Gardens to See in Devon
Devon’s rich soil and mild climate make it one of the best places in England for plant lovers. Visitors to the area should make note of the many different and beautiful gardens available to them for touring. A short, but by no means complete, list of some of the most notable would include the following:
Buckfast Abbey
The gardens of Buckfast Abbey have been recently improved and enhanced, making them an extremely enjoyable area to visit. They include several small areas that have discrete spaces and purposes designed for both aesthetic and utilitarian purposes. There are lavender, sensory, and physic gardens in addition to well planned grounds.
RHS Rosemoor
Given to the RHS by Lady Anne Berry, Rosemoor was intended to become of national importance. Visitors may view Lady Anne’s Original Garden, over 200 varieties of roses, the fruit and vegetable plots, the arboretum, the lake and bog area, formal gardens, a potager, and cottage gardens as well as attend lectures and guided walks.
Arlington Court National Trust
This estate comprises 2700 acres and hosts a largely informal 30 acre garden. Notable areas include a small Victorian garden and conservatory with basket beds, herbaceous borders, and an ornamental pond as well as a partially restored kitchen garden and greenhouse built to original design.
Bicton Park Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens as a whole span over 300 years of botanical history. It holds over 1,000 trees from 300 species, including endangered species. Visitors can view the renowned 19th century palm house, an American garden, a formal 18th century Italian garden, a Mediterranean garden, and many others.
Coleton Fishacre
This garden is situated on the Devon coast and is characterized by water features that weave down to the sea. It has an extensive collection of rare and exotic plants from around the world. It was built in the 1920s for the D’Oyly Carte family as a gentleman’s garden.
Greenway Garden
This garden is located at an estate best known for being the home of Agatha Christie and was donated to the National Trust by her late daughter and her daughter’s husband. The Greenway Garden is a woodland garden with over 2,700 significant trees and woody plants growing on site. Also at Greenway and available to visitors are the Camellia Garden, the Fernery or Fountain Garden, the South Walled Garden, the North Walled Garden, the Hydrangea Walk, The Bluebell Bank, the Far End Path, and the River Walk.
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