The garden opening is almost upon us! come and visit...
The NGS says
Discover an exotic garden bursting with the vibrant energy of late summer — a bold, immersive space inspired by travels through Southeast Asia. Wander through a naturalistic jungle filled with dramatic foliage and striking colours, where towering paulownias rise above lush planting schemes of bananas, cannas, bamboos, tetrapanax and more.
What begins as an ordinary suburban garden opens up into a jungle oasis. A ‘hidden garden’ created from derelict that had formed the bottom halves of two neighbouring garden surprises visitors with its unexpected scale and rich planting. Meander past three tranquil ponds, explore a productive growing area and a contemporary sunken terrace housing some of the garden’s most treasured plants.
This is a garden that delivers on the ‘wow’ factor — with many visitors amazed by both its size and the immersive, jungle-like atmosphere. Each year it grows wilder and more beautiful, as the plants mature and the design evolves.
With over 30 seats on the lower lawn and in tucked-away corners throughout, there are plenty of peaceful spots to pause and soak up the surroundings. Don’t miss our renowned plant sale, teas and home-made cakes, served in the garden.
Featured on BBC Gardeners World, BBC Instant Garden, Garden News, Independent magazine, and Simple Things magazine.
Music from the Secret life saxophone quartet from 2pm
Last admission at 4:30., garden closes at 5pm
Full details on the NGS website here
This has of course been a very challenging year. The combination of prolonged drought and the hosepipe ban has made gardening difficult. Even in a normal year, this is a dry garden, as the mature sycamore trees absorb a huge amount of moisture from the soil.
Although we have been
watering by hand, the garden is simply too large to water fully, and we have
had to prioritise the 185 pots that form this year's display. As a result, some
plants are looking a little crispy or have been stunted by the dry conditions,
and the garden is not as lush and exuberant as it usually is.
However, the cake is as good as ever! and we have sausage rolls too!
Where are we? We are at 24 Grove Park, Camberwell, London, SE5 8LH. Aim for the Chadwick Rd end of Grove Park. Peckham Rye or Denmark Hill Stns, both 10 min walk. Good street parking.
How much does it cost? Where does the money go? £5 entry. All monies raised go to the NGS whom them distribute to different charities. This year they donated £3.5million. Core beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queens Nursing Institute.
How good is the cake? It is worth coming for the cake alone….
How accessible is the garden? The garden is on a slight slope/different levels and so does include some steps. Some paths are uneven and made of wood chip, others gravel. Sadly, we are not wheelchair accessible.
