The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to more than 3,500 exceptional private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands and raises impressive amounts of money for nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake. Here are the Cheshire and Wirral treasures open this month
Laskey Farm
One-and-a-half-acre acre garden with herbaceous and rose borders, vegetable area, a greenhouse, parterre and a maze showcasing grasses and prairie-style planting. Interconnected pools for wildlife, specimen koi and terrapins form an unusual water garden with a swimming pond. There is a treehouse, birds and animals.
Laskey Lane, Thelwall, Warrington WA4 2TF
The Homestead
This compact gem of a garden has been created over the past eight years by a keen gardener and plantswoman. Enter past groups of liquidambar and white-stemmed birch, colour-themed areas with perennials, shrubs and trees. Go past topiary and obelisks covered with clematis and roses and enjoy the colours of the hot border. A decorative greenhouse and pond complete the picture.
2 Fanners Lane, High Legh, Knutsford WA16 0RZ
Norley Bank Farm
Wander past a flower meadow before entering the main garden, here, well-stocked herbaceous borders wrap around this traditional Cheshire farmhouse. Within an orchard are enclosed cut flower borders surrounding a greenhouse and just beyond the house lies a vegetable garden. Wander past this to two wildlife ponds with a backdrop of pollinating flowers and stumpery. Set in two acres.
Cow Lane, Norley, Frodsham WA6 8PJ
Cheshire and Wirral Gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme 2024
To find out more about any of the gardens visit findagarden.ngs.org.uk/ and search by location or by garden name.
Saturday 20
Laskey Farm, Thelwall WA4 2TF
Sunday 21
The Homestead, High Legh WA16 0RZ
Laskey Farm, Thelwall WA4 2TF
Norley Bank Farm, Norley WA6 8PJ
Rose Brae, Neston CH64 6RY
Saturday 27
2 Ashcroft Cottages, Wettenhall CW7 4DQ
Sunday 28
Norley Bank Farm, Norley WA6 8PJ
Liz Mitchell is the NGS photographer for Cheshire and Wirral, lizmitchellphotography.com,
@lmp_gardens