RHS Garden Bridgewater and Gardens of the North West

After breakfast we depart for our visit to the brand new RHS Garden Bridgewater at Worsley, to the west of Manchester. This once in a generation project will see the Royal Horticultural Society take inspiration from the heritage of the site and transform it into a world-class garden, while also delivering a programme of community outreach and education activities, volunteering and training. Based on an overall design by leading landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith, highlights will include one of the largest walled gardens in the UK, beautifully landscaped grounds, living plant collections and horticultural trials.

In the afternoon we visit a nearby private garden which in contrast to Bridgewater is much smaller but no less intriguing. Beautifully structured, this quarter acre south facing garden is carefully terraced with a hazel arch opening to a clay paved courtyard with peach trees. Rose pillars lead to herbaceous beds and there are quiet shaded areas bordered by fuchsias, azaleas and rhododendrons. 

Following breakfast we visit the gardens at Dunham Massey. Previously a garden of straight lines and regimented planting favoured by the 2nd Earl of Stamford and Warrington, the garden became the family’s pleasure ground under the 5th Earl when sweeping lawns and meandering paths were introduced. Shunned by Cheshire society, 7th Earl George Harry and his wife, former circus performer Catharine Cox, abandoned Dunham in 1856 and the garden was left unchanged for the rest of the 19th century. After being pressed into service to help the war effort in both world wars, Dunham Massey was taken over by the National Trust in 1976 and work began to transform the garden to its former glory. It was decided that the garden would have an Edwardian pleasure ground feel with the freedom to choose from a range of planting options, with native favourites alongside exotic treasures. The garden continues to evolve today - modern additions include the Rose Garden and the Winter Garden.

Later we visit Tatton Park, whose gardens have developed over 200 years yet retain much of their Edwardian character. Lewis William Wyatt and Joseph Paxton, architect of Crystal Palace, designed various elements including the Conservatory which is now open following a comprehensive restoration programme. Other features include a vegetable garden used for growing varieties of plant known to be cultivated at Tatton during the Edwardian era such as 'Scarlet Emperor' runner beans, 'Fat Lazy Blonde' lettuce and 'British Queen' potatoes and a fine representation of a Japanese garden, thought to be the result of Alan de Tatton’s visit to the Anglo-Japanese Exhibition at the White City in London in 1910.

After breakfast we check out of the hotel and depart for a visit to Arley Hall. A pair of herbaceous borders was laid out here in 1846 and they survive to this day, beautifully maintained - one of the great garden sights of England. There are also old walled gardens with good mixed borders and a simple terraced walk above a ha-ha. Still in private hands, Arley Hall preserves the atmosphere of a garden kept for its own delight.

Following this, our final visit, we return to our original pick-up points.