Lying within the traditional borders of Cheshire, Dunham Massey is an oasis of calm on the edge of Manchester. It is one of the North West’s great plantsman’s gardens with sweeping lawns, sumptuous borders and majestic trees, surrounding a Georgian orangery and Victorian bark-house.
This has been described as one of the region’s great gardens; magnificent trees are reflected in the Elizabethan moat; the richly planted borders are vibrant with colour all through the year and historical features like the Orangery, Mount and Well House punctuate the sweeping lawns.
Hare Hill is a hidden gem, set amid rolling parkland and is spectacular during early summer with masses of flowering azaleas and rhododendrons. The garden appeals to other senses too, with the air full of bird song and heavy with the sweet fragrance from the numerous blooms. It is planted with 50 different hollies, magnolia, hydrangeas and skunk cabbage. Acer, tulip tree and coral-bark maple supply wonderful autumn colour. A delightful walled garden area with pergola, and wire sculptures complete the picture. Visitors can also picnic by the lake or walk to nearby Alderley Edge.
Bordered by a fish-filled moat, Little Moreton Hall’s 1.5acre (.5ha) Elizabethan style gardens are of interest too. To the west of the cobbled courtyard is a small orchard where traditional fruits such as apples, pears, quinces and medlars flourish. From here an original viewing mound overlooks the Knot Garden, whose formal geometry is shaped by dwarf-box edges interspersed with neat lawns and gravel. Also of note are the recreated Yew Tunnel and the historic herb and vegetable gardens.
Lyme Park’s beautiful gardens retain many original Tudor and Jacobean features and are of great historic importance.
From the front of the house, extensive lawns stretch down to a ‘reflection’ lake. To the west is a magnificent sunken Dutch Garden created in the early 18th century. Formal parterres are framed by Irish ivy and golden box, and planted in spring and summer with Victorian style bright formal displays. Other features include a Georgian Orangery, an Edwardian rose garden, double herbaceous borders and a wooded ravine and stream garden where rhododendrons and azaleas tumble over the high banks.
Tatton Park, which is financed and managed by Cheshire County Council, is often said to boast one of the finest gardens belonging to the National Trust. Ranking among England’s most outstanding, they reflect almost every style of English garden design popular since they were laid out in 1715.
Each generation of the Egerton family added features to the gardens resulting in them now representing over 200 years of design and history. Visitors can enjoy the formal terraces of the Italian garden; fine herbaceous borders; several walled gardens; a conservatory; Britain’s finest fernery; a scented rose garden; a beech maze planted in 1795 and an early arboretum.
The stylish Japanese Garden is one of the finest in Europe and the Walled Kitchen garden produces quality fruit and vegetables of historic varieties available for sale in the Garden Shop. The recently restored Pineapple house opened to the public for the first time in 2007.
