These six private Dorset gardens offer a limited number of prebooked tickets for a special open day which may include a talk by the head gardener or owner, a guided tour of the gardens and grounds, light refreshments, or a lunch with wine. These exceptional gardens are otherwise not open for the National Garden Scheme.
The Old Rectory, Netherbury: An exceptional garden with the most wonderful spring colour which is also the cover star of the NGS Dorset booklet this year. The 5-acre garden features formal areas with topiary near house, large drifts of naturalistic planting elsewhere. Extensive bog garden with pond and stream, large collection of candelabra primulas and other moisture lovers. Hornbeam walk, wildflower areas and orchards.
Decorative kitchen/cutting garden. Morning includes introductory talk about the development of the garden by owners Simon and Amanda Mehigan, a plan of the garden and light refreshments. Regional finalist in The English Garden Nation’s Favourite Gardens.
Open: May 17 (11am-1pm) Cost: £25
Eastington Farm & Encombe House: This special opening combines two stunning Dorset gardens: Eastington Farm, Worth Matravers in the morning (the opening picture), followed by lunch at Encombe House, Kingston and an afternoon exploring their extensive gardens. Sitting within traditional Purbeck dry stone walling, the gardens which surround Eastington Farmhouse have been created over the last 25 years. It is divided into garden rooms each with a different planting theme. These include formal yew hedge pyramids, lonicera balls and cloud topiary alongside soft floral planting, an orchard of wildflowers, and a productive vegetable garden. Lovely sea views. The owners, Rachel and Alan James, welcome you with coffee at 10.30am, before giving a short talk on their garden, the history and its development and then you can explore. Proceedings then move to historic Encombe House and Estate where owners James and Arabella Gaggero host a light buffet lunch before giving an introductory talk and guided tour of their stunning garden which has been extensively redeveloped since 2009 by Tom Stuart-Smith. The main garden, to the south of the house, features large sweeping borders filled with grasses and perennials, alongside extensive lawns, lake and deep herbaceous beds. Afternoon tea with homemade cakes at 4pm.
When: June 6 (10.30am -5pm)
Cost: £90 includes buffet lunch with wine
Farrs: Enjoy several distinctive walled gardens, rolling lawns, sculpture and giant topiary around one of Beaminster’s historic town houses featuring John’s inspirational grasses garden, and Jennie’s riotous potager with an oak fruit cage. Glasshouse, straw bale studio, geese in orchard. Remarkable trees planked and seasoning in open sided barn for future commissions from John Makepeace, a renowned furniture designer. It starts at 2.30pm in the house, with a talk by John on his furniture design and recent commissions, followed by the opportunity to wander through the beautiful walled gardens. At 3.30pm, his wife Jennie gives a talk on plants, followed by a cream tea.
Open: June 14 and August 23 (2.30-4.30pm) Cost £40
Lulworth Castle House: Large coastal garden next to Lulworth Castle with views to the sea, this is a must for keen gardeners. Pleasure grounds surround a walled garden filled with roses and perennials, behind which sits a working kitchen garden. Scented walk leads to a wildflower meadow, lavender labyrinth and Islamic inspired garden with rills, fountains and tropical planting, gravel garden, rose garden with grasses, a deep Bannerman border by the pool, a 200-year-old wisteria, and a meadow with sculptures. Hosted by the owners, James and Sara Weld, it starts with an introductory talk on the gardens, followed by a guided tour accompanied by Sara and her gardening team. A truly amazing garden.
Open: July 6 (10.30am-1pm) Cost: £30
Stafford House: The gardens at Stafford House at West Stafford near Dorchester include a river walk and tree planting in the style of early 19th century Picturesque. This is one of only two sites in Dorset for which Humphry Repton (1752 –1818) prepared landscape proposals. When the house was extended by Benjamin Ferrey in 1848-50, the new building and gardens followed in the spirit of Repton's proposals. This special morning opening, hosted by Lord and Lady Fellowes, includes homemade elevenses underneath the turkey oak tree planted in 1633. After a short introductory talk on the garden and grounds, head gardener Andrew leads a tour of the garden. Julian and Emma Fellowes are happy to answer any questions about the house, garden, and of course Downtown Abbey or any of Julian’s work. Expect a thoroughly entertaining morning.
Open: July 7 (10am – 12pm) Cost: £50
Prebook at ngs.org.uk/dorset-special-garden-events. For any queries on these special openings, contact Ali Wright on 01935 83652 or alison.wright@ngs.org.uk
