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Briarfield

Tucked under the south side of Burton Wood the garden is home to many specialist and unusual plants, some available in plant sale. This 2 acre garden is on two sites, a short walk along an unmade lane. Trees, shrubs, colourful herbaceous, bulbs, alpines and water features compete for attention. Deliberately left untidy through the winter for wildlife, the snowdrops love it. Erythronium are a feature of the garden in April. Always changing, Liz can’t resist a new plant!

Owner Info

Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield
Briarfield

About Briarfield

Briarfield garden had an unpromising start. In 1963 two scientists in their mid twenties bought a bungalow riddled with dry rot and woodworm surrounded by a wilderness of mixed saplings with a ground cover of brambles. The cash went into the house, the unskilled labour into the clearance. A literature survey gave hints of what to plant, while lack of funds honed propagation skills. The inevitable happened and we ended up with more plants than space! In 1976 two paddocks in the lane came up for sale, so we were off again, with a playground for the children and unlimited opportunities to indulge our increasing passion for plants.
The garden(s) are on a south-facing slope, the soil varies from very sandy with underlying sandstone at the top of the hill to reasonable loam towards the bottom. Burton Wood NT provides shelter from the north. Soil pH is around 5.8. Briarfield provides a sheltered environment for many specialist plants. The main garden, three distinct areas in 1.5 acres, has maturing trees and shrubs, herbaceous borders plus a vegetable garden and soft fruit area. Novel water features throughout the site encourage wildlife and provide added interest for visitors. The home garden, a short walk along the lane, is more formal with terraces, hidden fernery with pond and a woodland glade. Alpine gravel beds are a feature at both sites.
Plants for sale (70% for ngs) each Thursday, 20 February to end September from the house drive, and on ngs open days. Check Facebook site for up to date information

SEASONAL HIGHLIGHTS
February/March – remarkably colourful with drifts of snowdrops, aconites, cyclamen coum, camellias, magnolias and early rhododendrons.
April/May – carpets of spring flowers, including erythroniums, uvularia and trilliums beneath flowering trees and shrubs. Alpine beds are at their peak. Podophyllum and arisaema are starting to emerge in the woodlands.
June/July – herbaceous flowers complement lilies and roses. This is a riotous time in the garden with bold colours and evocative perfumes. The vegetables and soft fruit are in full production.
August/September – eucryphia, massed sedum, drifts of colchicum and cyclamen hederifolium blend into the colours of autumn. Apples and figs are ripening quickly. Butterflies and bees abound.
October – late flowering shrubs combine with michaelmas daises and other spectacular late herbaceous plants to give a last splash to the season.
November – camellia sasanqua give cheer throughout the winter.

Location details

Briarfield,
Neston,
Cheshire,
CH64 5TL

Directions to Briarfield
Turn off A540 at Willaston-Burton Xrds T-lights & follow road for 1m to Burton village centre.

Briarfield openings

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Admission Adult: £5.00
Child: Free
Opening times 11:00-16:00

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Admission Adult: £5.00
Child: Free
Opening times 11:00-16:00

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Admission Adult: £5.00
Child: Free
Opening times 11:00-16:00

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Admission Adult: £5.00
Child: Free
Opening times 11:00-16:00

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Home-made teas in the church just along the lane from the garden for April opening only.
Admission Adult: £5.00
Child: Free
Opening times 13:00-17:00

A group opening is when a number of gardens open together on the same day.

Refreshments Home-made teas in the Sport and Social Club behind the village hall. Refreshments in aid of Claire House Children's Hospice.
Admission Adult: £6.00
Child: Free
Opening times 11:00-17:00

Visit by Arrangement

This garden opens for By Arrangement visits from 3 February to 28 September.

Please contact the garden owner to discuss your requirements and arrange a date for a group or bespoke visit.

Refreshments Home-made teas.
Admission Adult: £6.00
Child: Free

Accessibility

  • On a hillside with several flights of steps. Only partially accessible.
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FAQs

Payment is by cash only. Please get in touch with the owners for more details.

Yes, coaches are accepted at Briarfield. Please get in touch with the owners for details.

Sorry, no dogs are allowed in the garden at this time.

Yes, there are various plants offerred for sale at Briarfield, please enquire with the owners for more details.

Sorry, Briarfield does not yet accommodate wheelchair users.

Yes. Briarfield seeks to offer a sustainable refuge for nearby fauna and wildlife. These sanctuaries host diverse habitats supporting indigenous flora and fauna and nurturing local biodiversity.