Barnsdale Gardens attracts thousands of visitors every year ... and I fully understand why. We spent a lovely afternoon wandering round the 38 gardens. By the time we got to the cafe I was desperate to get home and dig up a new flower border!
The late Geoff Hamilton created the gardens when he worked on Gardeners' World. I remember as a teenager I switched over whenever that programme appeared on the screen but I would like to see them now! I had a look on You Tube and found a couple of old programmes. One called Geoff Hamilton's Paradise Gardens (You Tube called it Parade Gardens though) shows him sitting on a rustic bench surrounded by small leafy sticks. I saw that bench. It had a sign on it saying it was too dangerous to sit on. The leafy sticks had become a living arbour towering over it. Sad to think he imagined it looking like that but didn't live to see it. He died of a heart attack in 1996.
The Barnsdale borders were stunning and every garden was different. He left behind a place to give real pleasure to people ... a Paradise Garden.
Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera. I took a few pictures with my phone but you can take a virtual tour on You Tube.
It cost £6.50 to get in which I thought was a real bargain. It is a lovely place to see. The plants were rather expensive though but the money goes to fund bursaries for young people to study horticulture so it is worth it.
I will definitely be going back ... with my camera next time!
