Stillingfleet Lodge Nurseries & Gardens, York

You will enjoy your visit to our high profile garden, with its tranquil setting in the grounds of a 18th century farmhouse. Experience the wild flower walk leading to a natural pond, our long herbaceous borders and the colour themed cottage garden style plantings surrounding the house.

The garden has been selected to feature in "The Good Gardens Guide" edited by Peter King, "The Daily Telegraph Gardeners' Guide to Britain" by Patrick Taylor and the "Gardeners' Favourite Nurseries" by Leslie Geddes-Brown. It was also featured in "The English Garden", "Yorkshire Life", "The Garden" and many others.

In 2006, we were especially delighted to be included in 'Castle in the Country' on BBC2 and to be one of the top ten June gardens in Great Britain according to the Independent.

Visitors to the garden in early autumn were amazed at the amount of colour and interesting foliage. Again this year the garden will be open in August and September as well as earlier in the summer.

GARDEN OPENING TIMES

The garden is open on Wednesday and Friday afternoons from April 16th to the end of September from 1.00pm to 5.00pm. The garden is free for RHS members on Wednesdays.

The garden will also be open on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from April 16th to the end of September between 1.00pm and 5.00pm. We can open at other times by appointment.

On all open days we have a nature trail designed for 5 to 10 year olds but much enjoyed by their parents. The garden is open under the National Gardens Scheme on Sundays; May 11th, June 22th and September 7th from 1.00pm to 5.00pm.

We bought Stillingfleet Lodge in 1975; it was an unloved farmhouse that had been empty for over a year. There was very little garden, mainly a vegetable plot with no shrubs or trees. The remaining 3 acres was grassland. For several years we lived the good life, a house cow, pigs, sheep and poultry as well as four children.

The nursery was started in 1983, mainly to help finance my tree planting, as it grew and took more time the animals were not replaced and new areas of garden were developed. The sheep were the last to go leaving us space to let the grassland return to meadow. A wildlife pond was dug and as the garden is organic the pond and meadow support a large number of birds and insect life as well as my husband’s bees. We still have several varieties of poultry, including Pekin bantems that are free to wonder in the garden-keeping slugs at bay.

We also have small enclosed areas of garden planted for ease of maintenance and year round interest as well as our 60ft double herbaceous borders, something to interest all our visitors.

"I expected formality but it was much nicer, relaxed and friendly with the dog as personal guide."

"The garden has a wonderful natural feel, visually pleasing and environmentally excellent."

"Impressed with colour, texture and plants which are exciting in late summer."

"Loved the rooms round the house, contrast between the formal areas and wildflower areas."

We also have a nature trail on garden open days aimed at 5-10 year olds.

Garden Entry fee: £4.00 or 50p for children aged 5-16. Entrance is free to RHS members this year on Wednesdays.