Howick Hall Gardens

Howick Hall Gardens are aimed at the real gardener, providing inspiration and stunning planting schemes all year round. Located near the coast to the East of Alnwick, Howick Hall is open to the public from early February to mid November each year. The season kicks off with their annual Snowdrop Festival and from there highlights include the gorgeous daffodil display in March and the wonderful Spring show. There isn't a more spectacular horticultural display in the whole County than when the Magnolias, Rhododendrons, Camelias and Tulips bloom. Perhaps only the famous Rhododendrons of Cragside House and Gardens can be called a rival. The Formal, Bog Gardens and the Arboretum provide interest through Summer and Autumn.The gardens are mainly the work of the 5th Earl Grey, Charles, his wife Mabel and their daughter Lady Mary Howick who developed the gardens between 1920 and 2001. The garden is possibly most famous for its huge number of Spring bulbs with snowdrops in February and March marking the Snowdrop Festival. Most of the bulbs were planted by Lady Howick between the first and second world war and now provide a beautiful carpet-like display across the gardens. More information about the various bulbs in the garden can be found on their website.

A personal highlight for me at Howick Hall Gardens is the Arboretum, which opened to the public in 2006. Boasting some 11,000 trees and shrubs and covering an astonishing 65 acres it is planted in 6 geographical areas: China and the Himalayas; East Asia; India and Pakistan; North America; Europe and the Southern Hemisphere.