Nottinghamshire’s National Garden Scheme opening in Norwell, Whatton, and Normanton on Trent this week

You can help local charities simply by visiting one of many open gardens this week.

Visitors to National Garden Scheme’s open gardens are spoiled for choice, from vibrant borders to peaceful water features and kitchen garden.

Opening tonight (Wednesday), Norwell Gardens will be opening for its 29th year from 6pm to 8.30pm, a garden nursery of national renown.

On top of the nursery, six other village gardens will be opening this evening, including the beautiful medieval church and churchyard with grass labyrinth will be open for quiet contemplation and a large allotment site with parish gardens.

The gardens are wheelchair accessible, and there will be plants for sale, parking, and refreshments available.

Then on Sunday, Normanton Hall on South St. Normanton on Trent, will be open from 1 pm to 6 pm — a three-acre garden which is described as a tree lover’s paradise, featuring mature oaks, lime, beech and yew with more recent additions of hardwood trees in an arboretum, Rhododendron and Camellia Walk, and recently established parkland, with award-winning woodland.

Picnics are welcome on poolside lawn, with wheelchair access, plants for sale, and refreshments.

Over in Whatton, Whatton Gardens, on 5 Burton Lane, will be opening 11am to 4pm. An organic cottage style garden which is productive, highly decorative and wildlife friendly with colour and scent from spring to autumn.

Cedarwood is a plant-woman’s garden developed over 20 years and planted for year-round colour and their attractiveness to wildlife. It includes various mixed orders, a pond, alpine crevice garden and woodland planting.

A new garden opening is The Cottage, a walled cottage garden with generous herbaceous borders, wine covered pergola, herb area, patios, vegetable patch, and roses — a plant lovers paradise. Refreshments and plants for sale at 5 Burton Lane.