Gorgeously organic and ripe for a visit

Lead image: South Newington House, Oxon – opens by arrangement to October © Andrew Lawson

The National Garden Scheme’s portfolio of gardens has always reflected the changing trends in gardens across the UK. In the last ten years we have been mindful of the dramatic drop in biodiversity across the country and that gardens can provide homes and vital stepping stones for native wildlife. This trend has been reflected in the much more relaxed, natural style of gardens, the increase in the use of organic principles, the move away from chemicals and the acceptance of spaces left to grow wild in many of the gardens that open for the Scheme. When once a neatly striped lawn and vibrant bedding plants were the mark of a good garden, now swathes of grasses, drifts of wildflowers and planting for pollinators are much more the norm, with many gardeners creating both formal and informal areas in their outdoor spaces.

We explore the wild and the wonderful, the organic and the sustainable gardens opening in September and beyond …

Balmoral Cottage, Kent opens Sunday 5 October
A fabulous varied, romantic garden with extensive topiary and organically managed vegetable gardens.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/34649/balmoral-cottage

Broadacre, Solihull opens By arrangement.
Broadacre is a nature garden which we manage organically. Attractively landscaped with pools, lawns and trees, beehives, vegetable area and adjoining stream and wildflower meadows.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/25521/broadacre

Bush House, Oxon – opens by arrangement to October
Set in eight acres, over 13 years, a two acre garden has emerged. Herbaceous borders partner dual level ponds and stream. The terrace leads to a walled parterre framed by roses and wisteria. The ‘wildflower meadow’ (sown 2021) orchard is screened by rose and vine covered wrought iron trellis. Kitchen gardens, greenhouses and fruit cage provide organically grown produce.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/32075/bush-house

102 Cambridge Road, Herts – opens by arrangement to 17 October
Contemporary space sympathetically redesigned in 2017 to keep many of the existing plants, trees and shrubs from a 1930s semi’s garden. Modern take on the classic garden in two halves: ornamental and vegetable. All-year interest gabion borders packed with perennials and annuals, central bed featuring a pond and a mature Japanese maple. We grow all our vegetables and annuals from seed which gives us more choice and freedom as well as saves money. We garden organically, collecting ash from bonfires, creating our own tomato and plant feed and composting as much as we can.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/35017/102-cambridge-road

Coxbench Hall, Derbyshire – opens 7 September and by arrangement to end October
Former ancestral Georgian Home of the Meynell family, the gardens focus on sustainability, organic and wildlife friendly themes. There is a tropical style garden, ponds, hostas, fruits, C18 potting shed, veteran yew tree and hillside terraced garden of wildflowers and trees with a curved stone path incorporating reclaimed sleepers. A stoned path by the upper woodland overlooks the gardens below.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/25665/coxbench-hall

Dragons, Essex – opens 19 July and By arrangement to 24 October
Dragons’ is a country garden which, although not totally organic, is very much a wild life garden with chemicals used only sparingly. Four large compost heaps contain many mini-beasts and, at the last count, 200 grass snake hatchlings. Toads, frogs, moles, squirrels and many bird species are at home here.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/16414/dragons

Five Oaks Cottage, Sussex – opens 3 and 4 October
This is an award winning organic garden that has featured in many magazines. It is designed to encourage maximum wildlife, with a knapweed meadow on clay, attracting clouds of butterflies. As you might expect, there is also an organically managed vegetable garden, and chickens.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/14137/five-oaks-cottage

Frankham Farm, Dorset –  opens 12 October
Frankham Farm is a working farm (organic arable and livestock). The garden has a large lawn with herbaceous borders, an attractively laid out vegetable garden, and woodland walks underplanted with spring bulbs, camellias, magnolias, azaleas and cornus. Vegetables, shrubs and trees are well-labelled.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/7907/frankham-farm

The Growth Project, Lancs – opens 27 July and by arrangement to 2 October
The project covers over an acre inc a huge variety of organic veg, wildlife pond, insect hotels, formal flower and Japanese garden, potager, cut flower and woodland garden. See the mock Elizabethan strawbale build, the witch’s hat, and railway station. Stroll down the pergola walk to the secret annual wildflower meadow, orchard and theatre.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/33364/the-growth-project

Holmlea, Derbyshire– opens 13 and 14 September and by arrangement 15 Sept to 3 October
Extended over a period of 12 years from the original ½ acre mature garden the plot now covers 1½ acres and is constantly evolving. The planning has been undertaken with nature in mind with specific planting for wildlife and areas left to grow naturally. The garden is managed organically and visitors who keep chickens or ducks or are thinking of doing so may be interested to see how we garden alongside our feathered friends. Roses are a feature in June, late summer perennials, dahlias and salvias in September.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/35995/holmlea

Llanllyr, Ceredigion – opens by arrangement to 27 September
This is a romantic rather than a tidy garden which the owners look after themselves with minimal help and manage as far as possible organically.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/10853/llanllyr

South Newington House, Oxon – by arrangement to October
A tree lined drive leads to a garden of interest. Herbaceous borders designed for year-round colour. Organic kitchen garden with established beds, rotation and companion planting. Orchard of fruit trees with a pond for wildlife and hydration for the hives. Walled parterre planted for seasonal colour. A family garden, designed to blend seamlessly into the environment; a warm welcome awaits you.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/15180/south-newington-house

Trevina House, Cornwall – dates through to October
The gardens at Trevina are both old and new. From a Victorian cottage garden with original cobbled paths to rewilded woodland. A trout pond occupies the site of a medieval fish pond and the site of a Cornish Round. There is a traditional kitchen garden and organic orchard. The gardens have colour and interest year-round, from the first snowdrops, bluebells, apple blossom and ripe apples in October.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/44980/trevina-house

Ty Cadfan Sant, Gwynedd, – by arrangement until 28 September
Large eco friendly garden. In the front, shrubbery, mixed flower beds and roses surround a mature copper beech. Six steps lead to the largely productive back garden which has an apiary in the orchard, fruit, vegetables, flowers and a polytunnel. Plenty of seating throughout.
For details: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/31787/ty-cadfan-sant

For top tips from Sarah Mead of Yeo Valley on gardening organically CLICK HERE