12 May The Best Open Gardens In Suffolk
7 Great Gardens to Visit in Suffolk this Summer
If you’re looking for some gardening inspiration and a great day out, head to one of Suffolk’s fantastic public gardens this summer.
An area renowned for its natural beauty, Suffolk is home to some beautiful gardens; from traditional English lawns and parkland, to gardens which take inspiration from classical Italian designs, and lots more besides.
Many of these gardens are open to the public for at least part of the year, so if you’re looking for some gardening inspiration or just want to relax in beautiful surroundings, why not plan a day out at one of these fantastic Suffolk gardens?
Riverside House, Clare
Riverside House Gardens
Situated in the picturesque village of Clare, on the River Stour, Riverside House is home to charming gardens that slope gently towards the river and are bordered with colourful flowerbeds. You can even hire one of the rowing boats that dot the river – perfect if you’d like to see the garden from another perspective. As it’s a private garden, it’s only open on selected days throughout the year so make sure you phone ahead or check the website before visiting.
Kentwell Hall, Long Melford
Kentwell Hall
Kentwell Hall in Long Melford is a traditional Tudor-style mansion. However, the gardens are far from traditional, offering a variety of unexpected sights and attractions, including a large galleon, a castle made from yew trees, and even groups of people in full Tudor dress. As well as its general open days, the hall and gardens also play host to a number of special events throughout the year, such as opera performances, an open-air cinema and a Christmas fair.
Christchurch Park, Ipswich
Christchurch Park
Located in Ipswich, Christchurch Park is a great destination for nature lovers, offering over 70 acres of lawns and woodland, a botanical garden of trees, and over 100 species of birds. If you’re after a bit of culture, you can also head inside to Christchurch Mansion, home to an art gallery and museum that holds the largest collection of works by Gainsborough and Constable outside London. Christchurch Park is open to visitors all year round.
Somerleyton Hall & Gardens, Somerleyton
Somerleyton Hall and Gardens
The elegant Victorian-style Somerleyton Hall is surrounded by exquisite gardens, which offer plenty of highlights, including a 90m blossom pergola, a walled garden, and what is reportedly one of the finest yew mazes in Britain. The gardens are also home to a selection of ornate greenhouses, which were built by Joseph Paxton, who is famous for designing Crystal Palace. Somerleyton Hall and its gardens are open to the public between April and September.
The Place for Plants, East Bergholt
The Place for Plants East Bergholt
If plants and flowers are your main interest, head to The Place for Plants in East Bergholt, which is open from April to late September. Set in the heart of ‘Constable Country’, this 20-acre garden and arboretum offers an array of botanical delights, including fruit trees, wildflowers, rose gardens and unusual flowering trees. And if you’re inspired by what you see, you can even pick up your own seeds to grow at home at the garden’s plant centre.
Ickworth House & Gardens, Horringer
Ickworth House & Gardens Horringer
It may be located in Suffolk, but with its Italianate gardens, neoclassical rotundas, and treasures from 18th century Europe, Ickworth House will make you feel as if you’ve been transported back to classical Italy. As well as strolling through tranquil parkland, visitors to the gardens can also enjoy a number of unique highlights, including a magical stumpery made from dead trees, and a seasonal meadow with flowers that change naturally throughout the year. Ickworth House and Gardens are open all year, with cheaper entry prices during the winter months.
Helmingham Hall, Helmingham
Helmingham Hall Gardens
The gardens surrounding Helmingham Hall are designed and maintained by award-winning gardener Lady Xa Tollemache – and it shows! Open to the public from May to September, the gardens are made up of twelve distinct areas, each focusing on different types of plants (e.g. fruits, herbs, flowers), and connected by picturesque bridges and walkways. It is also home to a herd of red deer.
While you may not have the space and budget of these impressive gardens, they can still provide you with some inspiration to help create your own outdoor space. Cultivating a garden however can take a lot of time and effort, so if you’re not particularly green-fingered, you can always fake it with ready-made hanging baskets and flower pots, and an artificial lawn.
We are experienced in supplying and fitting high quality artificial grass in Suffolk, so talk to us today to find out how we can help you to create the perfect garden that you can enjoy all year round.
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