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Garden Name: Barnsdale Gardens
Last Modified: 01/03/2011
Garden ID: 0574

pic: 0574_Barnsdale_Knot.jpg

Owner: Catherine Hamilton
Address:
The Avenue
Exton

Postcode: LE15 8AH
County: Rutland

tel: 01572 813200
fax: 01572 813346
website: www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk
email: office {at} barnsdalegardens.co.uk

Features: 
39 individual small gardens and features.
Extensive nursery and plant sales.
Featured on Geoff Hamilton's Gardeners' World programme.

English Heritage Grade:


Opening Times:
March - May, September & October: 9am - 5pm
June - August: 9am - 7pm
November - February: 10am - 4pm (closed 24th & 25th December)

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
All-year round

To see: 


National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: Yes
Comments: 6th March
23rd October

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: No
Comments: 

Admission Prices:
Summer (March - October): Adults £6.50; Concessions £5.50; Children £2.50; Family (2 Adults + 3 Children) £17.
Group rate: Adults/Concession £5.00, Children £2.00

Winter (November - February): Adults £5; Concessions £4; Children £1.50; Family (2 Adults + 3 Children) £11.
Group rate: Adults/Concessions £3.50, Children £1

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: Yes
Plants for Sale: Yes
Lunches: Yes
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: Yes
Picnics: No
Dogs allowed: No
Only on Lead: No
Events: Yes

Other Facilities:
A year-round menu of courses and events including Summer Sundays FREE family activities, including country craft and cookery demonstrations, live music and more. Visit www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk for details.
For children, wildlife and bird watching, FREE themed garden trails, quizzes and colouring.
Arts and crafts events, art exhibitions and painting and photography classes. 
Private functions of all kinds: wedding ceremonies, parties, corporate entertainment. 
Bespoke tours by owner Nick Hamilton.
Reservable parking spaces, in the shade and with waterbowls, for visiting pets.


Designer: Geoff Hamilton
Description of Garden:
Barnsdale Gardens is a joy to visit; 39 themed gardens, ponds and woodlands nestled in a quiet corner of the beautiful Rutland countryside, but just 10 minutes from Stamford and the A1. Made famous by Geoff Hamilton and the BBC's Gardeners' World, it is Britain's largest collection of individually designed gardens, and whether your interests include gardening, photography or simply a stroll in the sunshine with a great lunch in our friendly tea room, there is something for everyone.

The enormous variety of planting styles at Barnsdale has been likened to a 'theme park for gardeners' and visitors will recognise many of the famous TV garden 'sets'; the Cottage Gardens with their compost bins disguised as beehives; the Reclaim Garden with its sculptures made from old lawn-mower parts and the serene Paradise Gardens which were Geoff's last projects. Added to these are new developments such as the Lands' End Colour Garden and the fun-filled Children's Garden, plus a large nursery specialising in quality, unusual plants.


History: 
Familiar to millions of BBC2 viewers, Barnsdale was the home of Geoff Hamilton, Gardeners' World's popular presenter from 1983 to 1996 who was voted 'Britain's Favourite Television Gardener'. He championed many good causes, in particular organic gardening and the use of peat-free alternatives, and today the garden is still totally run on Geoff's organic principles by his son Nick.

Historically the gardens were created as a facility by which Geoff could instruct, inform and entertain viewers every Friday night and these three principles are still very much the vision the Barnsdale team work to. But the capabilities of this wonderful garden have been extended further and Barnsdale now offers weddings, corporate functions and bespoke tours. 
Just over twenty years ago this remarkable site was little more than a ploughed field and since then tens of thousands of visitors, gardeners and non-gardeners alike, have come to marvel at this fantastic work of gardening art. Now Nick Hamilton continues the work started by his father, ensuring that the gardens, although constantly evolving, always retain that 'Barnsdale' feel.

Local Inns: 
Fox and Hounds, Exton

Accomodation: 


Restaurants: 


Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Oakham, Stamford