After one of the worst winters for many years we all yearn for Spring with warmer days, no more “white stuff”, colour returning to our gardens and new growth that heralds the coming of Summer.

And what better way of enjoying the early days of Spring than with visits to some contrasting gardens in the South of the county, open under the National Garden Scheme. The first one, Beckett Drive Gardens in Northwick, opens as early as Saturday March 6th. Beckett Drive Gardens is actually two gardens rather than just one, being those at numbers 5 and 6 in the Drive.

Jacki and Pete Ager at No. 5 have incorporated some intriguing design ideas – in fact there is something of interest literally round every corner and some that the visitor will find most unexpected! It’s almost worth the visit just to see what really is round the next corner! This garden was featured in the national Garden News magazine last year.

Meanwhile, across the road, at No. 6, Guy Lymer also has many interesting features and has a garden that is an eclectic mix of planting, modern sculpture and water features with ornamental grasses and a natural arbour.

If you feel like changing your own garden a little this year, Spring is a great time to do it, and you won’t find many gardens open so early that will give you so many ideas – and all for the princely sum of £3 (children free). The gardens are open from 10 am until 2 pm.

A little later in the month (Sunday March 21st) Little Malvern Court once again open’s its doors to the public. These grounds, attached to a former Benedictine Priory (not open) boast magnificent views over the Severn Valley and an intriguing layout of garden rooms and terraced round house, designed and planted nearly 30 years ago. It also includes a water garden that feeds into a chain of lakes and a wide variety of spring bulbs, topiary hedges and fine trees.

Entrance to Little Malvern Court is £5 (children 50p) and the garden will be open from 2 – 5 pm.