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Special Garden Events in Dorset

These are a small number of gardens where the open day events offer something extra such a talk by the head gardener, special refreshments or privileged access. Click on the links below to find out more about the garden and book tickets.

Parnham House, Beaminster

Parnham House, near Beaminster, is one of the oldest Grade I listed stately homes in Dorset. The beautifully presented spacious gardens surrounding the house have been extensively restored and inc terraced formal gardens, topiary, an avenue of yew tree pinnacles leading to a lake and a walled garden with deeply planted perennial and herbaceous borders. A limited number of tickets have been made available for this special open day. The Head Gardener will give a talk on the history and ongoing recent developments of the garden and grounds, and the gardening team will be on hand throughout the afternoon to answer any questions. Opens Thursday 19th June, pre-booking essential.

Wytherston Farm, Powerstock

Johnnie and Sophie Boden bought Wytherston in 2005. Since then they and their fantastic team have tried to encourage wild flowers in both their garden and in the meadows surrounding the farm, which makes for a breathtaking display. They have also maintained the gardens around the house, which inc deep herbaceous borders, roses and formal topiary structure interspersed with bright floral colour. Opens Saturday 21st June, pre-booking essential.

Wyke Farm, Chedington

The owners of Wyke Farm, Robert and Alex Appleby, are both fanatical about rewilding, environmental conservation and preservation of the natural habitat. They have lived at Wyke Farm for almost 20 yrs and in this time have worked hard to empathically restore the land to inc a substantial wildflower meadow at the front of the house, and a large lake and woodland area. There are herbaceous borders and lawns around the house. There is a rose garden that leads to the woodland garden, then a more formal courtyard garden that leads through the barn to a kitchen garden. Opens Sunday 22nd June, pre-booking essential.

Shute House, Donhead St. Mary

Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, one of our finest landscape architects, was commissioned in 1969 to create a water garden for Lady Anne and Captain Michael Tree. The result was Shute House Gardens; his favourite and some say his finest work. The River Nadder rises at the top of the garden and is diverted into canals, waterfalls, rills and mysterious pools through a series of atmospheric garden ‘rooms’. A limited number of tickets have been made available for this special one day event, which includes a talk and private guided tour with the garden owner, Suzy Lewis followed by tea and cake. Please note the refreshments will be served in two sittings; one before and one after the garden tour. Opens Thursday 26th June, pre-booking essential.

Stafford House, West Stafford

The gardens at Stafford House inc a river walk and tree planting in the style of early C19 Picturesque. Humphry Repton prepared landscape proposals for the garden and the designs were later implemented, they were also included in his famous Red Books. A limited number of tickets have been made available for this private morning opening, hosted by Lord and Lady Fellowes. Opens Friday 4th July, pre-booking essential.

Knoll Gardens, Hampreston

A wonderfully calming garden with naturalistic plantings of ornamental grasses interspersed with an array of flowering perennials. Grand specimen trees and beautiful shrubs offer shady spots to take in the open vistas of the prairie style gardens, benefiting both wildlife and environment. On Tues 2nd Sept owner, Neil Lucas, will be offering a guided tour of the gardens (tickets must be pre-booked). Opens Tuesday 2nd September, pre-booking essential.

Dorset Dahlias, Charmouth

Dorset Dahlias started 9 yrs ago at Befferlands Farm and has since overtaken the kitchen garden and a large patch in one of the farm fields. Dahlias are grown in rows and organised by colour, with up to 80 different varieties grown, and around 600 plants, that bloom from late Jul until late Oct. There are multiple colours from whites and baby pinks through to bright corals, oranges and pinks. Opens Sunday 7th September, pre-booking essential.

Farrs, Beaminster

Enjoy several distinctive walled gardens, rolling lawns, sculpture and giant topiary around one of Beaminster’s historic town houses. John’s inspirational grass garden and Jennie’s very contrasting garden with an oak fruit cage; a riot of colour. Glasshouse, straw bale studio, geese in orchard. Remarkable trees, planked and seasoning in open sided barn for future furniture commissions. Opens Wednesday 24th September, pre-booking essential.

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