NORFOLK GARDENS

Due to the low-lying fertile ground, Norfolk has a huge variety of gardens to choose from.

Norfolk is a great place to come and see some fabulous gardens. There is a huge variety of garden to chose from, including, large gardens, formal gardens, cottage gardens, town gardens, woodland water gardens and magnificent stately home gardens. ENJOY!

On the road from Aylsham to Cromer you will find Alby Crafts and Gardens. This lovely art and craft centre is surrounded by over four acres of beautiful gardens, with island beds, borders, ponds, streams and wild areas with specimen trees set in grass. The garden is the result of a lifetime of collecting by Valerie Alston, and the size of the collection allowed her to plant in groups, for spectacular displays. Colour, size and shape have all been important factors in the design, with the aim to provide interest in all seasons.

At East Ruston Old Vicarage you will find one the most remarkable and enjoyable gardens made in recent years. Created by Alan Gray and Graham Robeson, now 15 years old and expanding at a rate of knots, it is a feast of formal design, and decorative exuberance. It is located quite close to the Norfolk Coast and well protected from the full blast of the wind by dense wind breaks, making it possible to grow remarkably tender plants.

The Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden comprises 53 hectares (131 acres) of beautiful ancient woodland, water gardens and a private broad at South Walsham in the heart of the Norfolk Broads.

Set at the edge of the Norfolk Broads, Hoveton Hall Gardens is a delightful 15 acre garden mixing both formal and informal planting across the seasons. Beginning with the burst of early Spring bulbs, the spectacular Rhododendrons and Azaleas in May and June through to the mid-summer delights of the 'Spider Garden'

Sandringham House is set in 60 acres of beautiful gardens. Sandringham's gardens were first opened to the public by King Edward VII in 1908 and since then we have been able to share with the Royals, their woodland walks, carrstone rockeries, statues, lime avenues and a lovely stream walk. All of these features of the garden have been created by various generations of the Royal family and offer great views of Sandringham House.

In Little Walsingham are the Priory Gardens. Dominating the site, is the impressive, twin turreted 13th century arch, that would have housed the great east window of the priory church. The priory grounds are beautifully maintained, and in Spring the woodland setting is bursting with flowers, including bluebells, daffodils and brilliant white snowdrops. Walking along the footpath beside the River Stiffkey, a narrow stone bridge can be found and this was built as an access road for pack horses. In the garden area, you will also find two healing wells where the sick were brought in medieval times.