***************************************************************** * Gardens-Guide.com * 250,000 UNIQUE VISITORS in 2011 * 2,000 garden pages viewed per day from March to September 2011 * * 1,000+ Page Views! - One-Quarter of all gardens listed on Gardens-Guide.com * were EACH viewed more than 1,000 times in 2011. * * 500+ Page Views! - HALF of all gardens listed on Gardens-Guide.com were * EACH viewed more than 500 times in 2011. * ***************************************************************** *** UPDATE FORM *** Kingston Maurward Gardens 1) Please COPY the entire FORM BELOW 2) Make any changes in BRIGHT RED -OR- mark changed Section Headers with: *** 3) email the ENTIRE FORM UPDATED backto us: wd (at) armchair-travel (dot) com **************************************************************** **************************************************************** **************************************************************** *** also - SEARCH ENGINE BOOSTING for both YOU and Gardens-Guide.com *** If your webmaster could place a link from your own website directly to your page on Gardens-Guide.com, this will improve it's rankings in Google and other search engines. Please use the following format and info on your own site to link to your page in Gardens-Guide.com: at Gardens-Guide.com http://www.gardens-guide.com The premiere directory of open gardens in the UK and Ireland today Ask your friends and suppliers as well to link to your page in Gardens-Guide as well. Every link we get into your page helps rankings for both of us in search engines. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Garden Name: Kingston Maurward Gardens Last Modified: 11-01-2011 Garden ID: 0309 pic: 0309_Kingston.jpg NOTE: If this says "missing", then please send us a picture for your page which is at least 1000 x 1000 pixels in size. Thanks! Owner: Kingston Maurward College Address: Kingston Maurward Dorchester Postcode: DT2 8PY County: Dorset tel: 01305-215003 fax: 01305 215001 website: www.kmc.ac.uk email: English Heritage Grade: II Opening Times: NOTE for 2012: Please check with garden owners or their website to confirm current dates open http://www.kmc.ac.uk 5th Jan - 22nd Dec; Every day; 10am - 5.30pm/dusk Best Times of Year to Visit: Mid-May - Oct To see: Penstemons and Salvias. National Collection: Penstemons and Salvias. National Garden Scheme days: Comments: Contribution made annually. Parties / Coaches: Yes Comments: Viewing by Appointment: Comments: House Open for Viewing: No Comments: Admission Prices: Adult £5; Over 60's £4.50; Child £3; Group (10 or more) £4.50 pp; Group guided tour £6 (booked in advance) Family Day Ticket £15.50; Season Ticket Single £17, Double £30; Season ticket for Family £40. Parking: Yes Lavatories: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Shop: Yes Plants for Sale: Yes Lunches: Yes Teas: Yes Refreshments: Yes Picnics: Yes Dogs allowed: No Only on Lead: No Events: Yes Other Facilities: Animal Park and Children's Play area. Spring Lambing weekends in March, Open Day in June, see owners' website for details of this and many other events. Features: Ornamental Lake, Tree Trails, Nature Trail, Animal Park. Designer: Sir Cecil and Lady Hanbury Description of Garden: The parkland and pleasure gardens were originally laid out in the "Jardin Anglais" style popularised by 'Capability' Brown. Simplicity was the hallmark of the gardens, which consisted of rolling turf, carefully placed groups of trees, a lake and a lakeside temple. These and the lovely formal gardens have been carefully and sympathetically restored using 1930s photographs retaining the best features, but also introducing new ones. They now consist of a matrix of small gardens each with its own theme, tree trails, lakeside walks and a delightful walled garden. The gardens were formally opened in 1991 and have since undergone an extensive programme of new plantings rich in interest and variety. New plantings and features are added annually. The Animal Park is a firm favourite with children and home to an interesting collection of animals, some of which they can help feed. There is a large picnic and play area. History: Kingston Maurward House was built in 1720 for George Pitt in the classic Palladian style that so characterised the period. It was designed by Thomas Archer and John James. The original gardens date from that period also. The 35 acre formal gardens were created between 1915 and 1922 within the framework of the existing parkland setting in the Arts and Crafts style of the Edwardian period. These gardens consist of a series of garden rooms designed by Sir Cecil and Lady Hanbury, a well known horticultural family, who also owned the gardens at La Mortola in Italy and who had generously endowed Wisley Gardens to the Royal Horticultural Society.. Local Inns: The Black Dog, West Knighton Accomodation: Birkin House Hotel, Kingston Maurward Restaurants: Yarlbury Cottage, Lower Bockhampton Village/Town/Sightseeing: