LOCAL: Blooms back on show!
Exbury Gardens set to open with a bunch of new features…
Exbury Gardens, one of the south’s most famous gardens, has opened just in time for visitors to see its world-renowned show of spring blossom – up close and personal again.
Last spring the woodland garden’s acres of colourful camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons had to flower behind closed gates, due to lockdown measures, and were only accessible ‘virtually’ via Exbury’s social media channels.
The public can once again visit in person and the Exbury Gardens’ team is expecting a busy spring season.
New for 2021 will be the opportunity to:
· wander along a new trail, the New River Walk. Visitors will be able to explore previously-hidden woodland within the 200-acre New Forest garden, with glimpses of the Beaulieu River estuary. Interpretation boards will highlight some of our iconic native trees. Stretching nearly half a mile past mature oaks, field maples, yews and hazels, the trail will meander from Daffodil Meadow to the stunning flower-filled Azalea Bowl. To open late spring.
· picnic under dozens of blossoming Japanese cherry trees; 48 have been planted in a picnic spot at Exbury thanks to the UK-Japan Sakura Cherry Tree Project1 and will look picture-perfect in April.
· spot wildlife action at a new Dragonfly Pond2 learning zone. Designed with the help of the UK’s leading dragonfly experts, this area will boast info boards filled with dragonfly facts and take-away tips on how you can encourage these wonderful creatures into your own back garden. An existing, large ornamental pond in the gardens has been adapted for the insects with dragonfly-friendly, native aquatic and marginal plants. Also ride on Exbury’s renowned Rhododendron Line steam railway, which reopens on 12 April, and from mid-summer alight at a new Dragonfly Halt platform to explore the pond area.
· check out the rare and interesting plants being given new homes in the revamped Rock Garden. First built around 100 years ago, the Rock Garden is considered to be one of the largest in Europe.
· discover 30 new native oak trees planted across the garden as part of a three-year project to help restore the magnificent tree canopy.
For more information about Exbury Gardens call 023 8089 1203 or visit www.exbury.co.uk
New Forest, SO45 1AZ
