Gardens
London Open Gardens 2024
London’s private, secret and little-known gardens across the city will be open for the duration of one weekend.
Tourism
Keukenhof 2024 opens today
The famous flower exhibition, Keukenhof, opens its doors today – exactly 75 years after it first opened for the public.
Gardens
Daffodils at Hever Castle & Gardens
With an impressive 250,000 blooms, Hever Castle & Gardens promises rivers of gold meandering through the estate in celebration of the narcissus.
Tourism
RHS Chelsea: A ‘World’s must-see travel moment’
The Royal Horticultural Society’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show rated fifth on Kuoni’s list of the world’s unmissable travel experiences.
Tourism
Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons retain their stars
Famous for its garden gastronomy, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons have managed to retain their two Michelin stars for 40 years this year.
Gardens
Hortus Botanicus Leiden
Hortus Botanicus in Leiden, the Netherlands celebrated their 434th anniversary this week.
Tourism
Weston-super-Mare’s floral clock to be restored
Concreted over for an acute lack of volunteers, the seaside town’s 89-year-old floral clock looks to be restored once more.
Gardens
BSL Tour: The Wisley Glasshouse
John Wilson will lead the next British Sign Language (BSL) tour of the RHS Wisley Glasshouse, including the Orchid House, three climatic zones and Houseplant Takeover display.
Exhibitions
Damien Hirst: The Secrets
The Secrets by Damien Hirst consist of a series of eight unique prints that depict thriving, flourishing gardens based on works from his latest series, The Secret Gardens Paintings.
Gardens
Bumper 2024 National Garden Scheme season
The National Garden Scheme promises a wonderful, expanded portfolio of gardens to visit this year.
Business
Barnsley House acquired by the PIG Hotel Group
The group’s latest acquisition is the 17th century Barnsley House hotel, tucked away in the Cotswold’s village of Barnsley, just four miles from Cirencester.
Gardens
Scotland’s Gardens Scheme launches 2024 season
A new season of Scotland’s gardens to raise much needed funds for charities and involving over 1000 volunteers and garden owners.
Tourism
New bid for Scotland’s third national park: Affric and Loch Ness
A bid to nominate Affric and Loch Ness as Scotland’s third national park has been launched to celebrate and protect its important natural and cultural heritage.
Tourism
The Newt: winner International Garden Tourism Awards & Britain’s best boutique hotel
The Somerset based country estate hotel wins 2023 International Garden Tourism Awards and claims top spot in the Top 50 UK Boutique Hotels list.
Plants
Dark Hedges
Known as Dark Hedges, Bregagh Road in Armoy, County Antrim saw the felling of at least six of the ancient beeches deemed a public safety risk.
Design
Church Barn Garden Open Day
18th century Church Barn garden in Essex, designed by Stefano Marinaz open in aid of Havens Hospices.
Environment
Kenya declares public holiday to plant trees
As part of their plans to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, a public holiday has been declared for a nationwide tree-planting day.
On Instagram
Dordogne magic
Instagram eye candy courtesy of @dordogneperigord of Marqueyssac’s incredible sculpted topiary.
Environment
Mendip Hills declared “super” National Nature Reserve
Vast new ‘super nature reserve’, spanning the Cheddar Gorge and Mendip Hills and encompassing some of the country’s most precious habitats.
Worth a read
‘Tis the season of the leaf-peepers
Capturing the glory that is autumn is admirable, yet when armed with phones, torrents of leaf-peeping “influencers” can ruin the seasonal spectacle.