Open Gardens in Essex

Essex is a county in size of over 1,500 square miles, so it’s no surprise to find that it is packed full of areas of outstanding natural beauty which, luckily for us, are cared for by some of the best organisations and gardeners in the country. The variety of Open Gardens in Essex available to be viewed and enjoyed by the public is vast and varies from Elizabethan knot gardens to woodland and gravel gardens.Within easy reach of Colchester, about 6 miles to the east near the town of Elmstead Market, is The Beth Chatto Gardens. These ecological gardens were created by famous author, garden designer and plants woman, Beth Chatto OBE. Beth was awarded this honour in 2002. The gardens were built on the site of her husbands disused fruit farm in the early 1960’s which bordered the family home.

The whole area was considered unsuitable for farming and left to grow wild into an overgrown wasteland covered with willow and brambles. Today the gardens comprise of around five acres of land separated into a variety of different planting sites including dry, sun baked gravel, water and marginal planting, woodland, shady, heavy clay and alpine areas. Beth Chatto OBE continues to work within the gardens and writes for national and international press.

Exhibits by The Beth Chatto Gardens can be seen at The Tendring Hundred Show in Essex. The gardens have won many gold medals for exhibits at the Chelsea Flower Show. All this expertise helps to make The Beth Chatto Gardens one of the most spectacular Open Gardens in Essex to visit.Just a short journey south of Colchester, down the A12 and situated at Rettendon near Chelmsford, is Hyde Hall Garden. Owned by the United Kingdoms leading garden charity, The Royal Horticultural Society, Hyde Hall is around twenty acres in size and is a delightful hilltop garden with an extensive variety of flowering and ornamental trees, shrubs, and coloured-themed herbaceous borders.

A huge visitor attraction at Hyde Hall is the Farmhouse Garden with two ornamental ponds which contain a wide selection of water lilies, bog plants and fish. Formed in September 1982 is the National Collections of viburnums, this genus offers all year round interest, with flowers and scent from winter through to early summer, followed by bright berries from late summer through to winter, as well as colourful leaves in autumn.Follow the A130 north from Rettendon and you will come to the historic market town of Great Dunmow. Situated here are the Gardens of Easton Lodge. The Gardens are one of the most important gardens by the Edwardian architect and garden designer, Harold Anisworth Peto, who was commissioned to redesign them in 1902.

The Gardens are noted for there Italian garden, glade, Peto Pavilion and courtyard with fountain. Also contained within the gardens are an extra ordinary collection of artworks from various contemporary artists from Essex, such as Anne Schwegmann-Fielding and Elaine Tribley.At the very edge of the county of Essex, at its most northwestern point, bordering Cambridgeshire is the house and gardens of Audley End House. This is a garden not to be missed when visiting the county. The site is owned and restored by English Heritage and the house is one of the finest Jacobean examples in England.In 1762 the then owner of Audley End House, Sir John Griffin, commissioned “England’s greatest gardener”, landscape architect, Capability Brown, to redesign and landscape the parkland surrounding the house. The gardens are a fine example of Brown’s English style; they contain a circular temple, mock-classical monuments and several ornate bridges which cross the River Cam that divides the grounds.

Walled within the grounds is a restored Victorian Kitchen Garden. This was restored in 1999 by the leading organic growing charity, Garden Organic, and is now a fine example of a kitchen garden full of a large selection of herbs, fruits, vegetables and flowers.Throughout the rural county of Essex there are many smaller privately owned gardens that open their doors to the public, some on a regular basis and others for only a short amount of time, once or maybe twice a year.Saling Hall Gardens, located between Great Dunmow and Braintree, is a 12 acre country garden most famous for its collection of rare trees. The Hall itself is not open to be viewed, but with six ponds, the Temple of Pisces and many other surprises, the garden itself is well worth the small entrance fee.The small village estate garden, 60 Mill Lane, is open to the public from Tuesday 9th June until Sunday 12th July. It is situated at Cressing, approximately 15 miles west of Colchester and is a plantaholic’s paradise, very colourful with potted and hanging baskets.A Quintessential English cottage garden, Newland Cottage, is a 1 acre garden designed and created by its owners. The garden contains a wealth of shrubs, trees and plants, a pond, vegetable patch, fruit trees and formal garden with rotunda. Newland Cottage is located at Wrabness near Manningtree and is part of the National Garden Scheme. The NGS is a registered charity which opens gardens of quality, character and interest to the public.

Please check the Events in Essex page for any Open Gardens in Essex holding special events or open days. The ‘related links’ section at the bottom of this article will help you locate further information on the NGS and their open gardens.

Spend Quality Time at New Delhi Gardens

New Delhi, a city of monuments and India’s center of political activities is also home to several parks and gardens. These green destinations serve as good stress busters to many New Delhi people. Some famous gardens of New Delhi are discussed in this article.

BUDDHA JAYANTI PARK

Situated in southern part of the Delhi ridge in New Delhi, the Buddha Jayanti Smarak Park was created on 2500th anniversary of Gautama Buddha’s enlightenment. A glided Buddha statue stands there on an artificial island. A sapling of the Bodhi Tree under which Buddha got enlightenment was also planted there in this park. To commemorate the occasion the Buddha Jayanti festival is celebrated here every year.

DEER PARK

Easily accessible from the posh areas like Hauz Khas Village, Safdarjang Enclave, the Deer Park makes an ideal place for morning walk to a large number of affluent-class Delhi people. Beautiful landscaped with shady trees, grasses and a small pond, the park is an ideal picnic spot. The children love to visit this park as they get to see the innocent looking spotted deer, beautiful peacocks and cute rabbits along with a rich variety of birds. Those who wish to stay here; the park also has huts in it.

GARDEN OF FIVE SENSES

Developed by Delhi Tourism Transportation Development Corporation, the Garden of Five Senses is located in Saidul Ajaib village, close to the Mehrauli heritage area.

The garden is designed so stimulate the five senses with its beauty and attractions. The visitors can relax and enjoy the park’s amenities while developing sensitivity towards the environment.

The garden is also a prominent venue for many cultural activities as various programs are organized here round the year. Take a break from the daily routine of their hectic lives and enjoy the beauty of the Garden of five Senses while touching, smelling and viewing natural surroundings.

NEHRU PARK, DELHI

Spread over an area of more than 80 acres, Nehru Park is named after the first Prime Minister of India. The park is located in one of the plushest localities of New Delhi; this park is an attractive place with beautiful floral collections, picturesque little mounds and rocks. The ambience of this park makes it a good spot for picnickers, courting couples and morning walkers.

Visit the park on Sunday mornings and you will get to listen to some famous musicians and vocalists of India, performing amidst the lush green locales of this garden. Attending two hours listening to the ‘Morning Ragas’ is really an ecstasy for any music lover.

Free yoga class organized by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development corp (DTTDC) is the other attraction of the park.

MAHATMA GANDHI PARK

Although the park is comparatively small in area but it hold historical importance. Serving as the outdoor club for Delhi’s high-class society, living in Old Delhi this park was an integral part of the European social life during British times. Earlier known as ‘Queen’s Park, the park was renamed as Mahatma Gandhi Park once India gained independence. After you spend a hectic day while sightseeing or shopping in Old Delhi, Mahatma Gandhi Park serves as a good place for rest.

NETAJI SUBHASH PARK

Netaji Subhash Park is located opposite to Sunehri Masjid in Old Delhi. Adorning the park is an imposing statue of Subhash Chandra Bose who was a popular nationalist leader. In the park you get to see a lot of malishwallahs (body massagers), so if you have time and interest then get your body massaged. I am sure you will get much better massage as what you get at the expensive salons.

TALKATORA GARDENS

Another park with historic importance is Talkatora gardens, located on the main Willingdon Crescent Road. This is the same place where the Marathas were defeated by the Mughals in the battle of 1738. It also has a well-maintained indoor stadium where many international events are held. With the arrival of spring, Talkatora Gardens become the center of attraction as beautiful plants, shrubs and flowers are put on display. The gardens make good picnic and relaxing destination for people with numerous plants, flowers and shady trees.

LODI GARDENS

Earlier known as Lady Willington Park, Lodhi Gardens are located on the main Lodi Road, just about a kilometer east of Safdarjang’s tomb. Beautifully landscaped and well laid-out plan with small water bodies, fountains and a jogging track, the gardens are very popular with people of all ages in the capital. The ancient monuments from the Sayyid and Lodi periods are the main attractions of this park. It also houses the National Bonsai Park which has a fine selection of bonsais.

A Rose Garden, a Green House along with a range of different trees, together make it a popular picnic spot during winters, especially in the month of February and March. Birds of several species, including babblers, parakeets, mynahs, kites, owls, kingfishers can also be seen here all the year round. Come here during mornings and you see yoga classes running. Besides morning walks, people also enjoy exercising in this park.

DELHI RIDGE

Popularly known as the ‘green lungs of New Delhi’, Delhi Ridge is located in the southeastern part of Tughlaqabad. Being the northern branch of the Aravalli hills, the Delhi Ridge actually safeguards the city from the heat originating from the west of the Aeolian Desert and helps in maintaining the summer temperature. From the tourism point of view, Delhi Ridge is a good place for bird watchers.

Besides the above mentioned, Aastha Kunj, Indraprastha Park, and Kalindi Kunj are the other parks that can be visited to spend time with family and friends.

Belfast’s Fine Parks and Gardens

There are over forty public parks in Belfast. It’s most popular is the Botanic Gardens. There are several attractions in the park which include the Palm House built by Sir Charles Lanyon in the 1830s and the Tropical Ravine. On occasion public events are also held here which range from opera acts to rock concerts. The Tennents Vital festival, another major attraction, is held every summer in the gardens.

Belfast’s Fine Parks and Gardens

There are over forty public parks in Belfast. It’s most popular is the Botanic Gardens. There are several attractions in the park which include the Palm House built by Sir Charles Lanyon in the 1830s and the Tropical Ravine. On occasion public events are also held here which range from opera acts to rock concerts. The Tennents Vital festival, another major attraction, is held every summer in the gardens.

Belfast’s Fine Parks and Gardens

There are over forty public parks in Belfast. It’s most popular is the Botanic Gardens. There are several attractions in the park which include the Palm House built by Sir Charles Lanyon in the 1830s and the Tropical Ravine. On occasion public events are also held here which range from opera acts to rock concerts. The Tennents Vital festival, another major attraction, is held every summer in the gardens.