Open Gardens
May :: June :: July / August :: September
It is regretted that dogs cannot be admitted even on a lead and that National Trust Membership Cards are not valid for entry to private gardens open under the scheme.
Admission £3
Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th May 2010 :: 2pm to 5pm
Address
Description
Location
Mr and Mrs Eric Cairns,
Guincho,
69 Craigdarragh Road,
Helen’s Bay,
Co.Down,
BT19 1UB
Plant Stall
One of the greatest gardens in Northern Ireland! Created in the middle of the last Century by Mrs Frazer Mackie, the garden has an outstanding collection of shrubs and trees in 12 acres, many of which are rare. Restoration and new planting have taken place over the past number of years. Tours given by the Head Gardener. Mostly suitable for wheelchairs.
From the main Belfast to Bangor Road, turn off at the Craigdarragh Road at the traffic lights, signposted ‘Helen’s Bay’. The garden is 0.25 miles on the left.
Click Here to view the map on Google and receive step-by-step directions from your house.
Saturday 15th May 2010:: 2pm to 5pm
Address
Description
Location
Lady Nicholson,
Ballyalloly House,
19 Ballyalloly Road,
Comber,
Co.Down,
BT23 5PN
Plant Stall / Teas
Hidden behind a narrow country road, this beautiful garden of approximately 6 acres contains a wide range of mature trees, rare shrubs and herbaceous plants. Originally designed by the late Hugh Armitage Moore of Rowallane, the main section sweeps down from a large terrace at the back of the house to a pond at the bottom of the garden. This area is well planted with moisture loving plants and is particularly attractive with an abundance of candelabra primula, rhododendrons and azaleas in the Spring. Wellies or walking shoes are recommended. Averil Milligan, Head Gardener at Rowallane, plans to be in attendance. Partially suitable for wheelchairs.
From Comber take the Saintfield Road; turn right after one mile on to Hillsborough Road and right again after a further mile on to Ballyalloly Road. From Belfast follow the Ballygowan Road from Knock dual carriageway for approximately 4 miles, turn left on to B178
( junction of Ballygowan and Comber/Hillsborough Road), Ballyalloly Road is second on left.
Click Here to view the map on Google and receive step-by-step directions from your house.
Saturday 22nd May 2010 :: 10.30am to 5pm
Address
Description
Location
Mr and Mrs David Baird,
145 Mahon Road,
Portadown,
Co.Armagh,
BT62 3SF
Plant Stall
Tea & Coffee, soup at lunch, provided in Mullavilly Church Parish Centre
A rural garden of around 1.25 acres located on the outskirts of Portadown. It contains a wide selection of conifers, deciduous trees, rhododendrons and shrubs with some herbaceous interplanting. Interesting features include a pond, summer house, arbour, pergola, and patio. The beautifully maintained lawns around the island beds draw the visitor down the gentle slope into the garden. To the rear of the garden there is a productive vegetable plot. Partially suitable for wheelchairs.
Coffee and teas will be available all day and soup will be available at lunch time provided in Mullavilly Church Parish Centre. The Church is celebrating its Bicentenary in 2010. *The 22 May is UN International Day for Biological Diversity. The Conservation Volunteers plan to have a stand at the event to display a range of their work.
On the A27 main Portadown - Tandragee Road, approximately 3 miles from Portadown and 2 miles from Tandragee.
Car Parking is available at Mullavilly Parish Church. Leave the A27 at the Ballylisk roundabout and follow the sign to Laurelvale. The Church is 0.25 miles on the left hand side. A shuttle bus service will be provided by *Conservation Volunteers to the garden which is five minutes from the car park. There is no car parking at the house except for disabled access.
Click Here to view the map on Google and receive step-by-step directions from your house.
Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th May 2010 :: 2pm to 5pm
Address
Description
Location
Mr Michael and Mrs Geraldine Galloway,
1 Ballytrustan Road,
Downpatrick,
Co.Down,
BT30 7AQ
Plant Stall / Teas
This unique 7 acre garden lies four miles east of Downpatrick in the countryside of Lecale where it was created by Dr Magill over the last five decades of the Twentieth Century. He transformed a disused quarry into a large sheltered amphitheatre surrounded by trees and shrubs. The garden is noted for its collection of rhododendrons. Views into the garden as well as to the surrounding countryside are obtained from a circular path through the trees around the quarry rim. The present owners are rebuilding the house and have carried out considerable peripheral planting of native trees.
The garden is partially suitable for wheelchairs but children must be strictly supervised in view of the dangerous cliff faces.
From Downpatrick follow the B1 Ardglass Road but instead of turning right at the Downshire Hospital continue straight on towards Bishops Court and Ballyhornan. At the next crossroads after Ballyalton turn left into Ballytrustan Road and the garden is on the right.
Click Here to view the map on Google and receive step-by-step directions from your house.
Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th June 2010 :: 2pm to 5pm
Address
Description
Location
Mr and Mrs Alastair Davidson,
The Manor House,
15 Main Street,
Eglinton,
Co.Londonderry,
BT47 3AA
Plant Stall / Teas
An interesting garden surrounding the Manor House with a good selection of shrubs and perennials. There is also a triangular herb garden and a sunken vegetable garden. Suitable for wheelchairs.
From the A2 Londonderry/Limavady Road take Coolafinney Road to Eglinton. The Manor House is almost directly opposite the T-junction entering Eglinton.
Click Here to view the map on Google and receive step-by-step directions from your house.
Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th June 2010 :: 2pm to 5pm
Address
Description
Location
Mr Stephen Cotter,
42 Cadogan Park,
Malone Road,
Belfast,
BT9 6HH.
Professor and Mrs R Kirk,
11 Bladon Drive,
Malone Road,
Belfast,
BT9 5LJ.
Plant Stall at Cadogan Park
Teas at Bladon Drive
42 Cadogan Park: A town garden consisting of perennials, topiary, clematis, shrubs and roses. The back garden is divided by a wall and yew hedging into rooms and features a wall mask fountain, circular pond and ornamental gazebo. Only small front garden suitable for wheelchairs; back garden unsuitable due to number of steps.
Click Here to view the map on Google and receive step-by-step directions from your house.
11 Bladon Drive: A beautiful suburban garden which benefits from an open, southerly aspect and is packed with colour and interest. Highlights include a magnificent herbaceous and shrub border; a naturalistic pond an attractive potager. Suitable for wheelchairs.
Click Here to view the map on Google and receive step-by-step directions from your house.
42 Cadogan Park: Cadogan Park runs between the Malone and Lisburn Road. It is approximately 0.5 miles from Queen’s University by either road. A Territorial Army base is at the Malone Road end and a police and fire station at the Lisburn Road end. The garden is on the left hand side going from the Lisburn Road to Malone Road.
11 Bladon Drive: Bladon Drive is about 2 miles from Belfast city centre heading past Queen’s University up the Malone Road, and is on the left just beyond the junction of Malone Road and Stranmillis Road. Coming citywards, it is on the right just before the second pedestrian crossing after the major junction of Malone Road with Balmoral Avenue. To avoid traffic congestion visitors are requested not to park on Malone Road or Bladon Drive, but to park a short distance away in some of the broader roads off Malone Road.
Saturday 3rd July 2010 :: 2pm to 5pm
Address
Description
Location
Misses Mary and Kathleen McKeown,
Hill Cottage,
40 Duntybryan Road,
Draperstown,
Co.Londonderry,
BT45 7HL
Plant Stall / Teas
A charming one acre garden which is mostly hidden behind the cottage. There is a large pool surrounded by various shrubs and perennials. There is a gazebo in the upper garden. The garden was featured on the BBC Television programme ‘Greenmount Gardens’. Mostly suitable for wheelchairs.
From Tobermore and Draperstown. Take the B41. Approx. 2 miles along the road there is a bus shelter, right hand side from Tobermore, left hand side from Draperstown. Take road at bus shelter (Duntybryan Road) and the house is approx. 0.25 miles along this road on the left.
Click Here to view the map on Google and receive step-by-step directions from your house.
Saturday 31st July and Sunday 1st August 2010 :: 2pm to 5pm
Address
Description
Location
Mr Liam and Mrs Nora Greene,
Hampstead Hall,
40 Culmore Road,
Londonderry,
BT48 7RS
Plant Stall / Teas
A fascinating city garden in the suburbs of Derry. It comprises a Japanese garden, an Italian garden and a formal garden typical of those in front of Irish Georgian houses. Featured on BBC Television programme ‘Secret Garden’. Partially suitable for wheelchairs.
Follow the signs for the city centre after crossing the Foyle Bridge. After double set of traffic lights take second right into Baronscourt. House is third driveway on the right.
Click Here to view the map on Google and receive step-by-step directions from your house.
Sunday 12th September 2010 :: 2pm to 5pm
Address
Description
Location
William and Daphne Montgomery,
Grey Abbey House,
Greyabbey,
Newtownards,
Co.Down,
BT22 2QA.
Plant Stall / Teas
(Dogs are welcome, on leads.)
Situated on the Ards Peninsula in Co.Down, Grey Abbey House has been in the possession of the Montgomery family since 1607. The micro climate provided by Strangford Lough means that a widespread variety of trees, shrubs and plants flourish in the gardens. Apart from the Parkland landscape there are two orchards containing unusual varieties of apple trees, a working walled vegetable garden, herbaceous and shrub rose borders, and a southern hemisphere garden.
Partially suitable for wheelchairs.
The village of Greyabbey is situated half way down the western shore of the Ards Peninsula, 3 miles from the National Trust Property of Mount Stewart 7 miles south of Newtownards and 11 miles north of Portaferry. The ferry from Strangford to Portaferry goes every half hour during the day, on the hour and half hour from Strangford, and quarter to and quarter past the hour from Portaferry. The entrance to Grey Abbey House and Gardens is through the Square on the main street between the Wildfowler Inn and School.
Click Here to view the map on Google and receive step-by-step directions from your house.