GREAT PLACES T O V ISI T
£100 off as Expressions tempts you to Tuscany
Take a tasty trip to Blakewell
Expressions Holidays have a tempting six-night small group tour of Tuscany gardens which combines Chianti and Lucca to reflect the diversity and beauty of Tuscan villas and gardens. It is the chance to witness Italianate, Baroque, parkland, water features, classical structures and beautiful views, ideal for a spring getaway or autumn break. There will be a maximum of 14 people on the tour. Prices are from £2,650 per person with departures on Sundays 20th May, 10th June and 9th September. Expressions Holidays is offering Country Gardener readers a reduction of £100 per person for booking any garden tours of Tuscany before 31st May. Fully protected by ATOL 3076. Contact Expressions Holidays on 01392 441275. www.expressionsholidays.co.uk
Blakewell’s waterside café, five minutes from Barnstaple, is now open to visit, offering homemade food and a selection of cakes, cream teas and coffee. From the farm you can sample fresh rainbow trout grown in sparkling clear Exmoor spring water. There’s the chance to walk the grounds and feed the trout, then order fresh trout which will be caught and cleaned for you to take home. Blakewell also offers the family fishing experience where you can catch your own trout. The team have more than 25 year’s experience in the design, construction and maintenance of ponds. Blakewell, Muddiford, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 4ET. Tel: 01271 344533 www.blakewell.co.uk
Lukesland Gardens – delights for all ages Lukesland Gardens, just ten minutes off the A38 in a hidden valley a mile north of Ivybridge, offers May Day delights for all ages. There are banks of azaleas and rhododendrons are luminous against the new green of the beech trees; wild bluebells and campions abound by a Dartmoor stream, criss-crossed by picturesque bridges. For children there is a nature trail with prizes and homemade soup and cakes in the Victorian tea-room. Dogs welcome on a lead. Open Sundays, Wednesdays and Bank Holidays 11am to 5pm until 10th June. www.lukesland.co.uk or www.facebook.com/lukeslandgardens or phone 01752 691749.
Axe Vale Festival – a great Devon day out The hugely popular Axe Vale Show on Saturday, 23rd and Sunday 24th June has something for everybody – from exhibits of plants and shrubs to locally-sourced delicious food and drink. Marquees full of arts, crafts, toys, collectables as well as antique and vintage items are there for you to browse through. There will be stalls selling everything from kitchen utensils to horse blankets. After all the browsing, you can relax outside and enjoy the spectacular entertainment. On Saturday compete in the Axe Vale Dog Show and on Sunday enjoy watching a sheep-shearer at work. Show opens from 10am to 6pm. Adult tickets £10 on the gate. Discounted tickets are available online www.axevaleshow.com Axe Vale Festival, The Showground, Trafalgar Way, Axminster EX13 5RJ.
Fifty acres of garden delights at Castle Hill
Castle Hill Gardens, at Filleigh near South Molton offers the chance to discover 50 acres of privately owned 18th century Devon gardens and explore winding pathways and beautiful woodland. Terraced walks give stunning parkland views and the opportunity to stroll amongst statues, follies and temples. The woodland garden is carpeted with primroses under ancient specimen trees, 176 different magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas are in full display. May welcomes the start of Outdoor Theatre shows with a performance of David Walliams’ The Midnight Gang. Open daily except Saturdays 11am to 5pm. Adults £7, children (5-15) £3, seniors, £6.50. Groups welcome by prior arrangement. For a calendar of events visit www.castlehilldevon. co.uk or call 01598 760336. Castle Hill Gardens, Filleigh, near South Molton, Devon, EX32 0RH. 38
Garden House opens its doors to budding photographers The Garden House at Buckland Monachorum near Tavistock in Devon opens its gates this month to budding garden photographers wanting to improve and show off their skills. Philip Smith, professional garden photographer and founder of the ‘International Garden Photographer of the Year’ is hosting his first workshop at this extraordinary garden on Saturday 26th May, when the wisterias around the garden will be flowering and the Cottage Garden will be a sea of pink, white and blue. Entries will also be open to all comers in the second ‘Photo of the Month’ competition. The Garden House, Buckland Monachorum, Yelverton, PL20 7LQ. For more details visit www.thegardenhouse.org.uk
Great family day out at Buckfast Abbey Garden Fair The Millennium Garden Fair opens at Buckfast Abbey from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, 2nd June and promises to be a great day out for families and garden enthusiasts alike. Entry is free. Toby Buckland of BBC Radio Devon fame, along with other gardening and wildlife experts will be hosting talks and presentations, sharing their wealth of knowledge, offering a few gardening tips too! There will also be an opportunity to put challenging gardening questions to the experts. The day will be packed with activity workshops for children, garden and rural craft demonstrations as well as tree climbing demonstrations. There will also be entertainment by the Dartington Morris Men and the South Devon Singers. There’s the chance to walk and browse the stalls and exhibitors including works by local artists and craftsmen, garden machinery, plant nurseries, herbal remedies and more. Buckfast Abbey, Buckfast, TQ11 0EE. Tel: 01364 645507 www.buckfast.org.uk
Country Gardener