visit: John’s Garden at Ashwood Nurseries

As previously announced we will be visiting “John’s Garden” at Ashwood Nurseries, Kingswinford on 12 September.

It is a wonderful eight acre private garden created by nursery owner and Chelsea Gold medallist John Massey VMH. Informal borders, island beds, woodland dells and a wildlife garden are set against the beautiful backdrop of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

Regarded as one of the finest private gardens in the UK, there are magnificent collections of trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, conifers and bulbs adding to the interest all year round, with an abundance of rare plants as well as familiar favourites.

We had previously intended to have a formal guided tour of the garden but now learn that, on the day we have chosen, they will be having an Autumn Plant Fair, and so are not offering tours. Autumn Plant Fair | Ashwood Nurseries 

However the gardens are still open for “self guided” tours (i.e. wandering about and having a snoop). It seemed too good an opportunity to pass up the chance to look at a garden, visit a plant fair, nursery and, of course, tearoom, and so we’re going ahead with the visit.

We will be travelling to John’s Garden via car share and admission will be £8 per person at the entrance. (I am afraid that there were no discounts available for group or advance bookings.)

We have a booking form we’d like you to fill in here:

Booking form for John’s Garden

This will enable us to know who is planning to be there and arrange a WhatsApp group, for all who wish to join, so that we can provide assistance to anyone lost or in difficulty. It will also allow us to organise the car shares. 

We intend to meet at the garden entrance at 11:00am. My sat nav tells me that Kingswinford is 1hr 40mins away so leaving from Bream at 9:00am should see you safely there in time. The garden closes at 5:00 pm. The Plant Fair is open from 10:00am – 3:30pm. 

Sorry, I am afraid that no dogs or picnics are allowed in the gardens.