton Famine, to provide public green space. Designed in a blend of Victorian and classical styles, it features picturesque landscapes along the River Ribble, connected to Miller Park by paths and beneath an ornate railway bridge, offering a historic yet tranquil escape.

Gresgarth Hall’s history includes medieval roots, a Romantic landscaping by Thomas Edmondson in the 1800s, and a major transformation starting in 1980 by current owners Arabella Lennox-Boyd and her family, who blended Italian style with British planting to create the acclaimed gardens seen today. The gardens feature a mix of formal areas, an arboretum, and wild planting around the river Artle Beck.