First and last …

Last garden of 2024…

2024 has been quite a year for the National Garden Scheme, with thousands of gardens opening their gates to raise money for our beneficiary charities. And while the year is nearly out, one more garden will open on Saturday 21st December:

Athelhampton House Gardens, Athelhampton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7LG

The award-winning gardens at Athelhampton, surround the Tudor manor house, and date from 1891. The Great Court with 12 giant yew topiary pyramids is overlooked by two terraced pavilions. This glorious Grade I architectural garden is full of vistas with spectacular planting, ponds with fountains and the River Piddle flowing past. It’s a real pre-Christmas treat for garden lovers. Opens Saturday 21st December (10am – 3.30pm), Adult adm. £12.50, children go free.

First garden of 2025 …

Don’t worry, you won’t have to wait long for the first garden of 2025 to open when Westcroft in Wiltshire braves the new year with an opening on Wednesday 1st January and a series of openings through to March.

Whilst overflowing with roses in June, in January and February the bones of this ⅔ acre galanthophile’s garden on chalk are on show. Brick and flint walls, terraces, rustic arches, gates and pond add character. Drifts of snowdrops carpet the floor whilst throughout is a growing collection of well over 500 named varieties. Many hellebores, pulmonarias, grasses and seedheads add interest.

Click here for details and see the new year in with a winter garden visit.

Some 3,500 gardens will open in 2025 and with over 500 new gardens opening there’ll be plenty to explore. Why not plan your year of garden visits either by pre-ordering your copy of the Garden Visitor’s Handbook or using our online Find A Garden tool – simply search by location or garden name and see the wonderful array of inspirational gardens opening their gate in the year ahead.

PRE-ORDER THE 2025 GARDEN VISITOR’S HANDBOOK

EXPLORE OUR 2025 GARDENS

Lead image, Hedgehog Hall Leicestershire, opens 22 and 23 February