Cheshire Year of Gardens 2008
2008 is a big year for British gardens – it’s Cheshire’s Year of Gardens. The county of Cheshire in North West England has more gardens open to the public than anywhere else in Britain – what better place to spend a year celebrating British gardens?
The programme line-up for the Cheshire Year of Gardens is bubbling with a mixture of music, art, theatre, sport and food and drink events at major garden locations including Tatton Park, Lyme Park, Arley Hall & Gardens, Jodrell Bank, Cholmondeley Castle Gardens, Capesthorne Hall and Norton Priory.
The year-long celebration starts at Chester Zoo’s Frost Fair in January, where the lavish flower beds of Cheshire will be unveiled. The very same flower beds will be making surprise appearances in Liverpool and at flower shows later on this year.
In April, a county-wide competition called Something Beautiful is launched to encourage artists, individuals and community groups to design something beautiful (e.g. a sculpture) in their own gardens. The winners will be announced in August, when the entrants will be encouraged to open their gardens for viewings.
To celebrate World Environment Day on Thursday 5 June, Chester Zoo will open their new Butterfly Garden, which includes information on native species and why it’s important to look after the environment. On 7 and 8 June, it’s Go Green Weekend at Norton Priory Museum & Gardens. You’ll find organic food, interactive activities, willow weaving, chainsaw carvers and tips on how to go green.
Head down to Cholmondeley Castle on 19 July to see the annual Fireworks Extravaganza – listen to live music on the castle lawns and then watch the brilliant fireworks display. On 21 June, get on your bike and cycle to Chester Zoo, where you can pedal your way around the zoo’s 110 acres of beautiful grounds. Admire the themed gardens and public art, and relax in the quiet surroundings after normal zoo hours on the longest day of the year.
On 28 and 29 June, it’s the Arley Garden Festival, one of the highlights of the British horticultural year. And don’t miss the beautiful Cheshire Lights show at Lyme Park in November. You’ll see the gardens lit up in different colours, the trees changing colour and lasers and smoke effects used to create a magical night walk.
For the full programme of events for Cheshire’s Year of Gardens, go to VisitCheshire – Year of Gardens (www.visitcheshire.com/site/year-of-gardens).