The Laskett Gardens

The Laskett Gardens

The Laskett Gardens are the largest private formal gardens laid out in England since 1945. They are the private creation over thirty years of the historian, writer and diarist Sir Roy Strong and his late wife, the designer, Julia Trevelyan Oman. Stretching over four acres, it is celebrated for the orchestration of surprise and its thrilling vistas. There are some twenty different and contrasting ‘rooms' including a rose garden, a knot garden, an orchard, a pleached lime avenue, parterres, herbaceous borders and the Colonnade Court. This is the Sissinghurst of the late twentieth century, a joint creation by two people who were at the centre of the arts in England embracing theatre, opera, ballet, film, museums, exhibitions, garden design as well as writing. What makes this garden utterly unique is that its makers wove the story of their marriage and their lives into its very fabric.

Opening times: Tuesday April 8th to Thursday 30th July and then again from Tuesday 2nd September to Thursday 2nd October. Generally visits commence at 10.30am & 2.30pm respectively but these times can be altered if preferred. Occasionally open at other times by specialarrangement.

Admission Rates: Adults £10.00.
Group Rates: Minimum Group Size 20.

Facilities: A small shop selling items exclusive to The Laskett Gardens. Only plants grown in the gardenare sold. Recommendations of local places to eat are available.

Disabled Access: Limited but possible.
Toilets on Site: 3 unisex including disabled facilities.
Coach/Car Parking: Yes. The larger coaches can set down, collect and park nearby.
Length of Visit: 11/2 - 2 hours.
Special Events: Included in the admission charge is a detailed souvenir map of the gardens.
Early evening summer openings can be made by special arrangement to include a glass of
wine or Laskett Apple Juice and nibbles if required.
Booking Contact: Fiona Fyshe, The Laskett, Much Birch, Herefordshire, HR2 8HZ
Just off the A49 midway between Ross-on-Wye and Hereford. Details on website

Review

There are thousands of gardens all over the world let alone in Great Britain. Some are great gardens, some are fantastic gardens and there are a few that can never be replicated, the Laskett Gardens are one of the latter. I have never in all the time during the research for my books seen a garden like this one and though originally these gardens have an Italian influence nor do I ever think I will see one quite the same again. I also haven't visited a garden that has such poignant history and meaning behind it, around every corner and in each room of the garden there is a new story to be told. One of the other reasons why the Laskett Gardens remain such a hidden gem is because tours around the gardens are by appointment only and for that very reason there are not hundreds of people traipsing round bumping into each other.