News Article

 

Visit The Norfolk NGS Garden Show

 

Norfolk has seven new National Gardens Scheme “Open Gardens” this June. In 1927 when the NGS was formed the gardens were large and formal. Now in keeping with the changing times so have the NGS gardens. This year the Norfolk gardens vary from the small and quirky to the natural wildlife garden and reputably the best kept allotment in Norfolk.

Jean Austen, 4 Mill Road is open on the 21st June (11 – 5) along with Spring Grove, two new Marlingford NGS gardens. Jean was delighted when she moved to Marlingford that she could design her garden before planting. She had studied garden design and horticulture in Kent and has taken her gardening interest further by studying advanced design at Easton College.

This small peaceful 5yr-old garden has a modern interpretation of the classic garden, designed to draw your eye past the formality of the box-edged rooms and linking paths to the water meadows beyond. Colour-themed borders, Japanese garden, wisteria arch, pleached limes, fruit, vegetables and wildlife pond. Plenty of places to sit and enjoy the view.

Jean said “I was delighted that my garden has reached the standard for the National Garden Scheme in Norfolk to open this year. I did not think it was on a large enough scale in comparison to other formal gardens open. I am looking forward to showing visitors around the garden and are excited about Marlingford gardens being open and in the NGS “Yellow Book”.

Assistant NGS county organiser Jim Saunt, (Plovers Hill) said “Garden trends are changing as are the NGS gardens. Garden enthusiasts and visitors will always admire the mature gardens. In general they also like to see the young smaller ones. It gives them the opportunity to implement the design or planting in their own garden. The gardens with allotments also attract a lot of interest. Over the last ten years the amount of flower and vegetable seeds bought has increased and changed to higher percentage of vegetables. People now are keen to grow their own plants from seed. There is also an interest to have their own vegetable garden and to learn how to display it as a feature as in the NGS gardens. You will also often find a smaller garden open with another garden, or a cluster of gardens will open getting the whole community involved raising funds for the worthwhile charities of the NGS and often a local charity”.

There are many gardens that open year after that implement new planting or features or their garden just matures with each season. Visit your local Tourist information Centre or garden centre to pick up a 2009 NGS Norfolk Gardens leaflet. If your garden is of high quality, character and at least forty five minutes interest contact County Organiser Fiona Black to discuss opening your garden or recommend a friend’s garden! Tel 01692 650247 or visit the NGS team at the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Tent at the Royal Norfolk Show on 1st/2nd July.