************* Garden Owners, Please copy this information and paste it into an email to: wb [at] armchair-travel [dot] com Please make any changes in BRIGHT RED in your email back to us. Regards, Armchair Travel Co Ltd http://www.armchair-travel.com ************* Garden Name: Cottesbrooke Hall Last Modified: 27/01/2010 Garden ID: 0158 pic: 0158_cottesbrooke.jpg Owner: Alastair R. Macdonald-Buchanan Address: Cottesbrooke Northampton Postcode: NN6 8PF County: Northampton tel: 01604 505808 fax: 01604 505 619 website: www.cottesbrookehall.co.uk email: enquiries {at} cottesbrooke.co.uk Features: Winner of the HHA / Christies Garden of the Year Award Nominated as one of the best gardens in the world by 2007 publication; "1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die" Plant Finders Fair - 25th - 27th June 2010 - New and unique plant fair. English Heritage Grade: II Opening Times: 3rd May (BH Mon.) - end Sept May & June; Wed and Thurs; 2pm - 5.30pm July, Aug & Sept; Thurs; 2pm - 5.30pm, Plus all BH Mons (May - Sept) 2pm - 5.30pm Best Times of Year to Visit: Spring Summer Autumn To see: Allium display and extensive bulb planting. Planters, double herbaceous borders running over 60m. Autumn flowering cyclamen National Collection: National Garden Scheme days: Yes Comments: 18th April Parties / Coaches: Yes Comments: Viewing by Appointment: Yes Comments: House Open for Viewing: Yes Comments: 4th May to end Sept; May & June; Wed and Thurs. July, Aug & Sept; Thurs. 2pm - 5.30pm Admission Prices: House and Gardens (incl. 45 min. guided tour of house): Adult £8; Concessions £6.50; Child (5-14 yrs) £3.50. Gardens Only: Adults £5.50; Concessions £4.50; Child (5-14 yrs) £2.50. Group prices on application. Parking: Yes Lavatories: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Shop: No Plants for Sale: No Lunches: No Teas: Yes Refreshments: Yes Picnics: Yes Dogs allowed: No Only on Lead: No Events: Yes Other Facilities: Lunches by arrangement only, max, 30 people. Afternoon tea and homemade cakes. Please contact the Administrator for further info about disabled access. Plant Finders Fair Designer: Edward Schultz and others Description of Garden: Cottesbrooke Hall is a magnificent Queen Anne house reputed to be the model for Jane Austen's 'Mansfield Park' and surrounded by award-winning formal and wild gardens. Wandering in the renowned gardens, winner of the HHA/Christie's 'Garden of the Year Award' 2000, visitors will see the huge 300 year old cedar of Lebanon, double herbaceous borders, pools and lily ponds. There is a Yew Statue walk with pergolas, a rose garden and, on the south front, a formal parterre frames the vista towards the famous 7th century church and Brixworth. In spring the Wild Garden, planted along the course of a running stream with stepping stones, cascades and arched bridges, comes alive with spring bulbs and, later in the season, the wonderful colours of acers and rhododendrons with bamboos and gunneras can be seen. In mid-summer, visitors may enjoy the splendid array of planters in the individually planted courtyard gardens whilst relaxing on one of the seats, many of which have captivating views over the lake and Park. History: A number of distinguished landscape designers have been involved in developing the gardens. These include Edward Schultz earlier this century, Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe before the Second World War and Dame Sylvia Crowe and most recently James Alexander-Sinclair has reworked the herbaceous border and Angel Collins has designed the planters. The gardens have, in the main, been developed during the course of the present century. The main inspiration came from the late Hon Lady Macdonald-Buchanan but the present owners have endeavoured to continue these developments. Local Inns: The Stags Head, Maidwell The Lamport Swan, Lamport The Coach & Horses, Brixworth Accomodation: The Broomhill Country House Hotel Highgate House Restaurants: The Pytchley, West Haddon The Red Lion, East Haddon Bruernes Lock Restaurant Village/Town/Sightseeing: Brixworth Creaton Northampton Market Harborough Kettering