Gardens, Birds & Vineyards

Gardener’s world

Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens is an inspirational venue comprising 7.5 acres of gardens harnessing ecological planting.

Created by the late award-winning gardener, author and lecturer Beth Chatto OBE, her incredible work at the gardens began in 1960.

She took an overgrown wasteland of brambles, parched gravel and boggy ditches and transformed it into an inspirational, informal garden using plants that thrive in different conditions: the right plant for the right place.

Beth oversaw the development of the site into her 90s and today the gardens remain a family-run business, managed by her granddaughter Julia Boulton.

There are five main areas of the garden – all dealing with challenging soils and aspects and showing what becomes possible when you work with nature rather than against it.

Gravel Garden Once a car park, the world-renowned Gravel Garden featuring drought-tolerant plants was originally established by Beth and her team as an experiment. Now, it is famous for the fact that it is never irrigated despite being situated in one of the driest parts of the country and with poor, free-draining soil. Water Garden The Water Garden includes a series of ponds and moisture-loving plants. It’s a fantastically serene area and deserving of a visit on a hot day as the temperature by the water is several degrees cooler than the rest of the gardens.

Woodland Garden The Woodland Garden is full of shadeloving bulbs, perennials and shrubs planted underneath a dense canopy of tall oaks, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.

Reservoir Garden An open sunny area, redesigned recently in Beth Chatto’s riverbed style.

Scree Garden For those who have problem areas in their garden, the Scree Garden provides the solution for many – a large collection of easy alpines emulating the growing conditions of stony, mountainous slopes.

A special area has also been created to remember lost loved ones - the Reflection Garden offers a tranquil place where visitors can sit and reflect on their memories.

Info

ESSEX

Adults: £9.95 Children: £2 each Booking is essential – please visit website for the latest opening hours and information.

Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens Elmstead Market, Clacton Rd, Elmstead Colchester CO7 7DB 01206 822 007 bethchatto.co.uk

Wing your way

Like the name suggests, it offers a fi esta of feathered friends – but Birdworld is home to everything fl uffy and furry too!

Birdworld has more than 2,000 birds and other animals, from guinea pigs and rabbits to goats, sheep and even reindeer.

Penguins never fail to raise a smile and here you will fi nd two species, with feeding sessions taking place twice a day.

The humboldt penguins, which originate from the coastal regions of Chile and Peru, have been a popular feature at Birdworld ever since Penguin Island opened in 1982. Since that time, the venue has achieved huge success in breeding the species.

African penguins (also known as Jackass penguins) are a more recent addition to the park. Their home, Penguin Beach, is a re-creation of Robben Island, just off the coast of South Africa.

Entering the exhibit via the Robben Island ferryboat, you will fi nd yourself on the quayside, overlooking the water with views back towards Table Top Mountain.

Parrots, budgies, hornbills, toucans, waders, cranes, storks, rheas, emus, owls…this is a bird lover’s paradise and much more.

Info

For tickets, opening times and information, please visit website.

Birdworld Holt Pound, Farnham Surrey GU10 4LD 01420 22140 birdworld.co.uk SURREY

It’s a corker

Giffords Hall is a family-owned vineyard in picturesque, open country at the heart of the upper Stour Valley in Suffolk.

The sandy/clay soil produces quality grapes, high in natural sugars and acids, which lend themselves particularly well to both sparkling and dry aromatic still wines.

Giffords Hall makes white, sparkling, rosé and red wines with a delicate floral character very typical of the region, and is particularly known for its Bacchus white and the rosé.

A winner of many medals and awards both nationally and internationally for quality and consistency, this is one of the premier East Anglian vineyards mentioned recently in The Times ‘best 10 vineyards to visit’. There is a a winery, shop and al fresco café, along with Barrel Hall for larger corporate and private events. Visitors are welcome every day except Mondays with regular private and group tours run throughout the summer.

Group tours start at £19.50 per person, while private cheese and wine tours for two start at £98 taking in the vineyard, Barrel Hall, winery and a private, tutored tasting of three wines and three liqueurs accompanied by a local cheese platter.

Info

Giffords Hall Vineyard Hartest Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP29 4EX 01284 830799 info@giffordshall.co.uk giffordshall.co.uk