Join us in early May to explore three large country gardens within a short walk of each other: The Plant Library of over 2,000 species of perennials and bulbs, Tom and Sue Stuart-Smith’s Barn Garden and Kate Stuart-Smith’s neighbouring Serge Hill Garden.
The Plant Library is a living catalogue of perennials and bulbs and this mid Spring opening will showcase many of them at their best including Benton Iris, Alliums, Eremurus, Amsonia, Epimedium, Ornithogalum, Camassia, Euphorbia and many more.
The Barn Garden includes an enclosed courtyard with corten water tanks, the west garden with large areas of herbaceous planting in a formal frame of yew and hornbeam hedges, the vegetable garden, meadow, wildlife pond and prairie. This is the freshest and greenest time of year. The giant fennel which is naturalised in the west garden is always a spectacle and camassias and bluebells blend into one another on the chicken bank.
Open only for a select period of the summer, Kate Stuart-Smith’s Serge Hill Garden is a romantic garden embracing a Regency house, with wonderful views over rolling parkland, the ha-ha ha and beyond and a walled kitchen garden bursting with orderly rows of produce, disorderly self-seeded annuals and perennials. The walls are crowded with climbers and shrubs.
The Plant Library and The Barn Garden will be open to visit between 10.00am–1.00pm, with refreshments and seasonal site baked cakes available to enjoy within The Apple House (available by pre-order only).
Pop-up plant sales will be hosted by The Plant Library team and Sunnyside Rural Trust’s on-site Orchard Nursery, providing the opportunity to take home distinctive and unusual plants grown from The Plant Library stock.
All profits from ticket and refreshment sales goes directly to support the work of our not-for-profit, The Serge Hill Project for Gardening Creativity and Health, which provides therapeutic and educational programmes to local schools, charities and community groups most in need.
Tickets are limited to only 50 per garden visit, meaning you can enjoy the tranquility of the gardens with only a small number of other visitors.
Visitor Information
The gardens are open from 10am–1pm, and it usually takes around two hours to walk around The Barn Garden and The Plant Library. Please note that it is possible to pre-book tea, coffee and cake to enjoy during your visit.
Parking onsite is limited so please car-share or come by public transport wherever possible.
Please note this is a no smoking and no vaping site.
Accessibility
Accessible parking for those who require it is available directly outside The Apple House. There is step-free access to the building and all areas. However, there are many potential trip hazards and uneven surfaces that may be encountered whilst visiting the gardens, along with gravel paths that aren’t suitable for walking frames with wheels.
The gardens are extensive so there’s a lot of ground to cover. Please be aware that due to the ongoing building works around the Orchard, there may be additional hazards to look out for.
We have a mobility scooter available for use. If you would like to reserve it, please contact info@sergehillproject.co.uk