National Trust summer showstoppers in Nottinghamshire

Visitors can expect to be wowed by colourful borders, giant plants and unusual species when they visit National Trust places in Nottinghamshire during the summer months.

As the warmer days arrive, there’s nothing nicer than a gentle stroll around a garden packed with blooms of all shapes, sizes and shades, a wander across open parkland or meandering by a stream or lake to find a shady spot for a picnic. With such a variety of locations to choose from the problem will be deciding where to visit first.

In the simple garden greenhouse at Mr Straw’s House, you can discover the collection of cacti that Walter was passionate about. If you’re lucky you may see some of them in bloom – but a couple only flower for one day!  For a greenhouse on a completely different scale, visit Clumber Park.  View the summer colours in the Walled Kitchen Garden from the Park’s iconic glasshouse that runs the entire width of the garden and has elegant features such as beautiful cast iron heating grilles and decorative finials and woodwork.

Chris Margrave, Head Gardener at Clumber Park said, “High summer sees our 400 foot long double herbaceous borders in full bloom with dahlias, sunflowers and crocosmias at their best.  In the glasshouse, cucumbers, melons and aubergines are in full production, along with heritage tomato varieties with brown, yellow, cream and striped fruits.  Our summer work includes grass cutting and edging, weeding, watering and sowing quick maturing crops such as salad leaves, which go straight to our chefs in the cafe and tea house.”

National Trust gardens contain one of the most important collections of cultivated plants in single ownership anywhere in the world.  This collection includes some specimens that were brought back centuries ago from all corners of the globe.  There are rarities that no longer thrive in the wild, significant varieties from plant breeding projects and historically interesting collections reflecting the passion and skill of past garden owners and their talented head gardeners.

At Clumber Park there is a unique yellow fruited holly named Ilex x altaclerensis ‘Clumber Park’. It was first discovered in the 1980s by John Sales who was Head of Gardens at the National Trust at the time. It was the first time that he had seen the plant and analysis by botanists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, confirmed that it was distinct from any other plant and the only variety of its kind.  It is thought that the holly was planted at Clumber Park in the 1930s.

To find out more about the National Trust gardens near you visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midlands