Hoveton Hall Gardens Guided Tours: What to see in June
From Chiff-Chaffs to Norfolk Hawker Dragonflies
Hoveton Hall Gardens will be holding a guided wildlife tour on Wednesday 20th June 2012. The tour will be led by the Garden’s Head Horticulturist, Dr. Stewart Wright. The Gardens are home to a vast range of wildlife and plants, with different areas of the gardens attracting different species.
During the month of June you can expect to see an assortment of birds nesting in the Gardens, such as chiff-chaffs, blackcaps and spotted flycatchers, as well as swallows, house martins, woodpeckers and marsh tits to name just a few.
June also sees a great increase in the number and variety of dragonflies that can be seen around the Gardens. The hairy dragonfly can often found in the shelter of the water garden, whilst the Norfolk hawker, can frequently be found near the stone bridge. Damselflies are also likely to be seen by the end of the month, most commonly found in the water garden or around the lake.
In previous years, twenty-four different species of butterflies have been recorded in the Gardens, including the green-veined white and the small copper butterflies, whilst around 500 species of moth have also been spotted. Most of these moths are nocturnal, however a number of day-flying species are likely to be seen during the month of June, such as the silver y which is often found feeding at Nepeta flowers in the walled gardens.
The Gardens of Hoveton Hall also play home to a wide variety of insects, as well as mammals such as grey squirrels, rabbits, water voles, water shrews and deer. Muntjac live among the Gardens large collection of rhododendrons, which should also be at their best during June. Otters regularly visit the lake, but it takes a quick eye and an amount of luck to catch a glimpse of these elusive creatures.
During June, Hoveton’s water garden is host to an assortment of flowers and plants, such as yellow flag iris, water forget-me-not, brooklime and water mint, whilst, along the paths, between the stone bridge and the glasshouse, there are woodland species of red campion, pignut and barren strawberry that flourish in the partial shade. The star-shaped flowers of the Star-of-Bethlehem, Ornithogalum arabicum, can be found near the water tower and in the orchard, with the woodland paths being fragranced by the sweet-scented flowers of the wild honeysuckle.
Tours start at the tearooms at 11.00am and are free, as part of the entry fee. At the tearooms there is a wildlife information board that will list the latest sightings.
Hoveton Hall Gardens is one of Norfolk’s best kept secrets. It offers a rare mixture of experiences for gardeners, walkers and families – on the one hand there are the woodlands, the water garden, with its natural tunnels, bridges, nooks and crannies, and the park. On the other are the walled garden, with its unique spider gate, the kitchen garden, the 18th century ice well and the early 19th century glass house. There are also adventure trails and activities for children.
Admission prices are £7.00 for adults, 4-16 year olds £3.50, under 4s free. Family ticket £19.00. OAPs £6.50. Wheelchair users and carers £5 each. Other facilities include the tea rooms, plant sales, gift shop and guided tours. The gardens are open Tuesday – Friday and Sunday, 10.30am to 5.00pm. Last admission 4.00pm. Hoveton Hall Gardens is situated at the edge of the Norfolk Broads, just north of Wroxham. Follow brown and white tourist signs off the A1151.
For more information visit www.hovetonhallgardens.co.uk or call 01603 782558 or 07825 517647.
Copy ends
Guided tours June 2012 – Jun-12
Press Enquiries:
Toni Turner or Alison Haynes at The Publicity Works:
01263 761000; hoveton@publicityworks.biz
Harry Buxton, Estate Manager Hoveton Hall Gardens
07825 517647; harry@hoveton.wanadoo.co.uk
About Hoveton Hall: Set at the edge of the Norfolk Broads, Hoveton Hall Gardens is a delightful mix of formal and informal planting across the seasons. The Hall itself (which is not open to the public), was built between 1809 and 1812 is attributed to Humphry Repton. The walled Kitchen Garden and layout of the ‘Spider Garden’ are shown on maps as early as 1841. Extensive work to the Water Gardens was carried out in the 1920s, by Geoffrey Buxton, and much of the collection of rhododendrons and azaleas was planted under his direction by Waterers Nurseries. The gardens are home to an 18th century ice well and an early 19th century glass house – one of only three of its type in the country. The Arboretum has over 200 specimen trees and the Kidney Lake attracts kingfishers and grey herons.
Tags:
