Learn about the beautifully coloured, fragile rarities that are English Tulips, largely preserved by members of the Wakefield and North of England Tulip Society, from Teresa Clements, former Secretary of the society, and now Chair of the RHS Bulbous Plants Committee.

This talk takes place in the Peter Sowerby Building at the Yorkshire Arboretum, but can be streamed via Zoom.

Booking Information

Gardens Talks cost £10 to attend in person or £5 to attend via Zoom. Please book by selecting your preferred option below:

The Yorkshire Arboretum’s Garden Talks series is back for 2023.

We are glad to be joined by Katy Merrington with ‘The Hepworth Wakefield Garden – transforming an unused piece of land into a beautiful free public garden.

The garden at The Hepworth Wakefield art gallery has been designed by internationally renowned garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith and opened to the public 2019. Katy Merrington will speak about the creation and development of this beautiful new public space, along with inspiring ideas for creating year-round interest through perennial plantings.’

This talk takes place in the Peter Sowerby Building at the Yorkshire Arboretum, but can be streamed via Zoom.

Booking Information

Gardens Talks cost £10 to attend in person or £5 via Zoom. Please book by selecting your preferred option below:

Ness Hall is opening for the arboretum. Situated near the river Rye with views to the North York moors. The main garden is a 2.5 acre 17th Century walled garden. It has been gardened and developed by three generations of Murray Wells. It now contains a rose pergola which should be in full bloom, a Japanese influenced garden with pergola and stream, a woodland area, cutting and kitchen garden and a wonderful ‘fairy’ garden. Often described as a large cottage garden the borders are full, with self-seeding encouraged. There is also a large orchard and gardens around the house for visitors to explore, along with a pond and vegetable garden.

Parking: as sign posted, in front of the house in the parkland.

Ticket Price: Day Ticket £5, Season Ticket £25

Please book below

Owen is Assistant Registrar of the Tree Register and few people know this country’s trees better. He’ll tell us about finding and measuring the great trees of Yorkshire that have achieved championship status.

This talk takes place in the Peter Sowerby Building at the Yorkshire Arboretum, but can be streamed via Zoom

Fee: £5 Online, £10 In Person

To book, please telephone 01653648598

All ticket proceeds from today will go towards the National Garden Scheme, which supports nursing and health charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute.

Find out more by visiting https://ngs.org.uk/

No need to book. By General Admission.

The Yorkshire Arboretum’s Garden Talks series is back for 2023.

On Thursday 13 April, John Grimshaw will deliver a fascinating talk about the garden in Ray Wood ‘A Plantsman’s Paradise’.

The garden in Ray Wood, within the Castle Howard grounds but curated by the Yorkshire Arboretum’s staff and volunteers, is an under-visited gem. John talks about its creation by Jim Russell, its restoration and maintenance and the rich diversity of plants that grow there.

This talk takes place in the Peter Sowerby Building at the Yorkshire Arboretum, but can be streamed via Zoom.

Booking Information

Gardens Talks cost £10 to attend in person or £5 via Zoom. Please book by selecting your preferred option below:

Lecturer and creator of Bolton Percy churchyard garden, Roger Brook’s own no-dig garden has 1,500 plant varieties, many rare, providing colour all year round. The garden has numerous features, sweeping views, and holds the National Collection of Dicentra. Horticulturally unorthodox, especially the fruit and vegetables, the overall effect is dramatic.

Open date(s): Sunday 5 and Monday 6 May 12 - 5pm. Other times possible for small groups of 4-8 people by arrangement (roger-brook@live.com). The two open day dates coincide with those of Weathervane House also in Seaton Ross.

Location: Seaton Ross, York YO42 4NF. On the road from Seaton Ross to Melbourne. Leave Seaton Ross and immediately turn left at top (north) of village.

Parking: on road

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Book now or pay on the day.

Helen and Colin Crews have a small cottage garden with views across the countryside and attractive mixed borders and a wide range of plants in both sunny and shaded areas. In particular in late spring and early summer there are hellebores, Meconopsis and Iris. There are also raised vegetable plots, a small glasshouse and a fishpond.

Open date(s): Sunday 19 May 10am - 4pm; Sunday 1 September 12 - 5pm.

Location: 4 Sudnicton Croft, Westow, YO60 7NB. In Westow take the road (Main Street) signposted Burythorpe & Church. Before reaching a turning to the Church only, turn left down a gravel track signposted Sudnicton Croft on wall.

Parking: Limited parking near house, otherwise on nearby streets.

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Book now or pay on the day.

Bob and Christine Pietrowski have a modest-sized village garden with distant views of the Castle Howard Estate.  It is laid out with lawns, paved areas and formal borders, block planted with herbaceous perennials and roses, which are at their best in the late summer. Pots provide additional colour and interest and house an ever increasing collection of hostas. Four raised beds give space for a few favourite vegetables and annual flowers for cutting.

Open date(s): Sunday 25 August 1 - 6pm

Location: Main Street, Welburn, York YO60 7DZ, opposite the red telephone box

Parking: On street.

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Book now or pay on the day.

Alastair Fitter’s long 1 acre garden stretches from Huntington Road to the River Foss. There are perennials, alpines, a peat-free ‘peat’ garden, a woodland garden, a traditional orchard with 85 year old trees mixed with more recently planted specimen trees and shrubs, a meadow with fritillaries in spring and orchids in summer, and wet woodland by the river with oxlips in spring and a large new pond. There are more than 1,000 species of plant in the garden, including 250 natives.

Open date(s): Sunday 12 May 11am - 5pm; Sunday 14 July 1 - 5pm. Visits at other times by arrangement (alastairfitter@btinternet.com).

Location: 533 Huntington Road, York YO32 9PY. 200m north of Huntington School.

Parking: On nearby side streets (Burn Estate, Arbor Close).

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Book now or pay on the day.

A new addition to the scheme for 2019. A white themed knot garden, wide herbaceous borders punctuated by a range of grasses and a baker’s dozen of yew shapes are just some of this gardens must-sees. There are field maple pyramids lining the drive, wildflower meadows and a small lake. A Victorian greenhouse is currently under construction scheduled for completion by Easter, and a rose pergola covered in an array of scented flowers make this garden a sensory delight.

Open date(s): Sunday 7 July 1 - 4pm

Location: Havoc Hall, York YO62 5XY

Parking: In field.

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Book now or pay on the day.

2 acre garden situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds comprising of a walled garden with mixed borders, numerous old shrub roses under planted with unusual perennials. Woodland paths lead to further shrub borders. A traditional vegetable garden framed by a Victorian greenhouse leads to a wild flower meadow.

Open date(s): Sunday 16 June 1 - 5pm

Location: Jackson’s Wold, Sherburn YO17 8QJ

Parking: On grass outside garden

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Book now or pay on the day.

A new addition to the Open Gardens Scheme, generously opened by shelled artist interior design Linda Fenwick and her husband James. Features include four recently redesigned mixed borders, vegetable garden and a stunning shell house designed and made by Linda herself.

Open date(s): Sunday 9 June 11am - 3pm

Location: Terrington House, Terrington YO60 6PU

Parking: In the paddock, just off the road - signage to guide cars.

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Book now or pay on the day.

We are delighted to welcome back Skipwith Hall to our programme this year. The 4-acre walled garden of Charles and Rosalind Forbes Adam’s Queen Anne home (not open). This stunning garden features extensive mixed borders and lawns, and walled areas by renowned designer Cecil Pinsent. Recreated working kitchen garden with 15’ beech hedge, pleached fruit walks, herb maze and pool. Woodland with specimen trees and shell house. Decorative orchard with espaliered and fan-trained fruit on walls. Italian Garden recently restored.

Open date(s): Tuesday 4 June 10am - 4pm

Location: Skipwith Selby YO8 5SQ. On Main Street, just east of St. Helen’s church.

Parking: In field.

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Book now or pay on the day.

Dot and John welcome you to explore their formal(ish) front garden, more informal back garden and orchard. There’s a good variety of interesting plants in beds range from hot and dry to cool and damp, plus a small open meadow, a large orchard meadow, and a new pond. Large parts of the garden are managed to be wildlife-friendly. For those who have been before, one of the beds at the back of the house has been re-organised and re-planted with shade-loving plants.

Open date(s): Sunday 26 May 10.30am - 5pm

Location: Holburns Croft, Heslington, York YO10 5DP. From Heslington Hall west towards Fulford. Holburns Croft is second on the left after Main Street.

Parking: On the house drive or, if full, on road

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Book now or pay on the day.

Helen and Colin Crews have a small cottage garden with views across the countryside and attractive mixed borders and a wide range of plants in both sunny and shaded areas. In particular in late spring and early summer there are hellebores, Meconopsis and Iris. There are also raised vegetable plots, a small glasshouse and a fishpond.

Open date(s): Sunday 19 May 10am - 4pm; Sunday 2 September 12 - 5pm.

Location: 4 Sudnicton Croft, Westow, YO60 7NB. In Westow take the road (Main Street) signposted Burythorpe & Church. Before reaching a turning to the Church only, turn left down a gravel track signposted Sudnicton Croft on wall.

Parking: Limited parking near house, otherwise on nearby streets.

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Book now or pay on the day.

Alastair Fitter’s long 1 acre garden stretches from Huntington Road to the River Foss. There are perennials, alpines, a peat-free ‘peat’ garden, a woodland garden, a traditional orchard with 85 year old trees mixed with more recently planted specimen trees and shrubs, a meadow with fritillaries in spring and orchids in summer, and wet woodland by the river with oxlips in spring and a large new pond. There are more than 1,000 species of plant in the garden, including 250 natives.

Open date(s): Sunday 12 May 11am - 5pm; Sunday 14 July 1 - 5pm. Visits at other times by arrangement (alastairfitter@btinternet.com).

Location: 533 Huntington Road, York YO32 9PY. 200m north of Huntington School.

Parking: On nearby side streets (Burn Estate, Arbor Close).

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Book now or pay on the day.

Peter & Julie Williams' large woodland garden with acid loving plants including rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias and other interesting shrubs. Spring bulbs including trilliums, flowering trees and shade tolerant herbaceous perennials. Well-stocked glasshouse and large polytunnel with wide range of plants propagated from seeds, cuttings and grafting. Meadow area and woodland home to owls, goldcrests and sparrow hawks.

Open date(s): Sunday 5 and Monday 6 May 12 - 5pm. Other times possible for small groups of 4-8 people by arrangement (peteandjuliew@gmail.com)

Location: Mill Lane, Seaton Ross, York, YO42 4NE. Sixth property on the left after entering the village from the north (via Bielby or Melbourne)

Parking: On road unless signed otherwise

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Booking required. Book online, call 01653 648598 or email enquiries@yorkshirearboretum.org

Lecturer and creator of Bolton Percy churchyard garden, Roger Brook’s own no-dig garden has 1,500 plant varieties, many rare, providing colour all year round. The garden has numerous features, sweeping views, and holds the National Collection of Dicentra. Horticulturally unorthodox, especially the fruit and vegetables, the overall effect is dramatic.

Open date(s): Sunday 5 and Monday 6 May 12 - 5pm. Other times possible for small groups of 4-8 people by arrangement (roger-brook@live.com). The two open day dates coincide with those of Weathervane House also in Seaton Ross.

Location: Seaton Ross, York YO42 4NF. On the road from Seaton Ross to Melbourne. Leave Seaton Ross and immediately turn left at top (north) of village.

Parking: on road

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Booking required. Book online, call 01653 648598 or email enquiries@yorkshirearboretum.org

Lecturer and creator of Bolton Percy churchyard garden, Roger Brook’s own no-dig garden has 1,500 plant varieties, many rare, providing colour all year round. The garden has numerous features, sweeping views, and holds the National Collection of Dicentra. Horticulturally unorthodox, especially the fruit and vegetables, the overall effect is dramatic.

Open date(s): Sunday 5 and Monday 6 May 12 - 5pm. Other times possible for small groups of 4-8 people by arrangement (roger-brook@live.com). The two open day dates coincide with those of Weathervane House also in Seaton Ross.

Location: Seaton Ross, York YO42 4NF. On the road from Seaton Ross to Melbourne. Leave Seaton Ross and immediately turn left at top (north) of village.

Parking: on road

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Booking required. Book online, call 01653 648598 or email enquiries@yorkshirearboretum.org

Peter & Julie Williams' large woodland garden with acid loving plants including rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias and other interesting shrubs. Spring bulbs including trilliums, flowering trees and shade tolerant herbaceous perennials. Well-stocked glasshouse and large polytunnel with wide range of plants propagated from seeds, cuttings and grafting. Meadow area and woodland home to owls, goldcrests and sparrow hawks.

Open date(s): Sunday 5 and Monday 6 May 12 - 5pm. Other times possible for small groups of 4-8 people by arrangement (peteandjuliew@gmail.com)

Location: Mill Lane, Seaton Ross, York, YO42 4NE. Sixth property on the left after entering the village from the north (via Bielby or Melbourne)

Parking: On road unless signed otherwise

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Booking required. Book online, call 01653 648598 or email enquiries@yorkshirearboretum.org

The first garden open on behalf of the Yorkshire Arboretum in 2019. Win and James Baldwin’s 1 ¾ acre garden is packed with spring interest, including hellebores, narcissi, fritillaries, trilliums, early paeonies, and other early gems.

Open date(s): Saturday 27 April, 1.30 - 4.30pm

Location: Friars Hill, Sinnington, YO62 6SL

Parking: on road or village green with short walk to Friars Hill

Cost: Season Ticket £20, Day Ticket £5.

Booking required. Pay online, call 01653 648598 or email enquiries@yorkshirearboretum.org

Ellerker House was once the office belonging to Everingham Estate, owned by the Duke of Norfolk. The garden is 5 acres and comprises parkland, home to many mature trees including Corsica pines, Atlantic beech and many oaks, and a formal lawn surrounded by colour-themed herbaceous borders planted for texture and colour throughout the year.

A rose archway planted with old English roses leads towards the lake which is surrounded by a woodland pathway made from tree roots and stumps and planted with many spring bulbs, hellebores and anemones to give a mass of colour, and extensive woodland to walk in.

Location: Everingham, YO42 4JA. 5 and a half miles from Pocklington. Just out of the village heading towards Harswell.

Parking: drive through the main gates and park along the drive.

Partly accessible, guide dogs only, plants for sale.

Season tickets giving access to all gardens open during 2018 are £20.00

Day ticket giving access to all gardens open on a single day £5.00

Purchase your tickets at the Yorkshire Arboretum Visitor Centre or at any participating garden.

The Poplars (Peter and Christina Young) has unusual tender plants in a densely planted garden and conservatory around a Victorian house and barns, and a compact arboretum with over a hundred species of trees and shrubs. There are also fruit and vegetable gardens, llama paddocks and a wildlife pond.

Location: The Poplars, Main Street, Newton upon Derwent, York, YO41 4DA. Located in the centre of the village.

Parking: at rear of The Poplars or on Main Street.

Partly accessible, guide dogs only, refreshments available.

Season tickets giving access to all gardens open during 2018 are £20.00

Day ticket giving access to all gardens open on a single day £5.00

Purchase your tickets at the Yorkshire Arboretum Visitor Centre or at any participating garden.

May Townsend's garden has been developed over the last 10 years from two dandelion infested lawns into a series of easily managed beds of shrubs and perennial herbaceous plants which add interest throughout the year as well as many spring bulbs and hellebores. 

The neighbouring garden (owned by Hilary Selvin) will also be open at the same time.

Location: 31 Moor Road, Stamford Bridge, YO41 1BJ.

Parking: Blue badge holders on drive. Others round the corner in Whiterose Drive.

Partly accessible, plants for sale, refreshments available. No dogs please.

Season tickets giving access to all gardens open during 2018 are £20.00

Day ticket giving access to all gardens open on a single day £5.00

Purchase your tickets at the Yorkshire Arboretum Visitor Centre or at any participating garden.

Sir John Lawton welcomes you to explore his formal front garden, more informal back garden and orchard. There's a good variety of interesting plants in beds ranging from hot and dry to cool and damp, plus a small open meadow and a larger orchard meadow.

Location: Holburns Croft, Heslington, York, YO10 5DP. From Heslington Hall head west towards Fulford. Holburns Croft is second on the left after Main Street.

Parking: on the house drive or, if full, on road.

Partly accessible, guide dogs only, refreshments available.

Season tickets giving access to all gardens open during 2018 are £20.00

Day ticket giving access to all gardens open on a single day £5.00

Purchase your tickets at the Yorkshire Arboretum Visitor Centre or at any participating garden.

Ness Hall garden has been gardened by 3 generations of Murray Wells, situated near the river Rye with views to the north York moors.

The main garden is in the 17th century walled garden. This is divided up into different 'rooms' varying from a woodland area, kitchen garden, water garden, cutting garden and 'fairy' garden.

Often described as a large cottage garden, Ness has a certain magic about it. The Murray Wells also have a 3 acre orchard which visitors can wander around. In early July, the garden should be at its peak, with an abundance of roses, digitalis and campanulas.

Location: See map. East Ness, YO62 5XD.

Parking: as sign posted, in front of the house in the parkland.

Partly accessible, dogs on leads welcome, refreshments available.

Season tickets giving access to all gardens open during 2018 are £20.00

Day ticket giving access to all gardens open on a single day £5.00

Purchase your tickets at the Yorkshire Arboretum Visitor Centre or at any participating garden.

There's a long front garden at Stephen and Victoria Morley's home, with lawn edged and sinuous herbaceous borders and colourful, wildlife-friendly mixed plantings, including Digitalis, Eryngium, Agastache, and Rudbeckia, plus a sprinkling of larger exotics.

The rear family garden has vegetable beds, chickens and herbaceous and shrub borders with a slight tropical feel.

The greenhouse holds an exceptional collection of carnivorous and sub-tropical plants, which make this garden very special indeed.

Location: See map. 5 Eden Cottages, Fangfoss, York, YO41 5QD. End house in the last terrace on the left as you leave Fangfoss on the Wilberfoss Road.

Parking: 3 or 4 spaces available on the shared driveway, or on the road in St Martin's Close.

Fully accessible, dogs on leads welcome, plants for sale, refreshments available.

Season tickets giving access to all gardens open during 2018 are £20.00

Day ticket giving access to all gardens open on a single day £5.00

Purchase your tickets at the Yorkshire Arboretum Visitor Centre or at any participating garden.