Welcome to Open Gardens 2024
Is your garden home to wildlife? A place for pollinators to visit? Would you open your garden to raise funds for Butterfly Conservation?
Whether you open your garden to fellow butterfly and moths lovers or visit one of the gardens below; Open Gardens is a great way to meet new people, get inspiration and create havens for butterflies and moths whilst raising vital funds to support Butterfly Conservations work.
Fundraise for us.
More than two-thirds of our native butterflies have suffered declines since the 1970’s with many species vanishing altogether from areas where habitat has been destroyed. We can all help to protect butterflies and moths by creating insect-friendly gardens at home and by visiting our Open Gardens you will also be raising vital funds through donation for entry for Butterfly Conservation.
Surrey - Vale End - Sunday 21 July 1 - 5pm
Visit this mature 1 acre walled garden sanctuary overlooking a wild flower meadow, mill pond and vegetable garden. Butterflies regularly visiting include: Peacock, Holly Blue, Gatekeeper, Painted Lady, Silver Washed Fritillary. Plant sale, teas and field parking. There is limited wheelchair access, and please keep dogs on leads. Picnickers very welcome.
Open Sunday 21 July, 1pm to 5pm. Entrance £5 per adult suggested donation
Address: Vale End, Chilworth Road, Albury, Guildford, Surrey, GU5 9BE. Directions 4 miles SE of Guildford. From Albury take A248 West for 1/4 miles. Nearby gardens of interest: RHS Wisley 20 minutes.
Norfolk - Downham-Market- 2 June - 11am-4pm
Visit this stunning 2 acres of meadow and orchard in Southery, West Norfolk. Wander through the wildflowers including yellow rattle, snakes head fritillary and primroses. With 14 species of butterfly recorded, you may be lucky and spot the Orange-tips and Brimstones.
Open Sunday 2 June 11am – 4pm. Adult entrance £4 suggested donation.
Parking on site, refreshments and seeds for sale. Well behaved dogs welcome. Wheel chair accessible (weather dependent due to grass paths)
Address: 71 Feltwell Road, Southery, Downham Market, Norfolk PE38 0NR. From A10 take the turn B1160 sign posted Southery. Take the first turning, follow the B1160 for apprx 800 yards property is the first house past the Old Jolly Farmers Pub on the opposite side of the road.
Warwickshire - Luddington Grange - Sunday 7 July 10am - 5pm
Garden, orchard and well established wildflower paddock with winding pathways and a large natural pond, extending to roughly 2 acres. 25 butterfly species recorded including Marbled Whites, Skippers, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Peacock and Tortoiseshell. There will be plants, tea and cake for sale. Wheelchair access is available. Please keep dogs on lead.
Open Sunday 7th July, 10am to 5pm. Adults £4 suggested donation entrance.
Address: Luddington Grange, Luddington, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 9SW Directions Follow Sat nav. to CV37 9SW then look out for the arrows to drive entrance. Parking available on the property
Surrey - Leatherhead - Sunday 30 June - 10am - 4pm
Visit this beautiful open garden near Leatherhead. Containing thoughtful planting for pollinators and with wildlife at its heart. Discover the formal garden, orchard, wildflower meadow, and stroll the circular woodland walk all surrounded by chalk grassland.
Open Sunday 30 June from 10am - 4pm, with refreshments available. Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access, and dogs are not permitted. Adults £10, children under 18 free. Includes refreshments.
Address: follow A24 and turn off into Givons Grove on Leatherhead bypass very close to the Givons Grove roundabout (garage on roundabout). Follow the Downs and the black and white house is on a left hand bend. Parking in the road on the right , not on the verges.
Nottingham - West Bridgford - 27 July 1-5pm
This 90 year old garden is a biodiversity hotspot recording 19 species of butterfly and 30 moths so far including a population of red-belted clearwings. Lots of seating so just sit and observe what's around. Drinks and cakes for sale. Wheelchair access. Toilet. Well behaved dogs allowed.
Open Saturday 27 July, 1pm to 5pm Adults £3 suggested entrance donation.
Address: 20 Trevor Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 6FS. Directions The garden is half a mile south of West Bridgford centre, on NCT number 6 bus route. Follow A606 turning into Burleigh Road. Turn right into Trevor Road. On street parking.
Kent - Windmill Hill - 21 July 12 - 5pm
As featured on BBC Gardeners’ World, this garden is dedicated to providing food, homes and shelter for wildlife. Flowers for pollinators, leaves for caterpillars, ponds, bee homes, wild undisturbed areas, small wildflower lawn and a container vegetable garden. Plants, drinks and cakes for sale. Sorry no wheelchair access (steps) and no dogs.
Open Sunday 21st July, 12 noon to 5pm. Adults £5 suggested donation entrance.
Address: 68 South Hill Road, Gravesend, Kent. Follow satnav to postcode DA12 1JZ. Property is close to the top of Windmill Hill 1/2 a mile from Gravesend town car parks and station. Unrestricted weekend on street parking on all nearby roads.
Northern Ireland - Portstewart - 28 July 1- 5pm
Visit Gill's wonderful garden in Portstewart on the stunning, wild coast of Northern Ireland. Created with nature in mind, wander past the wildflowers and watch the bees and butterflies as they enjoy nectar from a wide range of wild and cultivated blooms. Pause and you may be lucky and spot butterflies basking on the pathway! The garden is accessible for wheelchairs, but we politely ask dogs be left at home, except guide dogs. View Gill's Wild Space here.
Open Sunday 28th July, 1 to 5pm. Entrance via a £3 donation with refreshments available.
Address: 13 Woodvale Road, Portstewart, Co Londonderry N. Ireland BT55 7HY. Unrestricted weekend on street parking on Woodvale Road.
Cornwall - Metherell - 20 July 11am- 5pm
Visit Ann's wildlife and pollinator haven in the village of Metherell, Cornwall. An ex-pub garden, this beautiful space has a large wildlife pond bustling with dragonflies, meadow planting, water features and an unusual vegetable patch! As you stroll, you may even spot some vintage Triumph motorcycles on display. This garden is accessible for wheelchairs (mown grass paths), with a toilet available. Well behaved dogs on leads and picnics are welcome.
Open Sunday 20th July, 10am to 4pm. Entrance via a £4 donation with refreshments and cakes for sale.
Address: The Cross House, School Road, Metherell, Callington PL17 8FB. Parking available at the property.
Become an open garden host
If you would like to open your garden to help raise funds and share your enthusiasm and passion for nature and gardening, please get in touch. Contact @email
Our gardens have become enormously important for nature conservation and it's easy to see why. Green space is becoming ever more scarce and disjointed but our gardens are beacons of hope for all wildlife and it’s very simple to attract visitors your garden with just a few nectar rich plants and some habitat for building a home.
Gardens provide a quiet, calm space for relaxation and reflection from what, at times, can be a chaotic and challenging world. Our gardens and plants help us to support the environment, reduce particulate pollution and also reduce extreme temperatures.