A work of art in North Yorkshire

DAVID Overend discovers the Himalayas – near Ripon.

Among other plants, the gardens – a Yorkshire Rural Awards winner in 2009 – have more than 1,000 different varieties of species and hybrid rhododendrons, 250 azalea varieties and 170 different magnolias.

Exotic names now flourishing there include the rare Schefflera Impressa from Northern India; Rhododendron Sinofalconeri; a 120-year-old Rhododendron Loderi ‘Venus’; a Daphniphyllum Macropodum, from Korea, and a Catalina Ironwood which comes from the Catalina Islands off California.

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The gardens are also home to numerous sculptures by both well-known and aspiring sculptors. These include a dramatic 9ft swift by Hamish Mackie; the Pinnacle water feature, by Giles Rayner; Samara, by Rebecca Newman, and a Standing Hare, by Christopher Marvell.

Every year, The Hutts’ owner, Peter Roberts – who has created the magnificent gardens in the last few years, transforming a north-facing area of woodland and virtual scrub into a miniature version of Nepal, China, Bhutan – commissions more sculptures, which he then positions among the trees and shrubs to make the most of the magnificent setting.

There is also a nursery selling nearly 200 different varieties of rhododendron as well as many other ericaceous shrubs and perennials, sown and germinated by the gardeners at The Hutts.

The garden is open daily (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays) until June 12, 10am-4pm.

For more information, visit www.himalayangarden.com

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