A Rather Special Garden

The Homestead

Bottesford has many keen gardeners and attractive gardens, but only one garden has the distinction of having been accepted for the National Gardens Scheme. The Homestead, in Normanton,  opens early in March for visitors to admire the first flowers of Spring, especially the snowdrops and helibore, growing in an informal woodland setting. Shirley Palmer and her husband John specialise in growing unusual hardy and half-hardy perenials, with dozens of varieties of hosta and sempervivum, as well as paeonies, asters and iris. They are responsible for the National Collection of Heliotropes.

The Nationanal Gardens Scheme was founded in 1927 to raise money for the Queen's Nursing Institute by opening gardens of quality and interest to the public.Over 3,000 gardens are opened every year, raising 2 million pounds for charity and giving pleasure to hundreds of thousands of visitors.

For more information about gardens open for charity go to www.ngs.org.uk

The Homestead will be open again in September in aid of the Red Cross Society.