17th Century Newby Hall & Gardens

“Newby Hall and Gardens is well known in the gardening fraternity as an impressive example of well designed and extensive range of garden features, expertly decorated with a diverse range of plants. The truly magnificent herbaceous borders are the central feature of the gardens but are by no means the only feature of quality. Garden rooms and themed planting provide a range of style’s that can easily be incorporated into most gardens large or small. Of particular value is the work on plant conservation and Newby boasts the best collection of the genus Cornus in the Country.” I would also add the acid lovers Azaleas, Camellias, Rhododendrons and Magnolias so recommend visiting in April or May.

Ripley Castle & Gardens

Walking along from the castle terrace you get fantastic views over the lakes and deer park beyond. There is a woodland trail and an extended walk for the energetic. The large herbaceous borders create such a riot of colour between June and October each year but for me the old hot houses containing a highly impressive collection of tropical plants, ferns and cacti is the key feature. Ancient wisteria thrive on the high south-facing walls opposite the walled kitchen garden. This is maintained in neat order with the Henry Doubleday Research Association and contains an extensive herb bed and collection of rare vegetables.

RHS Garden Harlow Carr

The former home of the Northern Horticultural Society prior to merging with the RHS, Harlow Carr is in Harrogate less than 10 miles from the other gardens in this series. The garden is in a state of flux with many new design and development features on display. But despite the modern features as the RHS says ‘Harlow Carr is a garden dominated by water, stone and woodland and is very much part of the surrounding Yorkshire landscape’. Of interest to serious gardeners and specialists is the range of auxiliary special interest groups:-

Alpine and Rock Garden Group
This Group meets on three Saturdays a year at the Study Centre. Illustrated talks are given on alpines in their native habitat or in cultivation. Speakers vary from alpine experts to nurserymen or keen amateurs. Plants and information are exchanged.
Bonsai Group
The Group meets monthly in the Study Centre where talks, demonstrations and workshops are aimed towards learning both bonsai and horticultural techniques used in creating nature in miniature. At each meeting members exhibit their trees on a set theme.
Bulb, Lily and Hardy Plants Group
Meetings are held three times a year and take the form of lectures (both specialised and general), garden visits and the distribution of seeds, bulbs and plants.
Fern Group
The Group is part of the British Pteridological Society and has the object of promoting the study and conservation of ferns. Most meetings are field studies at various locations in Yorkshire and Lancashire (occasionally further afield).
Harrogate and Ripon Beekeeping Group
The Harrogate and Ripon Beekeepers Association provides beekeeping demonstrations to visitors on Saturday afternoons in the summer months. These have been extremely popular, particularly with children. The group also runs practical beekeeping courses. If you would like to know more about these and other courses then e-mail us.
Heather Group
The Heather Group helps maintain the National Collection of Calluna – looking after planting and regular maintenance. The Group holds regular talks, walks around Harlow Carr and its collection, and visits to other gardens.
Library and Museum Groups
A rota of volunteers enables the Library to be open five days a week (six days in summer) during the most popular visitor hours. The Museum Group meet weekly to deal with the many tasks involved in the running of the Museum.
Northern Fruit Group
The Group has two main aims – to encourage the growing of fruit in our northern climate and to help individual members to grow their fruit as well as possible.
Opportunities are provided for members to share their experiences and expertise with each other at informal meetings.
Rhododendron Group
There are three meetings with speakers each year at the Study Centre and an outside visit to a garden noted for its rhododendrons. In addition, in early May each year a weekend of visits is arranged in various parts of the country to private gardens not usually open to the public.
Rose Group
The Rose Group has occasional meetings throughout the year on Saturday afternoons in the Study Centre. All RHS Members and their friends are welcome to attend any of the Group’s meetings.