News Article
Norwich - A NGS Open Garden Destination
Norwich is known as a city of history, culture, shopping and a tourism destination. Now it is becoming known for its collection of gardens of quality and character and interest. Two new gardens, Strangers Hall and Hawthorn House, open in Norwich this year for the National gardens Scheme. Norfolk a county known for its magnificent rural gardens and its great horticultural product now has an urban area that has eight NGS city gardens to visit, with more to open next year. They are all accessible by public transport. Discover what is over the garden gate and hidden behind the city’s walls!
A popular place for many years and still a favourite, attracting visitors yearly is the Bishop’s garden open on the last Sunday in June (28th,1 - 5). It is a four acre walled garden dating back to the 12th century.
Now a quarter of an acre garden hidden behind Strangers' Hall, the home of wealthy merchants and mayors of the 16th and 17th Centuries opens on July 5th (11- 4) for the first time for the NGS. It is an unexpected peaceful oasis in a busy part of the city. Strangers' Hall museum, St Gregory's' Church and the Maddermarket Theatre enclose the garden.
Little is known about the original layout, although it's thought it may have once had a bowling green, and possibly other outbuildings related to the house. The garden has been painstakingly developed by a dedicated group of volunteers.
A knot garden, with box hedging, bay and lavender has been planted, in spring the tulips reflect the important influence of Dutch settlers to Norwich and Strangers' Hall in particular. Abutting the adjoining wall of St Gregory's' church are herb beds, demonstrating the traditional uses of these plants for cooking, medicine, and dyeing. Along the wall of the house are historic roses.
Access to the garden is through the main museum, and rear courtyard, where two grand Georgian door cases are situated. These are ornamental only and were saved during demolition to make way for the new City Hall in the 1930s
Assistant county organiser James Saunt “The NGS gardens posses a beautifully tranquil atmosphere in and just outside of the city centre. More and more city garden owners are transforming their homes to incorporate green or tropical gardens. It is also interesting to find large gardens within Norwich. For many years only three gardens have opened regularly. The awareness of “The National Gardens Scheme Yellow Book” and the increased interest in garden design and grow your own has led to many gardeners becoming enthusiasts and aiming for high standards. It is very rewarding for them to achieve the recognition of the NGS and share the gardening passion with the visitors while raising money for worthwhile charities”.
Norwich NGS Gardens
Sunday, 21st June 2009
North Lodge, Bowthorpe Road, Norwich NR2 3TN (11-5)
Sunday, 28th June 2009
Bishop's House, Bishopgate, Norwich NR3 1SB (1-5)
Sunday, 5th July 2009
Strangers Hall, Charing Cross, Norwich NR2 4AL (11-4) New
Sunday, 12th July 2009
New 7 Connaught Road, Norwich NR2 3BP (11-5)
North Lodge, Bowthorpe Road, Norwich NR2 3TN (11-5)
Sunday, 16th August 2009
New Hawthorn House 22 Cotman Road, Norwich NR1 4AF(1-5)
Jungle Garden, Tollhouse Road, Norwich NR5 8QF (1-5)
The Exotic Garden, 126 Thorpe Road, Thorpe, Norwich NR1 1UL (1-5)
Sunday, 6th September 2009
The Plantation Garden, 4 Earlham Road, Norwich NR2 3DB (2-5)
North Lodge a town garden 0.1-acre to Victorian Gothic Cemetery Lodge (not open), created from barren, challenging triangular plot over past ten years. Strong structure and attention to internal vista including Gothic conservatory, a formal pond, pergola, and classical-style summerhouse and predominantly herbaceous planting. Adjacent is associated historic parkland cemetery also worth a visit.
1½m W of Norwich City Centre. In Bowthorpe Rd off Dereham Rd, turn after 150 metres L through cemetery gates (opp end of Bond St) to North Lodge. Parking restricted, can park outside gates. FirstBus services 16, 19, 20, 21, 22 and Connect service 5 stop at Dereham Rd - Bowthorpe Rd junction
New 7 Connaught Road is a small town-garden bordered by wall and evergreen shrubs, with lush varied planting in cottage garden style. Ornamental and fruit trees. Different areas of paving with planters, of box hedging, punctuated with clipped trees. To the rear a stepped terrace with shade plants, standard hollies and laurels and afternoon tea in the conservatory.
1.2m W of Norwich City centre. Turn L off A1074 (Dereham Rd), 200yds before Bowthorpe Rd, garden on R 50yds up. Buses: 16, 19, 20, 21, 22 stop St Phillips Rd. On-street parking.
The Exotic Garden, a city garden covering approximately one acre on a South - facing hillside including a new half acre garden. In high summer the garden is a riot of colour among towering architectural plants such as cannas, bananas, aroids, palms etc giving the garden a truly subtropical feel,
Off A47. New entrance & car park via side entrance of Alan Boswell Insurance 126 Thorpe Road next to DEFRA. Approx ½ mile from Thorpe railway station
Hawthorn House has a multi-level terraced hillside in the one-acre garden. It consists of substantial, impressive topiary, artistically managed shrubs and fine mature trees with sweeping paths leading to striking vistas within the garden and beyond. The garden has a varied feel combining formal and woodland area. Steep slopes and steps.
Central Norwich ½m E of Norwich Rail Stn. Off 126 Thorpe Rd next to Defra via the side entrance, behind (The Exotic Garden) car park of Alan Boswell Insurance
The Jungle Garden, a small town garden approximately 26ft x 60ft with five levels of decking surrounded by dense, lush exotic planting, over two hundred different and unusual types of plants including palms, bamboos, bananas, gingers, cannas and more. Featured on BBC & ITV.
W of Norwich. Off A1074 Dereham Rd nr the ring rd, on LH-side travelling away from the city just past Kwik Fit & Gatehouse PH. Limited off street parking available.
The Plantation garden is open on the 6th September, dawn to dusk. A three acre Victorian town garden created 1856-97 in a former medieval chalk quarry. Undergoing restoration by volunteers. Remarkable architectural features including a sixty-foot Italianate terrace, a unique thirty-foot Gothic fountain, re-built Gothic alcove, rustic bridge and summerhouse, surrounded by mature trees.
Nr St John’s R C Cathedral. Parking available at Black Horse PH Earlham Rd (please notify).