Garden enthusiasts will be delighted by the chance to explore three exquisite private gardens as part of a new Open Gardens event organised by the local children’s hospice, Julia’s House.
This June, the gardens of Lady Tania Compton’s Spilsbury Farm in Tisbury, Littlebrook Farmhouse in Blandford Forum, and Carraway Barn in Sturminster Newton will open their gates to the public.
This inaugural 2024 event aims to raise essential funds for Julia’s House, a charity dedicated to providing critical care for seriously ill children and support for their families across Wiltshire and Dorset.
In addition to exploring these stunning gardens, visitors can indulge in homemade cakes and refreshments while gaining valuable gardening tips from the garden owners themselves. All visits must be booked in advance through the Julia’s House website: www.juliashouse.org/gardens.
Carraway Barn, Sturminster Newton, Dorset (Sunday 2nd June)
From 9.30am to 5pm on Sunday 2nd June, guests can explore two enchanting acres at Carraway Barn in Sturminster Newton. Wander through shady woodland trails, past a natural swimming pond and cascading waterfall, to vibrant summer borders. The 19th-century barn’s walled garden is a highlight, featuring fragrant roses, elegant peonies, and whimsical topiaries surrounding a serene water lily pond. Entry is £6 per person, and online booking is essential.
Littlebrook Farmhouse, Blandford Forum, Dorset (Wednesday 12th June)
On Wednesday 12th June, from 2.30pm to 5pm, visitors will be treated to breathtaking views of the Blackmore Vale from the gardens at Littlebrook Farmhouse in Blandford Forum. These charming gardens boast a serene pond, bountiful fruit trees, formal terracing, and a thriving vegetable patch. Entry costs £6 per person, and online booking is required.
Lady Tania Compton’s Spilsbury Farm, Tisbury, Wiltshire (Saturday 15th June)
Explore the idyllic farmhouse gardens of Spilsbury Farm in Tisbury on Saturday 15th June, from 10am to 5.30pm. Home to esteemed garden designer Lady Tania Compton and botanist Dr James Compton, the six-acre gardens are a mix of formality and wilderness. Each 1.5-hour bookable visit will begin with a talk from Lady Tania Compton herself, offering valuable gardening insights. Guests can then leisurely explore the romantic naturalist gardens, ancient oak trees, an orchard with meadow grass and perennials, and borders teeming with eryngiums, delphiniums, cardoons, and roses. Entry is £15 per person, with online booking essential.
Julia’s House Events Manager, Hannah Mountford, expressed gratitude to the supporters opening their gardens for this special event. “We’re incredibly thankful to our wonderful supporters who are opening their sensational gardens this year, as part of our very first Open Gardens event. All donations raised will help us provide much-needed respite for parents, offer siblings a chance to unwind, and give children with complex medical conditions the opportunity to have fun and make new friends. The children we support love spending time in the hospice gardens, so having our own Open Gardens feels a special way to connect everyone to the outdoors and enjoy some unique and lovely gardens too.”
Hannah added, “We’re really looking forward to welcoming guests to our flagship gardens for 2024. And if anyone would like to open their garden for Julia’s House in 2025, please do get in touch as we would love to hear from you and have lots of information and tips to help you arrange the open day.”
The Julia’s House Open Gardens 2024 event is generously sponsored by the UK’s leading cruise specialist, Imagine Cruising. All Open Gardens visits must be booked in advance at the Julia’s House website: www.juliashouse.org/gardens.
