Open Gardens 2023

Visiting local Open Gardens is a lovely way to spend an afternoon and can often give us plenty of ideas and inspiration for our own gardens.  Time spent chatting to fellow gardeners who are usually eager to share their knowledge with others can be invaluable and most are happy to pass on their favourite tips and tricks for the perfect blooms or vegetable crops.  Many gardens sell plants and some offer refreshments along the way.  

We are pleased to be able to share some of the beautiful Open Gardens to visit during 2023: 

Wivenhoe Open Gardens 

Wivenhoe, Essex

Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st May 2023

Clavering Country Gardens and The Little House   

Clavering, near Saffron Walden, Essex

Sunday 28th May 2023

10.30am to 4.30pm

Postecode for Sat Nav: CB11 4QL (please verify before travelling). 

Parking available in Middle Street, or adjacent lanes, also at some gardens and ample parking at The Fox and Hounds pub.  

Adults £5, accompanied children free. Includes The Little House, beekeeping demonstrations etc.  Cash only please.

Clavering Village's glorious gardens, from small cottage gardens with unusual plants to an acre with stunning views over the medieval heart of the village and a new large garden with geese, chickens and wildfowl roaming.  

Come and see The Little House (open for visitors this year), built 1750, the smallest thatched cottage in England.

Chestnut Cottage by the ford over the river Stort, an acre of wide rambling flower beds and lots of paths and seats to relax and enjoy the views and some new cottage gardens with unusual plants and ponds - and great ideas for smaller spaces.

Essex Beekeeping demonstrations and talks all day with glass observation hive.  

All gardens within easy walking distance of each other.

Teas, morning coffee and homemade cakes available all day.  Excellent lunches available at The Cricketers pub, original home of Jamie Oliver. 

Plant sales: hundreds of plants for sale including roses, summer bedding, climbers and shrubs.  Bargain planted wooden herb troughs. 

Toilets are available at this event.

Event passports available at the gate of any participating garden.

All proceeds to Safron Walden MENCAP Society.

Coggeshall Open Gardens  

Between Braintree and Colchdester, Essex

Sunday 4th June 2023

1 - 6pm.

Postecode for Sat Nav: CO6 1UH (please verify before travelling). 

Adults £5, accompanied under 12s free.

After a break of three years, Coggeshall Open Gardens is back offering a perfect day out for the whole family.  Fabulous gardens, our legendary afternoon teas, children's activities and a chance to stock up on plants at the plant stall.  

Cakes and light refreshments available. 

Plant stall on East Street.

Toilets are available at this event.

All proceeds to the parish church of St Peter ad Vincula.

Event passports available on the day from our stall on Stoneham Street, in advance from The Chapel Inn and Bakealicious. 

Colne Engaine Open Gardens  

Near Colchdester, Essex

Sunday 11th June 2023

10am - 6pm.

Postecode for Sat Nav: CO6 2EZ (please verify before travelling). 

Cost: £5

Visit our pretty village and enjoy our gardens which are wide-ranging and varied, from small cottage plots to glorious established vistas.  This includes Knights Farm with a small orchard of Essex-type apples and an impressive Mulberry tree.  A one-acre garden of plant enthusiasts that include some 80 varieties of mostly native trees and shrubs.  New additions include The Grove, home to the same family for over 200 years and Orchard House where visitors can meet the alpacas.  

Hop on-and-off mini bus to visit the gardens on the outskirts of the village with ease.  

Plants for sale all grown by local villagers plus other stalls.  

Toilets are available at this event.

All proceeds to Colne Engaine Primary School, Festival Committee and St. Andrew's Church plus Bowel Cancer UK. 

Event passports available on the day from The Village Green and any participating garden, in advance from Ziel and Fork Andles, Earls Colne, Poplar Nurseries, Marks Tey plus Colne Engaine Shop.  

Bradfield Open Gardens  

Bradfield, near Manningtree, Essex

Sunday 25th June 2023

11am to 5pm

Postecode for Sat Nav: CO11 2US (please verify before travelling). 

Adults £4, accompanied under 16s free.

Gardens of various sizes will be open, some with beautiful views over the river Stour. 

Cakes and light refreshments available. 

Plant stall.

Toilets are available at this event.

Proceeds to The Friends of St. Lawrence Church, Bradfleld..

Admission by programme available from the village shop in advance and also on the day at St. Lawrence Church.

Website: foslbradfield.org

Harwich Town Secret Gardens

Harwich, Essex

Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th July 2023

11am to 4pm

Postecode for Sat Nav: CO12 3DS (please verify before travelling). 

Adults £5, accompanied children free.

Harwich is an old town with house fronts on the street, gardens and yards hidden from view. 

Harwich Town Secret Gardens is in its 12th year and will have a very large number of hidden gardens and courtyards open, with some new to the scheme and some old ones resting.  All gardens are easily reachable on foot.  Winners of Pride of Place in Tendring.   

Approximately 27 gardens will be open, but the total may vary on the day. 

Toilet facilities are available at the event. 

Event passports available from the Halfpenny Pier, Visitors Centre, Harwich Museum and Deli at 141 in Dovercourt High Street prior to and at the event.  Also available at the weekend from St. Nicolas Church.