Beautiful gardens across Harborough are set to open to the public - here are the details

Beautiful gardens across Harborough are set to open to the public over the next few weeks as part of an ambitious national scheme.

The green spaces are being opened up to visitors as the nationwide Covid lockdown eases this spring.

“Our gardens continue to offer Pre-booked visits and from Monday 12th April some larger gardens may offer gate entrance.

“At last, we can also offer our delicious teas and homemade cakes, always a treat,” said a Leicestershire National Garden Scheme spokeswoman.

“If all goes well, from Monday 17th May travel limits will be removed enabling visitors to travel a greater distance to visit gardens and also to pay on entrance.

“Pre-booking will be optional, but compulsory for small gardens.”

You can full details here: https://ngs.org.uk/“We hope a visit to one of our gardens will provide a much-needed boost to raise spirits.

“And you can be sure that the funds you donate during you visit will make a big difference to nursing and cancer charities, who are in great need of funds,” said the spokeswoman.

Three gardens are opening in April with wonderful displays of early spring colour.

You can enjoy on Sunday April 11 a pop up opening of Stoke Albany Garden near Market Harborough

It’s a four-acre garden with fine trees and shrubs, herbaceous borders and a good display of bulbs in spring.

On Sunday April 25, Westbrooke in Little Bowden is opening for pre-booked admission.

Westbrooke House consists of six acres including a featured spring garden.

“Throughout May we have seven gardens opening beginning with Hedgehog Hall at Tilton on the Hill.

“It opens on the 2nd and 3rd of May with many unusual and rare plants on display,” said the spokeswoman.

“On the 16th May, Westview at Great Glen opens which has a small walled cottage garden, a woodland area together with a wildlife pond.

“On the 26th May, Thorpe Lubenham Hall opens a splendid 15-acre mature garden which surrounds the 18th/19th century Hall.

“Formal hedging, topiary and water features give the garden an Italianate feel, combined with relaxed herbaceous and shrub borders. “This garden features two wisteria which, weather permitting, should be in flower.”

On Sunday May 30, Nevill Holt Hall Garden, near Medbourne, opens to people.

“The owners say that late May and early June is the time to visit and see their garden at its best.

“There are three wall gardens with lovely herbaceous borders which are also home to a sculpture collection,” added the spokeswoman. “Nevill Holt Hall is also a RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) partner garden.

“Our partner charities, MacMillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, and The Queens Nursing Institute have been on the frontline in the pandemic supporting the community.

“We need to support them.

“Despite the challenges of the last year, the National Garden Scheme donated £2.88 million to our beneficiaries - including these charities. “Every visit you make to one of our gardens helps support these charities.”

To book tickets for these and any of these gardens visit ngs.org.uk