The Biodiversity garden is a precious, new jewel in the botanical crown of the Cape Floral Kingdom, which is the smallest and hottest of biodiversity hotspots worldwide.

The Green Point Urban Park in Cape Town is oh-so-accessible, sandwiched between Signal Hill, the oldest lighthouse in South Africa, and the iconic football stadium of World Cup 2010 fame.
Set within this, the Biodiversity Garden celebrates all that is unique about the Cape and its flora, where wanderers are shown the interconnectedness of life and encouraged to 'Make a Difference'.

What’s not to love about this appeal? Perfect for a sunset amble or a morning wake up wander. Big enough to seriously stride around the large circular lawn area, pound the running paths, work out at the trim park or just meander along the wetland walk, among the more 300 local fynbos plant species.

Why the Biodiversity Garden works for me?
The garden is truly laid out ‘for all’ – ages, activities, levels of botanical interest as much as physical mobility …
The signs are crafted to casually inform, the storyboards are easy reads, the plants labels let everyone ‘get the picture’- effortlessly …
So much thought has gone into how the biodiversity message gets across – they ‘show’ things, and ‘tell’ stories, rather than facts …
Botanic biomes and endemic rarities are seamlessly woven into ‘demonstration gardens’, alongside responsible gardening practices …
Threats, like agriculture and alien invasive plants, are dealt with in bite size pieces, and drill down consequences …
Interconnectedness indeed!

www.capetownpartnership.co.za/green-point-urban-park-open-to-public/

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Tucked away close to St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral close to the center of Norwich, is a sunken garden being restored to its Victorian splendour. An old chalk pit was bought by William Trevor in 1856 and a three acre garden developed. He died in 1897 and the garden, while initially looked after declined, and by the beginning of the second world war was abandoned. It was completely lost until 1980 when it was rediscovered and is being lovingly restored by a group of enthusiasts.
It is now a haven of quiet, contains many original features and has the charm of a bye gone era. No one can visit without being enthralled by the atmosphere.

www.plantationgarden.co.uk/
4 Earlham Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 3DB
Google map: bit.ly/oNOuFG

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Many people whizz through the borderlands in their haste to get to “Scotland proper” – up north – Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Highlands, lochs and glens. However, if you are travelling on the A697 I guarantee you won’t regret taking a slight detour, a few miles south of Coldstream, to visit this small, imaginative and eccentric sculpture garden.
In the quiet village of Branxton you can come face to face with Lawrence of Arabia on his camel and Winston Churchill with his cigar as well as all the wild animals you could ever hope to meet in one garden - giraffes, wild boar and penguins to name but a few. There are some fantastic teeth on display – (check out the shark) – I think there must have been some deal going on with a local dentist! Created in the 60s and 70s, by John Fairnington to entertain his son Edwin who had cerebral palsy, each life size statue is full of character and very endearing and I’m convinced you will leave the garden with a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

www.alnwick.org.uk/menag.htm
The Concrete Menagerie, Branxton Village, Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland
TD12 4SL
Google map: bit.ly/qRGKmk

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St.Pancras Gardens is surely the quirkiest park in London full of quiet corners and eccentric memorials.
In the middle sits St.Pancras Old Church, one of the oldest sites of Christian worship in Europe. The surrounding park is what remains of the old churchyard cut through from 1863 by construction of the Midland Railway into St.Pancras Station. The exhumation of the graves was overseen by Thomas Hardy, then a young architect, who placed many of the headstones in a circular pattern around an ash tree, whose roots now entangle the stones around what is known as Hardy's Tree.
When the churchyard was re-opened as a public park in 1877 the Burdett-Coutts Sundial had been added as a memorial to all those whose graves had been exhumed and moved elsewhere.
Among the graves that were left in situ are those of William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft and the monument designed by Sir John Soane for his wife. The latter will look very familiar to most people because it was the inspiration for Gilbert Scott's design of the K2 red telephone box.
All this for free in a lovely park with a beautiful fence and gates all recently restored with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

191 Saint Pancras Way, London NW1 9NH
+44(0)20 7424 0724
Google map: bit.ly/mSFivF

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Lovely hotel, originally Charles Waterton's house (19th century naturalist), set in beautiful parkland.

watertonparkhotel.co.uk/
Walton Hall, Walton, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF2 6PW
+44(0)1924 257911
Google map: bit.ly/qWVw7m

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The National Trust owned home of the eccentric Edwardian inventor Otto Overbeck, in Salcombe, Devon. Find the hidden room full of dolls and listen to the "polyphon" (a giant Victorian music box). Best of all, see Otto's invention, the "rejuvinator", designed to renew youth through electric shocks. This quirky place (kids can search for Fred the friendly ghost) is in a beautiful location, on the South West Coastal Path (Prawle Point, three miles walk away, is breathtaking) looking down on Salcombe and its bay. Take time to explore the house's exotic gardens, and to have a well earned drink in Salcombe itself, a charming little port.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-overbecks
Sharpitor, Salcombe, Devon TQ8 8LW
+44(0)1548 842893
Google map: bit.ly/n0WaWo

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This place is a hidden gem, surely it hasn't changed in 30 years and that's not a criticism. It's what the British do well, a whimsical place where clearly a gnome addict has decided to welcome us into their world by establishing the country's only Gnome Museum. Upon entering the garden you can choose a gnome hat, various colours are available, looking like a loon is positively encouraged. Gnomes are clearly the main draw to this place but seeing them in their various well thought out and executed scenes will bring a smile to your face. You will be amazed - yes, amazed - at the various sizes gnomes come in. I was. Great secret pathways open up for children to explore and there is a fantastic cafe offering Devon cream teas - what's not to like?

www.gnomereserve.co.uk/
West Putford, Nr Bradworthy, N Devon, EX22 7XE
+44(0)1409 241435
Google map: bit.ly/qlQRW3

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This delightful garden was originally laid out by social reformer Octavia Hill.
Hill (1838-1912) was an amazing woman and way ahead of her time. She was a pioneer of affordable housing and many consider her the founder of modern social work. She campaigned tirelessly for the environment and open spaces and co-founded the National Trust, which today protects over 300 historic properties and keeps 250,000 hectares of land open to everybody.
Hill believed in humane housing conditions and arranged for the construction of two rows of pretty cottages and a community hall, designed by Elijah Hoole. The garden predated the buildings and was laid out in 1887. It was created to provide ‘an open air sitting room for the tired inhabitants of Southwark’ and had an elaborate layout of curved lawns, flower beds and serpentine paths, an ornamental pond with fountain, bandstand and covered children's play area. There were once two mosaics in the garden. One showing ‘The Sower' was restored in 2005 and can still be seen.
Bankside Open Spaces Trust used Heritage Lottery funding to restore the garden to its former glory, complete with pond, bridge, fountain, flower beds and paths winding through this lovely Victorian garden.

50 Redcross Way, London SE1 1HA
Jubilee Line underground to Southwark
Google map: bit.ly/jsTIXR

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This pop-up community garden has transformed a plot of wasteland in the shadow of the railway arches into a gorgeous green space: a place of healing and learning - with a dose of greenery thrown in for good measure.
Created by a collective of urban gardeners, designers and a team of volunteers, and shaped by a hospital department, the UPG also hosts a series of talks, workshops and film screenings.
The Rambulance restaurant nestles in the corner of the space in an old ambulance and serves up a seasonal menu of homegrown veg and herbs.
This lovely garden provides a space for artists, gardeners and health workers to explore the role of plants in the nation's health.

100 Union Street, London, SE1 0NL
www.physicgarden.org.uk
Open Tuesday to Sunday until 15 August
Google map: bit.ly/kfhFpv
Nearest tube station: Southwark

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There are gardens everywhere in Oxford but they're not always that easy to get into. Oxford with its college gardens provides a cornucopia of just about everything and the art is to think about when you can get in them without paying the entrance fee that many now extract. Two of the most interesting and varied are those of Magdalen College and Merton College and one such occasion is the Oxford Open Doors weekend held every September. To add to the variety there are endless other colleges to visit with a huge variety of planting and landscape, such as Wadham, Worcester and New Colleges; of course, taking in as well, the delights of the historic and learning environment.

www.oxfordopendoors.org.uk/
Magdalen College
High Street, Oxford OX1 4AU
+44(0)1865 276000
Google map: bit.ly/llGX6I

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Be shocked, amused and impressed by giant mythical monsters that hide in every twist and turn along a wooded path. What astonished me was that the garden was created almost 500 years ago. Famous visitors include Salvador Dali. It is original and entertaining, a good place for an afternoon visit especially if you are trailing children around Rome or Tuscany.

Loc. Giardino, 01020 Bomarzo, Italy
+39 0761 924029
‎www.parcodeimostri.com
Google map: bit.ly/mcks8j
Find it off the A1, half way between Rome and Orvietto. Buses stop nearby.

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The Mill Garden was created by the late Arthur Measures at his cottage in Mill Street, Warwick, under the walls of Warwick Castle. Today it offers a modest yet very beautiful haven away from the racket of the town's virtually continuous through traffic. The garden is bounded by the river Avon which curves away from the foot of the castle, under the ruined 14th century bridge, and within sight of the castle's mill wheel. There is a great variety of plants (some of which are for sale) and the lawns run down to the banks of the river.
The garden is open to visitors every day from April to October. A modest entry charge is requested, the proceeds of which are divided between maintaining the garden itself, the National Gardens Scheme and 35 other charities.

55 Mill Street, Warwick CV34 4HB
+44(0)1926 492877
Google map: bit.ly/mnE8wB

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The Sforza Cesarini Park is a 92000 m2 surface of love. The duke Lorenzo Sforza-Cesarini (1807-1866) built it for his lover, the duchess Carolina Shirley who left England for him. Water is a fascinating element in the park, especially in the caves where it falls down creating a music soundtrack to the visit.

Piazzale Sforza Cesarini, 00045 Genzano di Roma Roma, Italy
+39 06 957 9010
www.comune.genzanodiroma.roma.it/gnz/turismo/visita/parco_sforza.bfr
Google map: bit.ly/jO7PkY

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The front of York Minster is always busy with tourists and groups alike but behind this is the Minster Gardens and it’s hard to believe that these gardens are in the centre of a busy town. It’s quiet and peaceful and a perfect place to look at the cherry blossoms in spring, have a picnic (no ball games, or cycling allowed) or to just sit and admire the grandeur of the Minster. On Tuesday evenings the bell ringers practice in the Minster and sitting in the gardens listening to this is magic.

www.yorkminster.org
1 Chapter House Street, York YO1 7HH
+44(0)844 939 0011
Google map: bit.ly/mgvsnn

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Howick Hall was the home of Earl Grey, former prime minister and tea supremo. Although the hall is closed, the gardens are open to the public and are perfect for a wander in late spring. They include wild flower meadows, the woodland garden, rockery, herbaceous borders and bog garden. After a pot of Earl Grey tea in the old Ballroom, we like to finish by taking 'The Long Walk' through the arboretum which leads down to the beautiful Northumberland shore.

Howick Hall Gardens, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 3LB
www.howickhallgardens.org
+44(001665 577285
Google map: bit.ly/kwvg5o

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This wonderful topiary garden near Kendal feels like a sculpture park or a 3-D Cubist art exhibition. The pieces on show however are large, 300-year-old yew trees, some sculpted and clipped over the centuries into rigid geometric shapes, while others display apparently overgrown and runaway curves and bulges. Bright flower beds neatly boxed-in relieve the dark back-drop. This garden delights and amazes - just be prepared for a slightly surreal experience!

Levens Hall, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 0PD www.levenshall.co.uk
+44 (0)15395 60321
Google map: bit.ly/lDIz2b

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Sheffield Park Garden is a National Trust owned garden in East Sussex. The garden was designed by Capability Brown and is laid out around a series of lakes.
I recommend the garden for its early summer colour and above all for its autumn tints. There is nothing better than the stunning Autumn colour reflected in the lakes.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-sheffield-park-garden.htm
Sheffield Park, East Sussex TN22 3QX
+44(0)1825 790231
Google map: bit.ly/ldPZAy

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The various colleges of Cambridge University employ award-winning gardeners. The layout and depth of the gardens are absolutely beautiful and are not inundated with too many tourists. Take pictures, smell the lovely scents and where possible have a picnic!

www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Home.aspx
1 Brookside, Cambridge, CB2 1JE
+44(0)1223 336265
Google map: bit.ly/mGgzuL

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Kirstenbosch Gardens, in Cape Town, lies at the foot of Table Mountain. Guinea fowl roam free, plants and trees are well labeled and there is a mix of ponds, streams, lawns and walkways. These walkways are paved so the walking is easy and there are free daily walking tours at 10am as well as two hikes up Table Mountain for the more serious walker.
In summer open air concerts take place on Sunday evenings (Nov – April). These are family friendly events with people getting there early with a picnic basket and blanket and making themselves comfortable on the grass. Few experiences can match sipping on good South African wine, listening to South African music and having Table Mountain as the backdrop for all of this.

Wynberg NU (2), Cape Town 7800, South Africa
+27 21 799 8783
Google map: bit.ly/jYHMd4

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This slightly odd garden emerges from solid rock surrounded by dense native bush. It’s very much a work in progress, the vision of its owner. The limestone rock dominates with small soil filled hollows planted up and bursting with colourful plants. There is a fascinating mix of native and introduced species and little historical artefacts to be discovered. The owner and creator will probably show you around in between work on the garden or making local basket crafts. It’s quite hard to find and closed on Saturdays but well worth a stop on the way to Middle Caicos.

It is situated by the main road to Middle Caicos after Bottle Creek. For details you need to enquire locally.
Google map: bit.ly/lR2PI4

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