National Garden Scheme — Attraction in Guildford

We've been visiting gardens open under this scheme for at least 25 years and used to enjoy them, finding plants we wanted to try and a high standard of tidiness. We don't go for the cakes, because we are gardeners ourselves.

Over the last ten years or so (excluding Covid years) the tidiness has declined, charges have increased, and new gardens with more quirks (statues, outdoor sofas) than genuine interest have been included in the scheme. OK, the idea is to make money for charity, but NGS must do that without us. We wonder how many other...

We have just visited Pylewell Park open garden South Baddesley Lymington. It was very difficult to find the entrance as there were no signs from the main road. The entrance to the garden was manned by a man with no ngs badge, we were not given a ticket. It was £5 each to walk round what was essentially a large lake with no garden. Even though I know the money is for a good cause I think the price is excessive to walk round a lake surrounded by woods. One of the worst open gardens we have...

Visited Glynwood Garden, EYES Lane Leyland. Its beautiful 3/4 acre. The owners are lovely. They told us it has taken them 25 years to develop. You can see why. The pond is lovely with water lilies and a lovely pond feature.We bought 3 plants and there is jam available. I wish we had bought some. Parking was really good along the road adjacent to the house. It was very friendly for my wife, who is disabled. We drove there from Prescot and it was...