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Gardens and Nursery Opening Times
February 3rd to December 18th 2015.
Tuesday to Saturday - 10.00am - 5.00pm (4pm November - March).
Last entry to garden 30 mins before closing. Closed Sundays and Mondays, except Bank Holiday Mondays.
In periods of adverse weather the garden may be closed for safety reasons.
Groups welcome. Group rate applicable for 12+ visitors. Group charge £5 per adult. Group bookings from Tuesday to Friday between 10am and 3pm. Pre-booking essential.
June onwards.€
Grasses and perennials.
Admission to Gardens (free entry to Nursery)
Adult....€6.25 Concessions... €5.50 Child (age 5 - 15)... €4.50
Disabled Person + helper... €1.00 off each appropriate category
Group Rate (minimum of 12 people)... €5.00 per person. €9.00 to include guided tour.
Personal tours by Garden owner, Neil Lucas also available. Season ticket...€20.00
Pre-booked coach parties welcome.
Chelsea Gold Medallist for ten consecutive years. Online sale of nursery plants.
Home of the UK's leading ornamental grass authority, Neil Lucas, this glorious naturalistic garden features a stunning selection of grasses and flowering perennials set against a backdrop of rare and unusual trees and shrubs.
Popular Grass Masterclasses run by Neil Lucas throughout 2015. See website for details. Book on 01202 873931.
Pennisetum
Ashton Lodge, Wimborne Minster
Littlemoors Farm Shop/Haybarn Coffee Shop (quarter mile 01202 891489
Old Thatch - half mile (lunches -01202 877192)
Wimborne Ferndown New Forest
Recently featured on BBC Gardeners' World, Knoll Gardens is a nationally recognised naturalistic garden and nursery, specialising in ornamental grasses. Originally a private botanic garden featuring Australasian plants, rare and unusual trees and shrubs are planted throughout the four acre garden, forming a mini-arboretum which combines with Knoll's showcase grasses to create a real 'wow factor'.
Knoll's naturalistic style reaches it peak from August through to October with stunning autumn foliage, but there is always something special to see regardless of the time of year.
Vibrant spring poppies start the year with a zing of colour, followed by the exquisite flowers of Eucryphia, Hoheria, Hydrangea and Myrtle, all providing fragrant homes to the garden's many birds in the warmth of the summer sun. When the grasses are at their seasonal best, their autumn colour is further enhanced by a stunning array of deciduous plants: the fruit and foliage of spindle trees, maidenhair and Persian ironwood all combining to spectacular effect. Low lighting and winter sunshine make the garden equally spectacular as the days draw in. Knoll's towering miscanthus, backlit by the winter sun is sure to be long remembered.
Strolling around this secluded Dorset garden you'll find an increasing range of native plants, new introductions - some launched to great acclaim at Chelsea Flower Show - rare varieties and several plants unique to the garden at Knoll. Winding paths lead you through inspirational, luxuriant displays, past water and the garden's guardian dragon sculpture, as you discover this truly inspirational garden, abundant with wildlife.
Knoll's owner, Neil Lucas has spent the last 20 years introducing his own sustainable style to the garden's sandy soil. A best-selling author as well as RHS Council Member and Senior Judge, Neil is a passionate plantsman and his energy and enthusiasm have translated themselves into Knoll's glorious grassy wonderland providing a wonderful environment for both resident and visiting wildlife and all those interested in finding out a little more about his wildlife-friendly gardening techniques.
Free volunteer-led tours are available for garden visitors most Friday morning, and Knoll also hosts a programme of activities and events throughout the year.
Internationally acknowledged, and the UK's leading ornamental grass specialist, Knoll's onsite nursery is an acclaimed specialist grower of grasses and flowering perennials - many not available elsewhere. With ten consecutive Chelsea Gold Medals to its name plant quality is a top priority.
A comprehensive online catalogue is available but personal shoppers are also likely to find further plants, not featured online. Frequently grown to order, these are usually surplus to contract and available only in small numbers and for a very short period.
The garden is of comparatively recent vintage as it was only in the early 1970's that Mr and Mrs John May began planting on what was then a carrot field and semi-wooded overgrown area of scrub. Thanks to their hard work and enthusiasm the collection of plants increased rapidly and the garden became known as 'Wimborne Botanic Garden'. In 1988 the garden was acquired by Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Martin who were responsible for the water and formal gardens.
In early 1994 the gardens came into the care of the current owner, Neil Lucas who has carried out a major refurbishment, adding many interesting and unusual plants and developing the gardens current naturalistic style.
The garden's name was changed to 'Knoll Gardens' to reflect the name of the 'Knoll' nursery that existed before it.