15 GARDENS TO VISIT THIS summer in Suffolk

1. ICKWORTH HOUSE & GARDENS, HORRINGER

2. GLEMHAM HALL, LITTLE GLEMHAM

3. THE PLACE FOR PLANTS, EAST BERGHOLT

4. Bury St Edmunds’ Hidden Gardens

5. The Gardens at RIVERSIDE HOUSE, CLARE

6. CHRISTCHURCH PARK, IPSWICH

7. HELMINGHAM HALL, HELMINGHAM

8. MELFORD HALL, LONG MELFORD
Exploring the garden costs £9.00 for adults and £4.50 for children. It includes entry to the house.


9. FULLER'S MILL GARDEN, WEST STOW

10. SOMERLEYTON HALL & GARDENS, SOMERLEYTON

11. KENTWELL HALL, LONG MELFORD

12. WYKEN HALL GARDENS, BURY ST EDMUNDS
The intricate, old-style gardens at Wyken Hall reflect the Elizabethan nature of the house itself. Take a wander through the grounds and you’ll find a knot garden, herb garden, nuttery, wildflower meadow, traditional kitchen garden and much more, all bursting with the colours of an English summer.
You’ll also find a critically acclaimed restaurant, vineyard and country market, making a visit to Wyken Hall an all-round great day out.
The gardens are open every day except Saturdays from 2pm-6pm April to late September, and entry costs £5 per adult (children, free).

13. The Abbey Gardens, BURY ST EDMUNDS
The Abbey Gardens in the heart of Bury St Edmunds is the perfect spot for enjoying peace and quiet whilst watching the world go by. The award-winning 14-acre park is on the site of a former Benedictine Abbey, the Abbey of St Edmund, once a power house of medieval England. Free to wander, there is much to explore here: abbey ruins, sculptures, hidden garden 'rooms' and many quiet nooks and shady corners to picnic, read a book or sit in contemplation. Its eye-catching displays has earnt its place as one of the region's leading gardens to see and attracts an international audience.
_579x427.jpg)
14. RSPB Wildlife Garden, Flatford
Nestled in the very heart of Constable Country in the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the RSPB Wildlife Garden is a buzzing haven for wildlife. It's designed to show how we can all grow gardens that will appeal to bees, birds and other wildlife and look beautiful at the same time.
The garden is free to enter and RSPB volunteers are on hand to answer questions about the different shrubs and flowers (and bee houses!). Leave enough time to walk up the lane to see Willy Lott's House and Flatford Mill, where artist John Constable painted one of his most famous pieces, The Hay Wain (1821). Follow that will a walk through the surrounding countryside, so beloved by Constable.
15. Nowton Park, Near Bury St Edmunds
Nature lovers will find Nowton Park, near Bury St Edmunds, fascinating, not least for its vivid display of daffodils that burst into life each spring. The park consists of over 200 acres of West Suffolk countryside and encompasses a unique arboretum; home to eucalyptus from Australia, paperbark maple from China and Kentucky coffee trees from North America. The China region is authentically rich in bamboo, whilst a Native American totem pole forms part of the North American region, carved from red cedar.
A substantial play area is also sure to keep the children occupied, along with the numerous paths that are ideal for cycling. A perfectly clipped hedge maze, designed in the shape of an oak tree and consisting of 2,500 hornbeam trees and over two miles of hedging, is also bound to keep you entertained for an hour or two!
_579x427.jpg)
INDOOR GARDEN: URBAN JUNGLE, BUNGAY
Urban Jungle is an experience like no other! With a level of exoticism and quirky inspiration, it attracts visitors from far and wide, searching for something alternative, and simply not found in the traditional garden centre. Dominated by giant cacti, larger-than-life plants, and unsual species, Urban Jungle make their food just as fascinating as their plants. The Bohemian surroundings, which are perfect for socialising, serve up specialities made from their Edible Jungle. Lose yourself amongst the Olive trees, grasses, ferns, cacti and succulents to name just a few.
