Syderstone’s ‘secret garden’ opens to the public

Garden lovers - a date for your diary.

On Sunday 4 June, Syderstone’s ‘secret garden’ at The Old Rectory will open its gates as part of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS).

Behind a white gate in an ancient red brick wall, visitors will find a charming old style rectory garden which was designed in 1999 by RHS award winning medallist Arne Maynard. It has a parterre of English shrub roses, herbaceous beds, shrubbery and orchard as well as lawns, box, yew, beech and hornbeam hedging, pleached crab apple, wisteria, a vegetable garden and a riot of climbing roses.

Keen plantsman Tom White has been working for the last few months alongside his local team, Eddie and Matthew, to get the garden into tip top condition. He explains: ‘We’ve been opening the garden on and off since 2006, when we moved in. We’re very lucky to live here in Syderstone and happy to share our garden for the benefit of the whole community as well as other NGS visitors who travel to see it. The refreshments team from St Mary’s church will be here with teas, coffees, cakes and rolls so it will be a great opportunity to get together and meet friends, neighbours and other keen gardeners.’

The money raised from admission fees will go to NGS charities; refreshments proceeds will go to St Mary’s church, Syderstone.

Access details: Admission £5 each, children free.

Open: 11.00am to 5.00pm.

Getting there:

• SatNav postcode: PE31 8SF. Eight miles west of Fakenham on the A148, turn northwards onto the B1454. Turn third right, signposted ‘Syderstone’. Follow the road through the village. Turn first left onto Creake Road. The Old Rectory entrance is on the right in 200 yards.
• OR Pedestrian access via the white gate on The Street (opposite Rectory Gardens).