Mid Devon Gardens Open for Charity in 2024
The National Open Garden Scheme (NGS) offers a chance to see some wonderful gardens, often not usually open to the public, all while supporting some worthy charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support and The Queen’s Nursing Institute.
There is a whole host of fabulous gardens opening their gates across the whole of Devon, including some real gems of our own here in Mid Devon. Read on for a summary of the places waiting to welcome you with their brilliant blooms and fabulous foliage.
Ashley Court
Ashley, Tiverton, EX16 5PD
A small Regency House hidden away on the edge of Tiverton, with the garden currently undergoing a loving restoration. Explore the historically interesting walled kitchen garden and discover unusual features, as well as the apple loft, stable buildings and woodland walk. Walk through the garden, uncovering history.
Delicious cakes on offer, along with produce from the kitchen garden.
Open Dates: Saturday 16th March, Sunday 26th May, Sunday 25th August.
Ashley Court NGS Listing : https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/43098/ashley-court
Backswood Farm
Bickleigh, Tiverton, EX16 8RA
A beautiful nature garden designed with wildlife in mind. Stroll through the flower meadow and explore individually designed ‘rooms’ with water features and and pools. Enjoy stunning views towards Exmoor and Dartmoor while you take in the natural environment and savour a homemade tea.
Dogs on leads welcome and toilets available.
Open Dates: Saturday 6th July, Sunday 7th July
Backswood Farm NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/42549/backswood-farm
Bradford Tracey House
Witheridge, Tiverton, EX16 8QG
This former Regency hunting lodge boasts a lovely pleasure garden featuring grasses, shrubs and huge trees. The garden is planted with sustainability in mind, offering up harvests of flowers, fruit, herbs and vegetables. Take in the beautiful views over the lake, soak up the atmosphere in the forest walks and discover the oriental treehouse garden.
Homemade cakes to enjoy in the garden and plants for sale.
Open Dates: Sunday 19th May
Bradford Tracey House NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/37508/bradford-tracey-house
Chevithorne Barton
Chevithorne, Tiverton, EX16 7QB
This wonderful walled garden in particularly nice in Autumn, when you’ll find lots of Autumn colour, but offers lots to see through all the seasons. Wander through the woodland of rare trees and meander through the grass meadows, taking in the large collection of magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons.
Delicious Cream Teas available. Home to a National Collection of Quercus (Oaks).
Open Dates: Sunday 24th March, Sunday 26th May, Sunday 28th July, Sunday 27th October
Chevithorne Barton NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/11697/chevithorne-barton
East Worlington House
East Worlington, Witheridge, Crediton, EX17 4TS
Thousands of purple crocuses burst open every year in this 2 acre garden situated overlooking the Little Dart river valley. The crocuses stretch from the garden into the neighbouring churchyard.
Enjoy walks from the garden across the the river and into the woods.
Open Dates: Sunday 25th February, Sunday 3rd March
East Worlington House NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/30019/east-worlington-house
NEW
Highland House
Cadbury, Exeter, EX5 5LA
Nestled between Tiverton and Crediton, this multi-level garden is filled with herbaceous borders, a beautiful fragrant rose garden, ponds, vegetable garden and a newly established wildflower meadow and a woodland walk. Enjoy the far-ranging views over the surrounding countryside for the first time with NGS this year, and discover the garden sculptures. Little ones can enjoy the children’s trail.
Home-made teas on offer.
Open Dates: Saturday 22nd June, Sunday 23rd June.
Highland House NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/43097/highland-house
Kentisbeare House
Kentisbeare, Cullompton, EX15 2BR
The gardens here surround the listed former Kentisbeare rectory. They have been redesigned and planted to complement the surrounding countryside and feature formal beds, a lake walk, kitchen garden and glasshouse. Take a moment to enjoy the wildflower meadow and
orchard, and an interesting collection of trees and woodland plants.
Refreshments in aid of Churches Housing Action Team and NGS.
Open Dates: Saturday 8th June, Sunday 9th June.
Kentisbeare House NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/35190/kentisbeare-house
NEW
Keymelford House
Keymelford, Yeoford, Crediton, EX17 5JG
Nestled in a Mid Devon valley, explore these developing gardens for the first time with NGS this year. The gardens and sheep enclosures stretch over 5 acres and boast many interesting features, including a croquet lawn, small orchard, riverside walk and enclosed box edged Potager. Make sure you take in the spring-fed pond with its exotic plants.
Home-made teas on offer and plants for sale.
Open Dates: Saturday 17th August, Sunday 18th August
Keymelford House NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/45682/keymelford-house
Kia-Ora Farm and Gardens
Knowle Lane, Cullompton, EX15 1PZ
A peaceful haven to enjoy at leisure. These charming, extensive gardens have many water features that are the home to swans, ducks and other wildlife. Stroll around the borders, rockeries and nursery avenue, and appreciate the mature trees, rhododendrons and azaleas. Stop for a spot of novelty crazy golf before enjoying a traditional cream tea or delicious homemade cake.
Open Dates: Sunday 31st March, Monday 1st April, Sunday 21st April, Sunday 5th May, Monday 6th May, Sunday 26th May, Monday 27th May, Sunday 9th June, Sunday 23rd June, Sunday 14th July, Sunday 28th July, Sunday 11th August, Sunday 25th August, Monday 26th August, Sunday 8th September, Sunday 22nd September
Kia-Ora Farm and Gardens NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/16232/kia-ora-farm-gardens
Lewis Cottage
Spreyton, nr Crediton, EX17 5AA
Situated in a rural location on a south west slope, this garden harnesses and works with the natural landscape. A personal space that reflects those that have created it, and relish sharing it. Lots of fascinating features to be enjoyed, including a rose garden, natural dew pond, woodland walks and bog garden, herbaceous borders, fruit and vegetable garden and an outdoor poetry reading room.
Savour a home-made tea and browse the plant nursery to take a piece of the garden home with you.
Open Dates: Visits by arrangement 18th may to 8th September for groups 12 to 24.
Lewis Cottage NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/25097/lewis-cottage
Pounds
Hemyock, Cullompton, EX15 3QS
This lovely cottage garden with its colourful borders and roses is set within low flint walls with distant views. Wander along slate paths through the acer grove towards a swimming pool. In the traditional ridge and furrow orchard you’ll find fruit trees and beyond raised vegetable beds.
Home-made teas available. Some steps but this garden is mostly accessible.
Open Dates: Friday 19th April, Saturday 20th April, Friday 31st May, Saturday 1st June, Friday 14th June, Saturday 15th June, Friday 6th September, Saturday 7th September.
Pounds NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/37619/pounds
Regency House
Hemyock, EX15 3RQ
This 5 acre plantsman’s garden features lots of interesting and unusual trees and shrubs. You’ll find a comprehensive plant list which you can use to try your hand at identifying plants. With plenty of space to enjoy your own picnic, this garden is a tranquil space that you can take your time to bask in. Stroll around the walled produce garden, and explore the lake ponds and sweeping lawns. You’ll also find horse, Dexter cattel and sheep.
Enjoy teas on the terrace. This garden is mostly accessible.
Open Dates: Saturday 20th April, Sunday 21st April. Every Saturday and Sunday 1st June to 16th June. Saturday 19th October, Sunday 20th October.
Regency House NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/16445/regency-house
NEW
Rose Ash House
Rose Ash, South Molton, EX36 4RB
This informal garden, opening for the first time this year with NGS featuring fun mixed borders, rose arbour and vegetable garden comes with added interest. Martyn Rix, plant-hunter extraordinaire, will be in the garden to identify plants you bring along, while Melinda Hillard, a teacher of garden-design, can assist with garden planning. There will also be an exhibition of paintings capturing the Exmoor and North Devon countryside and the local church will be specially decorated for the weekend.
Cream teas cakes and other refreshments available.
Open Dates: Saturday 10th August, Sunday 11th August
Rose Ash NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/45727/rose-ash-house
Sherwood
Newton St Cyres, Exeter, EX5 5BT
This large garden contains two steep wooded valleys dotted with wildflowers, and extensive collections of magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons, maples and many more fabulous specimens. The garden’s steep slopes require sturdy footwear!
Delicious cream teas are on offer in this garden.
Sunday 14th April, Sunday 26th May, Sunday 23rd June, Sunday 13th October
Sherwood NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/14861/sherwood
Shutelake
Butterleigh, Cullompton, EX15 1PG
The garden on this working farm complements the tumbling Devon countryside with its terraces, full of warm summer perennials. The formal garden close to the house has a distinctly Mediterranean feel. Wander down to the natural pond, a host to lots of wildlife, and stroll along the woodland paths looking out for the sculptures on the way.
Saturday 1st June, Sunday 2nd June
Shutelake NGS Listing: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/22143/shutelake
By Arrangement
Did you know you can also arrange a special personalised visit to some of the gardens in this list for your club or group friends? Kia-Ora Farm and Gardens, Lewis Cottage, Pounds, Regency House, Sherwood and Shutelake all offer this service.
Check with the individual gardens for details.
For more information about all the gardens opening to the public this year, and for full details of opening times and admissions, head to the NGS website, or pick up a copy of the Devon guide from the Tourist information Service in Tiverton Museum. You’ll also find full directions for all of the gardens. It’s always best to check these in advance; some of the gardens are in rural locations and SatNav won’t always get you to the right place!
Garden photos courtesy of Ashley Court.
