************* Garden Owners, Please copy this information and paste it into an email to: wb [at] armchair-travel [dot] com Please make any changes in BRIGHT RED in your email back to us. Regards, Armchair Travel Co Ltd http://www.armchair-travel.com ************* Garden Name: The Abbey House Gardens Last Modified: 12/01/2011 Garden ID: 0312 pic: 0312_AbbeyHouse.jpg Owner: Ian & Barbara Pollard Address: The Market Cross Malmesbury Postcode: SN16 9AS County: Wiltshire tel: 01666-822212 fax: 01666-822782 website: www.abbeyhousegardens.co.uk email: info {at} abbeyhousegardens.co.uk Features: Plantsman's collection of plants, herbaceous borders and roses of every kind in an exemplary design with good colour contrasts. Spring bulbs and autumn colour. herb garden, water features and fruit cordons. English Heritage Grade: Opening Times: 20th Mar; Sun for NGS 21st Mar - 31st Oct; every day; 11am - 5.30pm. Best Times of Year to Visit: Spring Summer To see: Bulbs (over 50,000) Roses (over 2,000) National Collection: National Garden Scheme days: Yes Comments: 20th Mar; 11am - 5.30pm. Parties / Coaches: Yes Comments: Viewing by Appointment: Yes Comments: House Open for Viewing: Yes Comments: For groups of 20+ Additional £5 per person Admission Prices: Adult £7; Child (5-15) £3; Concessions £6. Season tickets Adults £35; Child £12,50; Over 60s £30; Family £75. Special Group Rates for 20+ persons £5.50pp HHA members free. Parking: Yes Lavatories: Yes Disabled Access: No Shop: No Plants for Sale: Yes Lunches: Yes Teas: Yes Refreshments: Yes Picnics: Yes Dogs allowed: No Only on Lead: No Events: Yes Other Facilities: No Smoking. Disabled Access to 60 per cent of the garden. Designer: Ian Pollard Description of Garden: This remarkable five acre garden has been made by the owners, the Pollards, since 1995. Two thousand different roses have been planted to celebrate the Millennium, together with 2,000 different herb cultivars. There are numerous other features in the garden that make it well worth visiting, including an arcaded fruit walk, a knot garden, huge herbaceous borders, a formal garden and a beautiful and very striking laburnum tunnel. Overall, it is the design and planting which are so distinctive. It is rare to find so much that is bold, varied and inspirational. The woodland garden running down to the river is home to thousands of Spring bulbs and in this part of the garden are fish ponds and a waterfall. There are also heather banks and a fernery here. The garden was featured on the BBC's Gardener's World programme in June 2002 and Alan Titchmarsh is quoted as saying "The Wow factor is here in abundance!". History: Local Inns: The Smoking Dog, Malmesbury The King's Arms, Malmesbury Horse & Groom, Charlton Accomodation: Lovett Farm, Lower Somerford, Malmesbury The Old Bell Hotel, Malmesbury Hundred House Hotel, Norton Restaurants: Amanda's, Malmesbury The Whole Hog,, Malmesbury Village/Town/Sightseeing: Located in the centre of ancient Malmesbury with the Abbey, Museum, River, and good shops.