Visiting Times

Here are the gardens open to the public this week. Please note openings are subject to change so readers should check by phoning venues before travelling.

Saturday May 8

Skipton Mart Theatre. Two top gardeners will be the star attractions at Skipton's first 'hand's on' garden festival by the Mart Theatre – and the first of its kind in the UK. Experts Pippa Greenwood, of Gardeners World and BBC Radio 4 Gardeners Question Time, and BBC Radio Leeds' Joe Maiden will be attending the Let it Grow event today at Skipton Auction Mart. Suitable for garden novices and experts 'Let it Grow' is aimed at anyone who is passionate about 'growing your own'. The event is packed with activities including workshops, demonstrations and talks that offer advice from growing in pots to bee keeping, composting and how to make the most out of garden produce.

Tickets on the door 3.50. Children under 16 free. Contact The Mart Theatre on www.themarttheatre.org.uk or 01756 709666.

Sunday May 9

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Firvale Allotment Garden, Winney Hill, Harthill, near Worksop. Thirteen island beds with herbaceous, euphorbia collection, vegetables. Adults 2, children free. 1-4pm. 01909 771366.

The Old Vicarage, Low Road, Holbeach, Hurn. Mature trees, croquet lawn, borders, roses, herb garden. Adults 3, children free. 2-5pm.

The Orchards, Old Somerby, near Grantham. Acre garden with borders, pond, bog garden, fruit and veg. Adults 3, children free. 2-6pm.

Wednesday May 12

24 Red Bank Road, Whitcliffe Lane, Ripon. Raised beds, rockeries, species peonies, alpines. Admission 2, children free. 2-5pm.

Regular openings

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The Arboretum Trust, Kew, at Castle Howard. Acres of stunning parkland with rare and beautiful trees. Open every day, 10am-6pm. Last admission 4pm. Adults 5, children 2.50. More information on www.kewatch.co.uk

Cannon Hall, Cawthorne, Barnsley. Seventy acres of parkland and gardens. Weekdays and Sundays 10.30am-4pm.

Saturday 3pm. Free entry, 2 parking charge. Cafs on site in car park (open daily) and museum (weekends/ school holidays only). More information on 01226 790270 or visit www.barnsley.gov.uk

Dove Cottage Nursery and Garden, Shibden Hall Road, Halifax. Specialising in herbaceous perennials and grasses. Shop. Open Tues-Sun, 10am-5pm. 01422 203553 or log on to www.dovecottagenursery.co.uk

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The Garden House, Saxby, Lincolnshire (nine miles north of Lincoln). Eight acres with new woodland, wild flower meadows, bulbs, rare trees, ponds, formal yew, box and beech hedging, roses and herbaceous planting, prairie border, large bog garden and dry garden, iris collection. Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays, 10am-5pm. Admission 3.50. www.thegardenhousesaxby.co.uk 01673 878820

Helmsley Walled Garden. Daily 10.30am-5pm. 01439 771427. www.helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk

Himalayan Garden, Grewelthorpe, near Ripon. More than 1,000 different varieties of species and hybrid rhododendrons as well as 250 azalea varieties and 170 different magnolias, plus hundreds of sculptures. Open daily (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays) until June 13, 10am-4pm. Adults 6, under-1s2 free. 01765 658009 or www.himalayangarden.com

Lotherton Hall, Leeds. Unusual plants, formal geometry, secret gardens and woodland walks. Grounds free, car parking charges apply. Open all year. Further information on 0113 2645535; www.leeds.gov.uk/ lothertonhall

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Newby Hall and gardens. Forty acres filled of plants and seasonal gardens. Sculpture park, adventure playground. 11am-5pm. Adults (gardens only) 8.50, children 7. www.newbyhall.com

Parcevall Hall Gardens, Skyreholme, near Appletreewick. Twenty-four acres of Yorkshire's best – herbaceous, trees, shrubs, streams, rock gardens, terraces. Plant sales. Adults 5.75, children free. Daily, 10am-6pm. 01756 720311 or visit www.parcevallhallgardens.co.uk

Primrose Bank Nursery. Dauby Lane, Kexby, York. Specialising in unusual hardy perennials and shrubs. Also plants for the Shade or Woodland Garden. Open Thursday to Sunday 10am-5pm and Bank Holiday Mondays. 01759 380220 or 07774 944447 or visit www.primrosebank.co.uk

RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate. 58 acres of gorgeous gardens, open every day from 9.30am. RHS members free, adults 7, children 6-16 2.50, under-6 free. Call 01423 565418 or rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr

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Ripley Castle Gardens, Harrogate. Beautiful walled gardens, massive herbaceous borders, unusual plants, hothouses, lakes and deer park. Adults 4, children 2.50, under-fives free. 01423 770152 or www.ripleycastle.co.uk

Sewerby Hall & Gardens, near Bridlington. Set in 50 acres of parkland and award-winning formal and walled gardens. Visit www.sewerby-hall.co.uk

Slack Top Nurseries and garden, Heptonstall, Hebden Bridge. Extensive range of alpine and non-alpine plants. Open Friday-Sunday 10am-5pm (and Bank Holidays). 01422 845348 e-mail www.slacktopnurseries.co.uk

Sledmere House, near Driffield. Country house garden surrounded by Capability Brown parkland, walled garden, adventure playground, art gallery. Grounds open Tues-Sun (closed Sat) 10am-5pm and BH Mons & Sats. Adults 5, children 2. 01377 236637 or www.sledmerehouse.com

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Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens, Stewart Lane, Stillingfleet, York. A stunning 'cottage' garden and nursery open every Wednesday and Friday and the first and third Saturday and Sunday of every month from 1pm-5pm. Adults 4, children 5-16 50p. www.stillingfleetlodgenurseries.co.uk

Sutton Park, Sutton on the Forest, York. Herbaceous and rose borders, Edwardian fernery, Georgian icehouse, woodland walk and children's adventure playground. Adults 3.50, children.

Daily 11am-5pm. 01347 810249 or visit www.statelyhome.co.uk

Temple Newsam, Leeds. From informal areas, lakeside planting, to the formal walled garden. Grounds free, car parking charges. Information on 0113 2645535 or www.leeds.gov.uk/ templenewsam

The Walled Garden at Scampston, near Malton. A stunning garden with a series of hedged enclosures with a wide variety of planting. Adults 5, children 2.50. Tues-Sunday and BH Mondays, 10am-5pm. Visit www.scampston.co.uk

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Wentworth Castle Gardens, Lowe Lane, Stainborough, Barnsley. Gardens open daily, 10am-4pm. Caf. Adult 4.50, senior (60+) 3.50, child (5-16) 2.50, under-5 free, parking free with garden ticket.

Entrance to parkland free. Tel: 01226 776040; www.wentworthcastle. org

Wentworth Woodhouse Gardens, Wentworth, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Ornamental gardens. Coffee shop. Admission by donation.

Access via Wentworth Garden Centre. Open 9.30am-4pm. 01226 744842 or visit www.wentworthgardencentre.co.uk

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Wolds Way Lavender, Wintringham, Malton. Twelve acres of lavender, waterfalls and ponds,distillery, miniature railway, nature trail and wildflower walk. Admission charge to main gardens. Open Sunday-Thursday 10-4pm. Open daily July and August 10-5pm. 01944

758641www.woldswaylavender.com

Wortley Hall Gardens, Wortley, near Sheffield. Some 26 acres of elegant Italianate gardens set within landscaped parkland. Entry by voluntary donation payable at reception. 9.30am-4pm. 0114 288 2100 or [email protected]

York Gate, Adel, Leeds Perhaps the finest small garden in the country – stunning architectural features, immaculate topiary and exquisite vistas, plus a profusion of bulbs early flowering perennials.

Open every Thursday, Sunday (2pm-5pm) and Bank Holiday weekends (Easter, May and August), 11pm-5pm. Adults 3.80 for adults, accompanied children free. 0113 2678240 www.perennial.org.uk

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Yorkshire Lavender & Howardian Herbs, Terrington, York. Lavender farm and gardens, Specialist plant nursery, sculpture park, deer park, gift shop and tea room. Free admission. Open daily 10am-5pm. Tel: 01653 648008, www.yorkshirelavender.com

Anyone wishing to advertise a garden opening for charity should email [email protected], stating the location of the event, date, time, admission price, a contact number and/or website, and a brief description of the garden – at least two weeks before the event.

YP MAG 8/5/10