Cotswolds Country Gardener September 2025 by Country Gardener

Gardeners cuttings in the Cotswolds

A LOOK AT NEWS, EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS IN YOUR AREA

TOP HOTELS OPEN THEIR GARDENS FOR SEPTEMBER VISITORS

Two top Gloucestershire hotels, one of them the former home of the late Rosemary Verey, the celebrated garden writer and designer, are opening their gardens for the National Garden Scheme in September.

The Pig in the Cotswolds at Barnsley, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 5EE has special openings for the NGS on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd September from 9.30am until 12.30pm, which includes a tour of the gardens at this former home of Rosemary Verey, which was previously known as Barnsley House.

The special private tour with the PIG garden team will be in the ornamental gardens designed by the renowned British gardener, starting with a hot drink and freshly baked pastries before heading for a private tour of the kitchen garden. Then there’s a private tour of Rosemary’s ornamental garden with its listed archways, potager gardens and a lush laburnum walkway that you won’t get to experience in other kitchen garden tours organised by the hotel. Visitors will

be free to explore the gardens and grounds for the rest of the afternoon.

Pre-booking is essential, at £50 per person, through the NGS website at www.ngs.org,uk

Narrow paths mean restricted wheelchair access but the hotel is happy to help; no dogs are allowed.

The gardens at Lords of the Manor Hotel, Upper Slaughter, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 2JD open for the NGS on Wednesday 17th September from 10am until 3pm, a classic Cotswold country garden with a very English blend of semi-formal and informal, it retains its elegance and charm under the new ownership, and merges beautifully with the surrounding landscape.

Besides the beautiful walled garden, there’s an established wildflower meadow, and the herb garden and stunning bog garden were designed by Julie Toll around 2012. Admission £8, children £5. Light refreshments are available, with prebooking essential for afternoon tea. There’s wheelchair access, dogs are allowed on short leads and being a hotel there’s accommodation.

www.ngs.org.uk

DONATE APPLES AND PICK UP YOUR CIDER

Bristol Botanic Garden stages its annual Apple Day on Sunday 5th October from 11am to 3pm. You can donate spare apples and be part of the botanic gardens project and enjoy a free cider! Apple Day aims to reduce wastage of garden apples, bringing together the community and The Cider Box taprooms for this one-day event at the botanic gardens.

Give your apples a rinse and bag them up. Bruised apples are fine but no rotten apples! Take apples from unsprayed tree-no pesticides or chemical treatments; homegrown or allotment apples are ideal. Drop off at one of the community hubs or take them to the gardens on the day and get free access. Apples will be collected from each hub for Apple Day. You can drop off apples at: UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL BOTANIC GARDEN, Sunday 5th October, 11am until 3pm (Entry free if donating apples).

BRAMBLE FARM, Saturday 4th October, 11am until 3pm.

HILLFIELDS PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE, Thursday 2nd October, 9am until 3pm and Friday 3rd 9am12noon.

LOCKLEAZE NEIGHBOURHOOD TRUST, Friday 3th October, 9am until 4:30pm.

A five kg donation of apples will give you one bottle of cider which you can collect from The Cider Box in April 2026!

MALVERN SHOW IS THREE-DAY CELEBRATION OF HARVEST SEASON

Malvern Autumn Show which takes place from 26th to 28th September remains the UK’s leading harvest season celebration. Held at the 90-acre Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire, the event attracts visitors from across the UK and is one of the largest celebrations of its kind in England.

The highlights of this year’s show include the prestigious RHS Flower Show, the CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship, the Great Malvern Cake Off, the Family Zone, a variety of special and celebrity guests - including BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Monty Don and Adam Frost - and the return of the popular ‘Dog Day’ on Sunday 28th September.

Tickets start from £22 in advance, with children aged 16 and under free.

Book at www.malvernautumn.co.uk

INTRODUCING THE STICK SHOP

Every gardener needs pointy sticks, a gardening essential with endless uses. Discovering the right size stick to support our plants or finish a project gives us gardeners a lot of pleasure. Luckily, Herefordshire timber experts, Say it with Wood, have solved the sticky problem of finding good quality stakes and canes at reasonable prices. The sticks are cut from local woodlands as part of sustainable management and are made from naturally rot resistant species like sweet chestnut, oak and larch. Which is great news as they don’t need treating with nasty chemicals. Buying sticks directly contributes to the local economy, providing jobs and enhancing biodiversity.

Good value stakes and canes is Stick shop’s mission. Conveniently, Say it with Wood, keep a stock of sticks at their yard, or contact them to arrange delivery (tip – getting a few makes this more economical). Even better, the Stick Shop travels. Stick Shop can come to your allotment, gardening club or event, and can also give talks on woodland management and the importance of using local timber in your garden. Don’t miss out, contact Say it with Wood for more details or to buy sticks.

Tel: 07958345833 www.sayitwithwood.co.uk

September is more than a month. It is a season. It begins with the August’s leftovers and ends with October’s preparations HAL BORLAND

For several weeks now I have had the sense of something about to come to an end-that old September feeling, left over from school days, of summer passing, holidays nearly over, obligations gathering’ WALLACE STEGNER

The Pig in the Cotswolds former home of Rosemary Verey

Lords of the Manor Hotel gardens

Exmoor National Park

RARE PLANT FAIR AT ADWELL HOUSE

The programme of Rare Plant Fairs continues in September with a popular fair set in the beautiful grounds and gardens of Adwell House, near Thame, on Sunday, 7th September.

Adwell House is in an idyllic spot just on the edge of the Chiltern Hills. The current owner’s ancestors laid out the garden in the 19th century, and successive generations have continued to enhance and develop the gardens since then.

This fair has become established as a real favourite with the public. Visitors are greeted with a magnificent herbaceous border which sweeps around the drive. Proceeds will be donated to the horticultural charity Perennial, the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping everyone who works in horticulture, and their families.

Adult entry, which includes entry to the fair and garden is £7, with children under 16 free. The fair is open from 11am to 4pm.There is a great selection of specialist nurseries attending. Refreshments are available.

Full details, including a list of the nurseries online:

GARDEN DESIGNER’S AND FLOWER ARRANGER’S GARDENS OPEN IN SEPTEMBER

BROW COTTAGE, Seend Hill, Seend, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 6RU opens for the National Garden Scheme on Sunday 21st September from 2pm until 5pm, a half acre contemporary cottage garden owned by a garden designer and created over the past 25 years.

A garden of many harmonious parts with lawns, well-stocked borders, topiary, potager, sunken pool garden, wildlife pond, short woodland walk, species bulb and wildflower lawn and canopied dining area. Admission £5, children free. Teas available, wheelchair access and dogs allowed on short leads.

WELLAWAY, Close Lane, Marston, Wiltshire, SN10 5SN opens for the NGS on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September from 1pm until 5pm each day, a two- acre flower arranger’s garden with herbaceous borders, orchard, vegetable garden, ornamental and wildlife ponds, lawns and naturalised areas. Shrubberies and rose garden, other areas underplanted with bulbs or ground cover and extensive autumn colour. Admission £6, children free, with homemade teas available, plants for sale, wheelchair access, and dogs allowed on short leads.

PLANT A TREE - CREATE SOME SHADE

An independent award-winning plant centre is encouraging customers to plant trees this autumn to create their own natural shade in the garden. Mark Moir from Newent Plant Centre in Ledbury, Herefordshire said: ”We have all struggled with the heat and intensity of the sun this summer, so we are encouraging our customers to create some shade by planting a tree this autumn.”

There are so many trees that are suitable for small gardens but will cast a dappled shade - this is great for sitting under where the temperature will be several degrees lower than in the direct sunshine.

Mark said, “I’d suggest a flowering cherry if you want a tree with wider spreading branches for sitting underneath, such as Prunus ‘Shirotae’ - the Mount Fuji cherry which has horizontal to slightly weeping branches and large semi-double white flowers which are also fragrant.”

“If you want something more upright to cast a shadow, how about a Mountain Ash Tree - I personally like the traditional native Sorbus aucuparia, with white flowers and deep red berries in autumn which are a great food source for the birds too. But there are several other noteworthy varieties that are adorned with yellow, orange. white or even pink berries.”

Autumn is also the very best time to plant trees as the soil is moist, the top of the tree has stopped growing for the season but the roots continue to grow to the end of December - so trees establish quicker and require less

watering the following spring and summer - although during longer dry spells it is a good idea to give them a weekly drench of water to ensure they don’t suffer.

“We have one of the largest selections of trees in the area,” added Mark. “We source them all from local growers in Herefordshire and Worcestershire - so their root systems are ready for our local conditions.”

Trees are also a great addition to the environment as they absorb carbon dioxide as well as being essential for all kinds of wildlife. Insects, bees, birds and mammals all rely on a range of trees for food and protection.

Newent Plant Centre is open seven days a week. Newent Plant Centre, The Nest, Hereford Road, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2PZ

Tel 01531 670121

BLENHEIM PALACE CROWNED BEES’ NEEDS CHAMPIONS

Blenheim Palace and Rowse Honey are celebrating after winning a top Government award recognising their commitment to protecting pollinators and enhancing biodiversity.

The duo have been named a Bees’ Needs Champion at an awards ceremony led by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. The awards aim to raise awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators by recognising individuals, groups and organisations that have made exceptional efforts to support pollinators.

Starting in 2022, Blenheim Palace joined forces with Rowse Honey to deliver an ambitious conservation project to transform the Oxfordshire estate, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, into a thriving haven for pollinators, such as butterflies, honeybees, mining bees and damselflies.

As part of the initiative, 50 acres of former arable fields have been transformed into rich, biodiverse habitats, and 300 acres of new woodlands have been undersown with wildflower grassland. The project’s success has been clearly measurable, with over 740 colonies of wild bees, 23 species of butterflies, and the return of 11 nationally declining bird species, such as skylarks and song thrushes, to areas restored under the pollinator strategy. www.blenheimpalace.com/stories/rowse-pollinatorpartnership.html

FRAMPTON COUNTRY FAIR A CHERISHED RURAL EVENT

The Frampton Country Fair, held annually at Manor Farm in Frampton on Severn, Gloucestershire (GL2 7EP), is one of Cotswolds most cherished rural events and takes place on Sunday 15th September. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the largest village green in England, the fair celebrates country life in all its traditional charm; it attracts thousands of visitors who come to experience a day packed with heritage displays, and countryside entertainment. One of the main highlights of the fair is the wide range of countryside pursuits on display. From thrilling falconry demonstrations and working dog trials to clay pigeon shooting and vintage tractor parades, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Events start 9.15am.

COTSWOLD GARDEN FLOWERS IN RARE OPENING FOR VISITORS

On Wednesday 10th September, Cotswold Garden Flowers in Sands Lane, Badsey, Evesham WR11 7EZ opens to the public for the National Garden Scheme. This special event offers visitors a rare opportunity to explore one of Worcestershire’s most unique and botanically rich private gardens. Founded by acclaimed plantsman Bob Brown, Cotswold Garden Flowers is renowned for its eclectic and extensive plant collection. Visitors can expect a captivating mix of rare perennials, unusual shrubs, and vibrant seasonal blooms, all set within a charming nursery environment that blends horticultural expertise with natural beauty. The garden’s design emphasizes texture, colour, and year-round interest, making it a haven for both experienced gardeners and those seeking inspiration for their own green spaces. 11am-4pm. Admission £5, children free, light refreshments available.

Adwell House, Adwell, Nr. Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 7DQ

Prunus ‘Shirotae’

Adwell House near Thame

Sowing and growing IN SCHOOLS

Spurred by growing Government support and community grants, school gardening is transforming schools especially in Devon, Somerset, and the Cotswolds. It’s a hands on, initiative that nurtures well-being, environmental awareness, and academic growth—while cultivating a generation of young citizens who care for nature and each other.

Garden based learning appears on the syllabus

Garden based learning is now an established instructional approach that uses gardening as a living classroom. Studies show it reinforces academic skills, personal development, social and moral growth, and life skills across disciplines—science, maths, language arts, environmental studies, even ethics

Specifically, gardening helps students become more motivated and engaged: lessons take on real world meaning when children plant, tend, and harvest, fostering curiosity and intrinsic learning. Moreover, garden based learning nurtures environmental literacy. Children develop first hand understanding of ecology, food systems, conservation, and sustainability.

Health, nutrition, and well being

Evidence indicates that gardening enhances children’s mental and physical health. Being outside reduces stress, increases physical activity, and boosts immune systems. Access to fresh, self-grown produce encourages healthier eating habits—pupils are more likely to try vegetables they’ve cultivated themselves, and this positive impact often radiates into their families

In fact, nearly 1.5 million children in around 90per-cent of UK primary schools participate in school gardening. Teachers overwhelmingly agree—94per-cent say it benefits physical health, mental well-being, social skills, behaviour, or concentration.

Government and charitable support boosts school gardening

The government’s National Education Nature Park programme, delivered in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Natural History Museum, enables schools, nurseries, and colleges to upgrade their grounds for nature and biodiversity. Participants map biodiversity, design wildlife-friendly elements like ponds and planters, and record data to support scientific research For the 2025–2026 academic year, eligible schools— especially those in deprived areas—can apply for grants up to £5,000, to fund gardening equipment, green infrastructure, and consultation services. This marks a significant boost in capacity for many schools just as a new term begins.

As the new academic term unfolds, gardening in schools is about to have its highest profile, thanks to new robust Government grants and foundation support, which means more facilities and opportunities for gardening in every school

Grants: climate, biodiversity, and outdoor learning

• Royal Society’s Tomorrow’s Climate Scientists Programme: From February 2025, UK schools can apply for up to £3,000 to support climate and biodiversity related projects—especially when partnering with STEM professionals.

• Nature Park Disadvantaged Area Fund: A separate pot of up to £10,000 is available for schools in disadvantaged settings participating in the Nature Park scheme.

• Outdoor Classroom Fund (£15 million): Launched in May 2023 by the Department for Education, this initiative supports schools, especially in deprived areas, to create outdoor learning spaces—funding tools, equipment, biodiversity enhancements, and facilitating participation in a virtual “National Education Nature Park”.

• Local grants example – Somerset Gardens Trust: Schools in Somerset can apply for £400 grants (offered multiple times per year) toward school garden creation or refurbishment—covering tools, seeds, raised beds, etc. The Spring 2025 round closed on 14th May.

• Other funding sources: Activities like school farm visits can be supported via Ernest Cook Trust’s ‘Outdoor Essentials’ grant (£500–£1,000) or Edina Trust science grants (£500–£700) for gardening-related resources.

Somerset – The Skool Beanz Allotment Project

At Chilthorne Domer Church Primary School in Somerset, a creative and inspiring gardening club—Skool Beanz—was founded in 2019 by Lara Honnor. It began as an after-school club and blossomed across five-and-a-half allotments, earning recognition from the National Garden Scheme. With a strong emphasis on fun, tradition, and child-led learning, sessions begin with a ceremonial “wassailing” of apple trees—chanting, pouring apple juice at their roots, and hanging bread for birds. Children choose tasks from a blackboard, and activities include gardening, crafts, storytelling, bat detection, even cooking with produce The club’s motto is “strict but fun,” with imaginative recycled planters (from old toilets to teapots), a composting toilet, “secret den,” seasonal surprises, and sensory learning at every turn It shows how engaging, creative design makes gardening a magnet for learning, well-being, and community.

Devon and the Cotswolds – regional inspiration

• Devon schools are being urged to leverage the Nature Park grants to build a wildlife pond, plant pollinator borders, and introduce biodiversity mapping—participants would record wildlife data that feeds into national scientific projects.

• Throughout the Cotswolds: primary schools can now use Somerset Gardens-style grants or national programmes to create herb or vegetable gardens, install raised beds, and run garden based curriculum lessons—integrating maths and English with hands on experimentation.

Why gardening matters now: in schools

• New term momentum: The start of term brings renewed energy and opportunity. Planting in early term cycles supports seasonal growth and engagement, while school communities are receptive to new initiatives.

• Funding alignment: Government and private sources—Nature Park grants, climate education funds, Outdoor Classroom investments, local trusts—are coinciding with scholarly interest in outdoor and environmental literacy.

• Health in Focus: Amid growing concerns over student mental health, disconnection from nature, and the urgency of climate awareness, gardening delivers tangible, therapeutic engagement. The sensory, communal, and achievement-rich nature of gardening makes it both a refuge and a launchpad for learning.

• Gardening seamlessly adds to core subjects—from measuring seed germination (maths), writing planting diaries (language), mapping site biodiversity (geography), to understanding ecosystems (science).

In this new term, school gardening is involved in real change which includes robust government and foundation support, research backing, and growing school-level interest. For regions like Devon, Somerset, and the Cotswolds—beautiful and biologically rich areas—it is a rare opportunity.

With accessible funding from national programmes and local trusts, schools can build gardens that educate, restore, and nurture. Whether through allotment clubs like Skool Beanz, or raised beds in school playgrounds or allotment style use of gardening areas, gardening in schools is now significant in terms of school syllabuses.

Written in the skies

In late summer and early autumn the remarkable journey of endurance and instinct begins as swallows again leave our gardens for warmer climes

Everyone who has swallows in their garden feels privileged.

Swallows (Hirundo rustica), commonly known as barn swallows, arrive around April each year, having completed the return leg of their journey from sub-Saharan Africa. They come to Britain to breed, taking advantage of the long daylight hours, abundant insect life, and relatively mild summer weather.

In gardens they return to nest in barns, outbuildings, or under eaves of houses — places where they can safely rear their chicks.

Every year, one of the most enchanting spectacles of the natural world takes place above our heads: the annual migration of swallows.

These small, elegant birds with their sleek, forked tails and fluid, darting flight are a familiar sight across the countryside during the spring and summer months.

However, by late summer and early autumn, they begin to vanish.

Their disappearance is not a mystery, but rather a remarkable journey of endurance and instinct: the swallows leave the UK and begin their long migration south, often travelling thousands of miles to reach warmer climates in Africa.

But by August and into September, signs of their departure begin.

Groups of swallows start to gather on telephone wires and rooftops, forming flocks. These gatherings are a clear indication that migration is imminent.

It’s a time of rest and social interaction for the birds, as well as preparation — they’re building up energy reserves to fuel their long and taxing flight ahead.

The migration to Africa is no small feat.

“Their departure in late summer, though tinged with sadness, is… a reminder of the cyclical rhythm of nature and the astonishing capabilities of even the smallest creatures.”

Swallows typically travel more than 6,000 miles, crossing continents, mountain ranges, deserts, and vast bodies of water.

Their destination lies primarily in southern Africa , places like South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana where the weather is warm and insect food sources are abundant through the winter months. Some swallows may stop along the way in countries such as Spain, Morocco, or Nigeria, but most continue further south.

What makes this journey even more astonishing is that swallows do it largely unaided by any learned behaviour.

Young swallows born during the summer in the UK will join the migration for the first time without guidance from their parents. Guided by instinct and possibly a magnetic sense of direction, they follow ancient migration routes passed down through generations.

The challenges of this migration are considerable. Swallows face extreme weather conditions, predators, exhaustion, and scarcity of food during certain stretches — particularly when crossing the Sahara.

Their success depends on favourable winds, abundant stopover points, and safe habitats along their route. Unfortunately, changing climate patterns and habitat destruction, both in Europe and Africa, pose increasing threats to their survival.

Despite these challenges, swallows return year after year with remarkable fidelity to the same nesting sites.

Many people come to see the return of swallows in spring as a joyful sign of the changing seasons.

Their departure in late summer, though tinged with sadness, is equally awe-inspiring — a reminder of the cyclical rhythm of nature and the astonishing capabilities of even the smallest creatures.

By October, most swallows will have left ourskies. Their absence leaves the landscape feeling a little quieter, a little stiller.

But their legacy remains in the empty nests, the fading warmth of summer days, and the knowledge that, thousands of miles away, these agile travellers are basking under African skies. And when the following April arrives, we scan the skies for their graceful silhouettes, signalling the start of a new season and the return of one of nature’s most

The departure of swallows from the UK is not the end, but part of a continuous, beautiful loop — a story written in the skies each year.

Wasps in autumn: friends or foes?

Wasps seem to appear in abundance in early autumn and they can certainly be a nuisance but they are not without their virtues. By understanding their behaviour and taking simple precautions, gardeners can co-exist with these complex insects and appreciate the role they play in the seasonal rhythm of the garden.

As summer fades and autumn takes hold, gardens transform. Leaves change colour, plants wind down their growth cycles, and many insects prepare for winter. Among the most noticeable are wasps.

With their sudden increase in visibility and more aggressive behaviour, wasps often draw the anger of gardeners and those who like to spend time outdoors. But should they be regarded solely as pests, or do they serve a deeper purpose in the autumn garden? The answer is not as black-and-white as it may seem wasps can be both friends and foes to gardeners, depending on perspective.

To understand the role of wasps in the garden during autumn, consider their biology. In early summer, wasps are mostly beneficial predators. They feed their larvae on caterpillars, aphids, flies, and other garden pests, playing a valuable role in natural pest control. Worker wasps forage tirelessly to feed the growing colony, and their presence often goes unnoticed.

However, by late summer and into autumn, the colony’s dynamics shift. The queen stops laying eggs, and the worker wasps no longer have larvae to feed. As a result, their foraging habits change—they begin to seek out sweet foods, such as fruit, nectar, or sugary drinks, which brings them into closer contact with humans. Their behaviour can seem more aggressive and erratic, but this is due more to hunger and lack of purpose than malice.

Wasps as garden allies

Despite their seasonal shift in behaviour, wasps still offer benefits even in autumn. Firstly, they continue to scavenge for decaying fruit and other organic matter, helping to clean up the garden. This can prevent mould and rot from spreading to healthy plants. Wasps are also opportunistic predators, and even in autumn, they may continue to hunt harmful insects.

In a broader ecological sense, wasps contribute to biodiversity. They serve as prey for birds, spiders, and other wildlife, and their nests—though often a nuisance— can support a surprising number of secondary organisms. Gardeners who value ecological balance may appreciate that wasps play a role in the food web, just like bees or butterflies.

Moreover, some species of wasps are important pollinators. While not as efficient as bees, they do contribute to the pollination of certain late-blooming plants. Their activity may help ensure that flowers produce seeds before winter sets in.

The

case against wasps

Despite these benefits, many gardeners regard wasps as enemies in the autumn months. Their increased aggressiveness, especially around food or sweet-smelling plants, makes gardening less pleasant. Accidental stings are more common, particularly during fruit harvests or outdoor meals. For those allergic to wasp venom, this is not just an inconvenience but a serious health risk.

Wasps may also damage fruit crops. Overripe or fallen fruit is especially vulnerable, and wasps will often bore into apples, plums, or pears, rendering them unusable. This can be frustrating for gardeners who have invested time and effort into their harvest.

Nesting behaviour also poses a problem. Some wasps build nests in sheds, attics, or compost bins places where gardeners regularly work. Disturbing a nest, even unknowingly, can provoke a defensive swarm.

So, are wasps friends or enemies in the autumn garden? If managed with care, wasps can provide ecological benefits even as their behaviour becomes more unpredictable. Gardeners can reduce conflict by harvesting fruit promptly and covering sweet foods.

Yeo Valley Organic Garden Festival 18–20 September

Yeo Valley, the leading Somerset farm and organic food brand has been letting nature take the lead for years – not just in how they farm, but in how they garden too. The Yeo Valley Organic Garden is a way of showing what’s possible when you grow with nature in mind. This September, they are ‘sowing’ something new - the very first Yeo Valley Organic Garden Festival, from September 18th to 20th, a three-day gathering for everyone who loves to grow, from the passionate to the just plain-curious. From compost tips to container planting, it’s a chance to dig into all things garden-related, with a line-up of brilliant speakers, beautiful borders and down-to-earth inspiration. It’s all happening, in the heart of Somerset at the Yeo Valley Organic Garden near Blagdon in Somerset – where wildlife is welcome, pollinators are positively encouraged, and the views are special too.

Whether you’re puzzled by plant labels, mystified by mulch, or just dipping your trowel into the gardening world, there’ll be something to spark your interest. You’ll find talks, workshops and panels from some of the UK’s most inspiring gardening voices, all exploring how they can grow greener, wilder and wiser – without taking themselves too seriously.

Who’s at the festival?

The festival is welcoming a stellar line-up of talks, including:

• Arit Anderson from BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World – Gardening for the climate; now and in the future.

• Charles Dowding –The UK’s no-dig gardening guru.

• Tom Massey – The water-wise gardener.

• Georgie Newbery – Release your inner, sustainable florist.

• Frances Tophill – From BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World – There’s no right or wrong in the garden.

• Kate Bradbury Mark Diacono Alys Fowler Jason Williams and many more!

Seeds of Change: Empowering gardeners to make a positive impact

Each day brings a new theme:

THURSDAY 18TH – Seeds of Change – Exploring climate resilience, biodiversity and soil health.

FRIDAY 19TH – People & Pollinators – Buzzing with florals, fauna and feel-good growing. SATURDAY 20TH – Mission Possible! – Inspiring the next generation of gardeners. There’ll be compost chats, tool sharpening demos, seed saving ideas and even a bee safari. Tuck into delicious food, browse the brilliant plant nurseries, and take time to wander around the Soil Association certified organic garden.

This festival isn’t about getting it perfect – it’s about enjoying the process, welcoming a little wildness and growing with curiosity, care and a good dollop of compost. If you need a little nudge to try something new in your garden - come and be inspired at the Yeo Valley Organic Garden Festival.

FULL OF COLOUR INTO AUTUMN

Autumn may signal the year’s winding down, but it can be a visually rewarding time in gardens. By using a mix of perennials, grasses, shrubs, and annuals especially in borders and containers—you can keep your garden full of life and colour long after summer has faded.

As the golden days of summer begin to wane, many gardens start to lose their vibrant energy especially in this summer of sunshine and drought. However, with a little planning and thoughtful plant selection, your garden can stay alive with colour right through autumn and well into November if the weather is kind. Whether you’re working with expansive borders or small containers on a patio or balcony, it’s entirely possible to maintain an eye-catching garden for much longer than you thought.

Autumn is a season of transition. The air becomes crisper, the days shorter, and the garden, often, quieter. But this shift doesn’t mean your outdoor space has to turn dull or drab. In fact, many plants reach their peak beauty in autumn, displaying rich hues of gold, crimson, orange, and deep purple.

Creating an autumnal garden full of colour provides visual interest during the off-season, food and shelter for pollinators and wildlife and an extended gardening season for you to enjoy.

By focusing on borders and containers, you can concentrate colour and texture where it’s most visible and impactful.

To keep gardens vibrant in autumn, it’s essential to plan months in advance. Many autumn-flowering perennials and annuals should be planted in spring or early summer. But even in autumn there are still plenty of things you can do to refresh your borders and containers.

Whether you’re sipping a hot drink surrounded by container colour on a patio or strolling past rich, glowing borders, the rewards of autumn gardening are deep and lasting.

With the right plants and a bit of care, your garden will not just survive the change of seasons, it will thrive in it.

Consider for instance by combining early bloomers with later-season plants to extend colour. Not all autumn colour comes from flowers. Many plants provide stunning leaf tones so look at foliage as a theme of autumn planting. Ornamental grasses, seed heads, and bark can all add interest.

Keeping your garden vibrant into autumn doesn’t only benefit you. Many pollinators and birds rely on late-blooming flowers and seedheads. Leave some seedheads intact—especially from plants like echinacea, rudbeckia, and grasses. They provide food and structure. Avoid over-tidying and remember hollow stems and leaf litter provide winter shelter for insects.

To ensure your autumn display stays attractive feed containers with a slow-release fertiliser when replanting for autumn. Keep clearing fallen leaves off container soil and small border plants to prevent rot. While many autumn plants are hardy, an early frost can damage tender specimens. Keep fleece or cloches handy just in case.

BORDER PLANTS FOR AUTUMN COLOUR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Borders are a fantastic way to showcase a variety of plants. In autumn, they can still brim with life and energy if filled with the right species.

Late-flowering perennials

These are the backbone of the autumn border.

1. Asters (Symphyotrichum): These daisy-like perennials bloom in late summer through to October. Their purple, pink, and white tones bring a soft, nostalgic feel to borders.

2. Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’: A robust perennial with golden-yellow daisy flowers and a dark centre. It flowers into October and pairs well with grasses.

3. Sedum (Hylotelephium) ‘Autumn Joy’: Its fleshy, succulent foliage supports flat flowerheads that change from pink to deep burgundy as the season progresses.

4. Japanese anemones: Particularly varieties like Anemone × hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ (white) and ‘September Charm’ (pink). These tall, graceful perennials bring elegance to autumn borders.

Shrubs with autumn interest

Don’t overlook woody plants in your border design.

5. Hydrangea paniculata: These bloom late into the season. ‘Limelight’ and ‘Vanille Fraise’ offer spectacular fading flowerheads.

6. Cotinus coggygria (Smoke Bush): With deep burgundy foliage that intensifies in autumn, it adds drama to any border.

7. Euonymus alatus (Burning Bush): Famous for its fire-red leaves in autumn.

Foliage plants

Sometimes it’s the leaves, not the flowers, that steal the show.

8. Heuchera (Coral Bells): Is available in a spectrum of colours from lime green to deep plum, and they hold their foliage well into winter. While mainly associated with shade, many varieties of hosta turn beautiful yellow or gold before dying back.

STRUCTURE AND COLOUR FROM WONDERFUL GRASSES

Autumn is where ornamental grasses come into their own, providing structure and interest in their own unique way. They have an aesthetic appeal providing form, texture, sound, movement and a translucent quality which has the greatest effect when backlit by the sun.

Many grasses flower in summer and autumn, changing shape from tufted mounds giving rise to intriguing floral displays. These inflorescences (flowers) change over time in colour, form and structure as the seeds ripen and disperse. Many grasses also develop shades of gold, orange and red echoing the autumnal leaves on shrubs and trees around them. Dancing in the autumn storms and winter gusts, grasses create sound and movement within the garden and bring a connection to the wider landscape.

Ornamental grasses are adapted to grow in a wide variety of situations from dry to damp, sunny to shady. There is a wide variety of size, shape and colour to choose from.

Stipa tenuissima – (Mexican feather grass) - These clumps of hair-fine foliage wave an endless display of silver-green flower heads, each seed tipped with a long silky filament. The overall effect of delicate plumes and foliage waving in the slightest breeze. Foliage and seed heads turn golden brown in autumn creating contrast with seed heads.

Stipa calamagrostis – (rough feather grass) - A handsome grass for dry soil. Graceful fountains of narrow green leaves are topped with large, long lasting, feathery plumes of soft buff.

Ampelodesmos mauritanicus – (diss grass) - This large elegant evergreen grass makes a fountain-like feature. From a base of arching green leaves spring tall pale stems carrying long drooping flower heads, beautiful in outline.

Calamagrostis brachytricha – (Korean feather reed grass) - A super elegant grass. Needle-like flower stems, carry pyramidal-shaped flower heads, like elegant bottlebrushes; grey-green with a touch of mauve when fresh, fading to buff. A shape tempting to stroke. A fine vertical above lower plants. Autumn flowering.

WAYS TO MAXIMISE AUTUMN COLOUR

Try to use bulbs strategically. While autumn is the time to plant spring bulbs, you can also use autumnflowering bulbs to enhance borders or containers. Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale) are large goblet-shaped flowers that bloom before the foliage.

Nerine bowdenii is a South African bulb with striking pink flowers, perfect in sheltered borders or large pots. Regular deadheading of annuals like pansies and rudbeckias will encourage prolonged blooming. Trim tired summer perennials to make space for autumn stars. Scatter small pumpkins or gourds around your containers or at the edge of borders. Use decorative stakes, solar lights, or lanterns to create evening ambiance and draw attention to focal plants.

CONTAINERS THAT SHINE INTO AUTUMN

Container gardening offers versatility, control, and the chance to easily update displays as the seasons change. As autumn arrives, you can swap out tired summer annuals with plants that flourish in cooler temperatures and bring fresh colour and texture.

Autumn annuals and bedding plants

Violas and pansies - these cheerful flowers come into their own in autumn and continue blooming on milder winter days.

Cyclamen (hardy types like Cyclamen hederifolium) are perfect for shadier spots, adding a romantic touch with their upswept petals and marbled leaves.

Chrysanthemums are available in bold autumn shades of red, orange, and yellow. Look for hardy types if you want them to come back next year.

Kale and ornamental cabbage - these leafy plants are cold-hardy and add architectural interest to containers.

Try using the thriller–filler–spiller method. This is becoming increasingly popular with those gardeners concentrating on their containers.

• Thriller - a standout plant like a tall grass or upright chrysanthemum.

• Filler - mid-height plants such as violas or heucheras.

• Spiller - cascading ivy or trailing pansies soften the pot’s edge.

You should choose warm-toned containers — terracotta or bronze-hued pots enhance the rich colours of autumn. Plants need less water as temperatures cool, but don’t let them dry out completely.

Violas Cyclamen

Stipa tenuissima Stipa calamagrostis

Calamagrostis brachytricha

FORAGING IN SEPTEMBER

FORAGING IN SEPTEMBER CAN BE A DEEPLY SATISFYING EXPERIENCE. WITH A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE AND CARE, YOU CAN GATHER A VARIETY OF WILD FOODS—BERRIES, NUTS, MUSHROOMS GREENS AND MORE. IT IS A TIME TO SAVOUR THE FLAVOURS OF THE WILD

September marks a transition in the natural world.

As summer fades and the first hints of autumn creep in, those who are out there foraging find themselves in the most rewarding months of the year.

Hedgerows, forests, meadows, and coastlines come alive with edible plants, fruits, nuts, and fungi.

The warmth of the sun, and autumn’s increasing moisture, creates a perfect backdrop for wild food enthusiasts.

And that’s if you’re picking blackberries on a country lane, gathering mushrooms in a misty forest, or collecting chestnuts beneath ancient trees. Many summer fruits are still available, while autumn staples foods begin to ripen.

It’s a month of abundance.

For foragers, this month is one of the richest and most rewarding of the year. With fruits ripening, nuts falling, and mushrooms flourishing, there is a wealth of wild food to discover. Whether you’re an experienced forager or just beginning to search, September offers a vibrant opportunity to connect with nature and enjoy what it has to offer.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects many plants in the UK, so make sure you’re not disturbing any protected species.

It’s also illegal to dig up plants without the landowner’s permission.

Foraging is not just about collecting free food—it’s about tuning into the rhythms of the natural world. September is a reminder that abundance is fleeting.

The joy of foraging isn’t just in the eating—it’s in the walking, the observing, the learning, and the connection to landscape and legacy. Many of our ancestors relied on these same hedgerows and woods for survival. Today, we forage to reconnect, to slow down, and to savour what the wild offers.

Whether you’re picking blackberries with your children, searching for wild mushrooms in ancient woodland, or bottling rosehip syrup for the winter, you are part of a long and meaningful tradition—one rooted in respect, curiosity, and care.

What is out there in September:

Blackberries - Are an easy option for the forager and the quintessential foraged fruit of late summer and early autumn. By September, they are sweet, juicy, and abundant. Look for them in hedgerows, woodland edges, canal paths, and country lanes. When picking, only take the fully black and slightly soft berries they’re the ripest and tastiest.

Elderberries - After the elderflowers of early summer come the dark purple elderberries. They grow in drooping clusters on elder trees. The berries must be cooked before eating, as raw elderberries can cause nausea. Ideal for making syrups wine, chutneys, and jams.

Hazelnuts - These tasty nuts ripen in early autumn, often beginning in late August and continuing through September. Look for hazel trees in hedgerows and woodland edges. You’ll often find nuts scattered on the ground beneath.

Sweet chestnuts - Toward the end of September, you might find sweet chestnuts starting to fall. They are encased in spiky green burrs that split open when ripe. These trees are most commonly found in parks and mature woodland. Ideal for roasting or use in soups and stuffing.

Rosehips - The bright red fruit of wild roses, rosehips are best gathered after the first frost, but they begin appearing in September. They’re rich in vitamin C and have a tartsweet flavour. Use in rosehip syrup, tea, jelly, or infused vinegar.

Sloes - These are the fruit of the blackthorn bush. Small, blue-black, and bitter, sloes are not pleasant to eat raw but are famed for their role in sloe gin. They begin to ripen in September, but many foragers wait for the first frost to soften their tannins. Use for sloe gin, jams, chutneys.

Crab apples - These small, tart apples can be found growing wild or naturalised in woodlands and field edges. They are too sour to eat raw but make excellent jellies and sauces. Crab apple jelly, cider, pectin for jam-making.

MUSHROOMS

September is the beginning of peak mushroom season. The UK is home to thousands of fungi species—some edible, some poisonous—so mushroom foraging requires knowledge and caution.

Common edible varieties in September include:

Chanterelles: Fragrant, yellow-orange, and often found under beech or birch trees.

Field mushrooms: Common in pastures and grassy areas.

Giant puffballs: Large, white, and unmistakable.

Cep (Boletus edulis): Also known as porcini, found in deciduous woodland.

NEVER EAT A WILD MUSHROOM UNLESS YOU ARE 100% CERTAIN OF ITS IDENTIFICATION. MANY TOXIC SPECIES RESEMBLE EDIBLE ONES.

FORAGING TIPS

Start with what you know: Begin with easily identifiable and low-risk plants like blackberries, elderberries, or hazelnuts.

Use a foraging guidebook: A good field guide can help with identification. Some even have seasonal indexes to help focus your search.

Go early: Foraging is becoming increasingly popular. Go early in the day—and in the season—to get the best pickings.

Respect the ‘one-third rule’: Only take what you need, leave plenty for wildlife and future foragers.

Know the law: You are allowed to forage for personal use on public land or with landowner permission. Avoid nature reserves and protected areas without explicit permission.

Avoid pollution: Don’t forage near busy roads, industrial areas, or places where pesticides might be used.

Bring the right kit: A basket or cloth bag (not plastic, which can cause spoilage), gloves for thorny or stinging plants, and a pocket knife can be useful.

FORAGING SAFETY

Responsible foraging ensures we protect the ecosystems we benefit from:

Always identify plants and fungi properly. Mistakes can be dangerous. Don’t uproot entire plants. Take fruits or leaves, not roots or the whole plant, unless it’s invasive and being managed.

Watch for wildlife. Don’t disturb birds’ nests or animal habitats.

Berries provide a wonderful haul in September

Mushrooms are in abundance but make sure you have identified the variety correctly

Days out in the quieter beauty of September

There is a particular pleasure in days out during September and the early weeks of autumn, especially for those who love gardens and all things horticultural. As summer fades and the light softens, gardens take on a new, quieter beauty—one that invites reflection, discovery, and wandering among plants that are beginning their graceful decline. It’s a time of transition, when gardens reveal textures and tones that are hidden at the height of summer, and every leaf seems lit from within.

Visiting formal gardens in early autumn can be unexpectedly rewarding. While the riotous colour of midsummer may have faded, September brings its own palette—burnished reds, deep russets, and golden hues that glow in the slanting light. Ornamental grasses come into their prime, waving elegantly in the breeze and catching dew in the early morning. Dahlias, asters, and sedums extend the season with rich, jewel-toned blooms, often alive with bees making the most of the last of the nectar. The structure of a well-designed garden is more visible now: topiary stands out, paths are framed by maturing perennials, and vistas open up as foliage begins to thin.

Plant fairs held during this time are a treasure trove for the keen gardener. Many are hosted in the grounds of stately homes or specialist nurseries, offering not just a chance to buy unusual or heritage varieties, but also to explore beautiful settings. Autumn is a brilliant time for planting—cooler temperatures and moist soil give plants the best possible start, and nurseries are often keen to clear stock, making it a great opportunity to pick up bargains and advice from passionate growers.

Equally enjoyable are the National Garden Scheme (NGS) open days, which offer access to private gardens not usually open to the public. September sees a quieter schedule than peak summer, but those that are open often hold charm. These gardens can range from small town plots bursting with late-season surprises to sprawling country estates where mature trees and expansive borders put on a subtle but impressive show. There’s something deeply personal and inspiring about visiting someone’s private garden— learning what works in their soil, their microclimate, and their creative choices. Often, homemade cake and tea are part of the experience, adding to the leisurely, convivial atmosphere.

Herbaceous plants take centre stage at Marwood Hill

As summer comes to an end late flowering, herbaceous plants take centre stage announcing their presence as autumn tumbles in. Muted tones of pink and creamy Japanese anemones mingle with deep purple foliage of cimicifuga and cucomis ‘Zeal Purple’. Hydrangeas continue their everlasting display on the far hillside, while the trees overhead start their yearly cycle of slowing down revealing colourful tones in their leaves. Looking out of our tearoom windows, while enjoying a cream tea (our favourite is the homemade ginger cream tea) and marvelling at the colourful spectacle in the 20 acres of gardens makes a grand finish to a memorable walk, and after choosing some unusual plants to take home from the well stocked plant nursery.

Marwood Hill Gardens, Nr Guineaford, Barnstaple, North Devon EX31 4EA

www.marwoodhillgarden.co.uk Tel: 01271 342.528

Email: info@marwoodhillgarden.co.uk

Cadhay Gardens looking at a record year

September is the final month of opening of the year at Cadhay Gardens near Ottery St Mary and it looks as though this year will be a record year for garden visitors helped by the large number who bought season tickets giving them access on all open days. The dahlias ensure that there is still a massive amount of colour in the garden and the gardeners have been busy trying to improve the collection. Cadhay EX11 1QT is one mile to the north of Ottery St Mary. See cadhay.org.uk for further details.

Cadhay Gardens remain open from 2pm to 5pm on Friday afternoons until the end of September.

Late Summer

Above all, days out in early autumn are about pace and presence. The crowds have

Late Summer

Open Garden Day

Late Summer

Open Garden Day

Late Summer

7th September, 10am-4pm

Open Garden Day

Late Summer

7th September, 10am-4pm

Open Garden Day

7th September, 10am-4pm