DID you see Monty Don’s Japanese Gardens on BBC in March and wish you could experience this style of gardening close up?

Well now is your chance. New for 2019, Tranquillity Haven, an amazing Japanese Stroll Garden, created by Val Brown is opening for the National Garden Scheme.

Winding paths pass small pools and lead to Japanese bridges over a natural stream with dippers and kingfishers.

Sounds of water fill the air. You can enjoy peace and tranquillity from one of the seats or the Japanese Tea House or admire the dense oriental planting with Cornus kousa satomi, acers, azaleas, unusual bamboos and wonderful cloud pruning.

All this and borrowed views of Offa’s Dyke!

The garden is three miles from Knighton on the B4357 at 7, Lords Land, Whitton LD7 1NJ; it is open from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2. Admission is £4, children free.

If these dates don’t suit you, or you would like a more personalised experience, Val welcomes individuals or groups of up to 20 people by arrangement, just contact her on 01547 560070 or valerie.brown1502@gmail.com.

If you visit Tranquillity Haven on June 1 you might also like to visit The Hymns, just five miles away. A complete contrast, this is a traditional garden reclaimed from the wild using locally grown plants and seeds.

The Hymns is open on Saturday, June 1, from 11am to 5pm and is found at Walton, Presteigne, LD8 2RA. Admission £4, children free.

Also open on Sunday, June 2, in a stunning location on the infant River Severn near Llanidloes is, Ceunant.

This is a developing garden with new areas being added all the time.

Rescued from brambles and nettles, there are winding slate and gravel paths leading around the garden and along the river, herbaceous borders and a wooded wildlife area and wildlife pond. Imaginative sculptures and other features can be found in unlikely corners throughout the garden.

Ceunant, Old Hall is two miles west of Llanidloes (postcode SY18 6PW); leave Llanidloes over Shortbridge Street, turn left along Pen y Green Road and then in ½ mile left towards Llangurig, Glyn Brochan. The garden is open from 1-5pm, admission is £4, children free.

There are also gardens which will open by arrangement providing visitors with an exclusive opportunity to explore wonderful gardens set in stunning locations, all you need to do is contact the owner and arrange a time to suit you.

Remember that when visiting a garden open through National Garden Scheme you not only have an opportunity to enjoy a great garden and great cake, but you are also helping to raise funds for Nursing and Health charities such as Hospice UK, Macmillan, Marie Curie and our new guest charity Mind.

GARDENS OPEN BY ARRANGEMENT

Apr-Aug: ABERNANT, Garthmyl, SY15 6RZ Mrs BM Gleave: 01686 640494, john.gleave@mac.com

Apr-Jun: GORSTY HOUSE, Hyssington, SY15 6AT Gary & Annie Frost

01588 620953 frostiesuk@msn.com

Apr-Nov: HEBRON, Knighton, LD7 1HP Kevin Collins & Anita Lewis

01547 529576 kd.collins@hotmail.co.uk

All Year: LLYSDINAM, Newbridge-on-Wye, LD1 6NB

Mary Elster: 01597 860190 llethr@outlook.com

Apr-Nov: PLAS DINAM, Llandinam, SY17 5DQ

Eldrydd Lamp, 07415 503554, eldrydd@plasdinam.co.uk

Apr-Sep: PONT FAEN HOUSE, Farrington Lane, Knighton, LD7 1LA

Mr John & Mrs Brenda Morgan, 01547 520847

May-Sep: 1 CHURCH BANK, Welshpool, SY21 7DR Mel & Heather Parkes

01938 559112, melandheather@live.co.uk

May-Sep: TRANQUILLITY HAVEN, Whitton, LD7 1NJ Val Brown

01547 560070 valerie.brown1502@gmail.com

May-Sep: WHITE HOPTON FARM, Sarn SY16 4EN Claire Austin

01686 670342 enquiries@claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk

Jun-Jul: HURDLEY HALL, Churchstoke, SY15 6DY Simon Cain & Simon Quin

07958915115 simon.cain@westbourneconsulting.com

Jun-Jul: THE HYMNS, Presteigne, LD8 2RA E Passey

07958 762362 thehymns@hotmail.com

Jun-Sep: 1 YSTRAD HOUSE, Knighton, LD7 1EB John & Margaret Davis

01547 528154 jamdavis@ystradhouse.plus.com

Jun-Aug: TYN Y CWM, Beulah, LD5 4TS Steve & Christine Carrow

01591 620461 stevetynycwm@hotmail.co.uk

Jun-Sep: THE NEUADD, Llanbedr, NP8 1SP Robin & Philippa Herbert

01873 812164 philippahherbert@gmail.com

Jul: BRONIARTH HALL, Guilsfield, SY21 9DW Mrs Janet Powell

01938 500639 janet09br@hotmail.co.uk

Ends

For more information, high resolution images or to interview a spokesperson, please contact Helen Anthony (Publicity Officer) by emailing powys.ngs.publicity@gmail.com or calling 01686 941795

NOTES TO EDITOR

About National Garden Scheme

The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to over 3,500 exceptional private gardens in England and Wales, and raises impressive amounts of money for nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake.

Thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors we have donated a total of £58 million to nursing and health charities, and made donations of £3.1 million in 2018. Founded in 1927 to support district nurses, we are now the most significant charitable funder of nursing in the UK and our beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute.

The National Garden Scheme doesn’t just open beautiful gardens for charity – we are passionate about the physical and mental health benefits of gardens too. We fund projects which promote gardens and gardening as therapy, and in 2017, we launched our annual Gardens and Health Week to raise awareness of the topic.

To find your perfect garden, visit ngs.org.uk, download the National Garden Scheme app or purchase the National Garden Scheme’s Garden Visitor’s Handbook, which is published annually and available via ngs.org.uk/shop and at all good book retailers.