A Sunday Visit to RHS Bridgewater
On Sunday afternoon I visited RHS Bridgewater, near Manchester. I really wasn’t sure what to expect when visiting a RHS garden. If you visit with someone who is a member of the RHS, they can take you in for free. otherwise it’s approx a £15 entrance fee. I was surprised at the variety of landscapes within the garden and really enjoyed peacefully pottering around. Here’s some reasons why I think visiting an RHS garden is a lovely idea and the perfect way to spend a Sunday.
The 156 acre gardens are the perfect mix of landscaped perfection, walled gardens containing vegetables and herbs and areas which are left to run a little more wild, in what we now know is a way to support nature. It’s interesting to think that just a few years ago leaving areas un-mown would have been seen as ‘messy’ and not the done thing!
Beautiful Paths and Trails
Beautiful paved paths run through the more formal gardens and then meandering trails make their way around the rest of the garden, passing streams, meadows, woodlands and a small lake. The trails also make their way past several cute vintage style vans selling coffee, cake and ice cream – although they did seem a little pricey so it might be an idea to bring a flask!
Exploring the Greenhouses
There are a couple of greenhouses to explore, where you can find all sorts of fruits growing as well as mediterranean plants and cacti. For someone who is interested in gardening it’s great to see all the plants throughout most of the gardens marked with little labels, a lot of which are also for sale in the on-site garden centre. I felt so inspired to go home and get in my own garden, especially when the sun came out!
The Health Benefits of Being in Nature
Being outside and in nature is known for having health benefits, including reducing stress which is something many of us could really benefit from. What I loved about visiting the garden was how I felt truly immersed in nature, despite being close to the city. Visiting national parks or more remote areas isn’t always an option and the few hours I spent at RHS Bridgewater left me feeling re-charged. I’ve since discovered that becoming a member of RHS gets you free entrance in about 250 different gardens all over the country, so this is something I’m considering doing.
Leave a Reply