Visiting a garden is probably not the first thing people think of when they’re looking to de-stress. But in Northamptonshire’s villages, home to small and large private gardens, more and more garden owners are sharing their lifelong passion with the community and the benefits for people’s wellbeing.

Describing it as a place where people can “relax and feel close to nature,” a gardener from Harpole is raising awareness of the physical and mental health benefits of visiting gardens and gardening for everyone by sharing her garden with the community.

Joanne Hannam, 53, a private garden owner in Upper High Street, said: “I think being able to garden is really good for your mental health and your well-being, but even if you don't have an opportunity to garden yourself, being able to go and visit other people's gardens or just be around nature is just a real good feeling.

“Gardening has really helped me find time to relax and connect with nature. It's just enjoyable to nurture and watch things grow.”

❝Even if you don't have an opportunity to garden yourself, being able to go and visit other people's gardens or just be around nature is just a real good feeling.❞

- Joanne Hannam -

Joanne Hannam opens her private garden, the Cedar Cottage, to people once a year in support of the National Garden Scheme (NGS). The non-profit organisation opens privately held gardens throughout the country at specific times during the year for charitable purposes.

Born and raised in Northamptonshire, Joanne has been looking after other people's gardens throughout the years. She opened her garden to the public for the first time in June 2018 after learning about the organisation from a friend.

“The really good thing about open gardens is that you meet some really, really lovely people. The NGS opens so many gardens to the public. So many villages open their gardens in Northamptonshire, and it's all accessible and really reasonably priced.

“If you're interested in gardens and plants, there's nothing better to do than to want to wander around other people's gardens and just see what's achievable in an average-sized garden,” said Joanne.

This year, people were invited to visit Cedar Cottage in Harpole on Sunday, June 9, and four other gardens of different shapes and sizes, including The Close, owned by Michael Orton-Jones.

Joanne said: “We've had quite a few new people around to have a look, which is really nice.

“It's really enjoyable. Everybody's interested in what you're doing, and you can help them get a little bit of inspiration from what they see in other people's gardens.”

The openings of NGS' group gardens offer a chance to view a variety of gardens that are all located close to one another.

The Close

68 High Street, Harpole, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN7 4BS

An old-fashioned English country garden surrounding a stone house with large lawns, herbaceous borders, mature trees and an orchard.

Garden owner Michael Orton-Jones pictured.

Garden owner Michael Orton-Jones pictured.

Trubholme

19 Manor Close, Harpole, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN7 4BX

A flower arranger’s garden on a housing estate, with three garden rooms, water features, and various plants.

The owners, Caroline and Eamonn Kemshed, pictured together.

The owners, Caroline and Eamonn Kemshed, pictured together.

The Old Dairy

43 High Street, Harpole, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN7 4BS

A walled and split-level garden based on two intersecting part circles, with a summerhouse, water feature, and small trees and shrubs interspersed with cottage garden planting.

The owners, David and Di Ballard, pictured together.

The owners, David and Di Ballard, pictured together.

Kingsley House

45 High Street, Harpole, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN7 4BS

A medium-sized garden next to a Grade II-listed stone building, complete with various planting styles, fully walled with Northamptonshire ironstone.

The garden owners, Gregory Hearne and Caroline Fisermanis, pictured together.

The garden owners, Gregory Hearne and Caroline Fisermanis, pictured together.

Cedar Cottage

Upper High Street, Harpole, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN7 4DJ

A cobbled courtyard next to a Grade II-listed building, complete with a well, leads to a lawn with cottage garden planting, a custom-built summerhouse, and plenty of places to sit.

Garden owners Spencer and Joanne Hannam pictured together.

Garden owners Spencer and Joanne Hannam pictured together.

Founded in 1927 to support district nurses, the National Garden Scheme (NGS) offers people access to more than 3,500 private gardens in the country and raises money for nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake.

Joanne said: “It's a really good thing to be able to raise money by doing something you really, really enjoy and is a part of your life anyway.

“It’s a really great thing, whether it's people benefiting from the money which is raised or people benefiting from just coming round and having a look.”

Thanks to the generosity of garden owners, the volunteers and visitors have gathered and donated more than £70 million to NGS’s beneficiary charities over the years, and in November 2023 they donated more than £3,000,000 to the charities they support.

Richard and Jean Wiseman, a husband and wife from Ravensthorpe, have been sharing their one-acre garden and plant nursery with the community in Northamptonshire since 1994, in support of NGS.

Over the 23 years of opening their garden, the husband and wife raised £30,000 for the non-profit organisation.

“We're very proud to be able to do that.

“They're a lovely, lovely bunch of people to work with. They're very supportive,” said Jean.

The organisation does not just open beautiful gardens for charity – they have been adamant about raising awareness of the physical and mental health benefits of gardening and visiting gardens too.

NGS has been funding projects that promote gardens and gardening as therapy, and in 2017, the team launched an annual ‘Gardens and Health Week’ campaign to raise awareness of the topic. Their funding also supports the training of gardeners and offers respite to horticultural workers who have fallen on difficult times.

So how can visiting gardens and gardening impact our health?

According to Mind, one in four individuals in England experience a mental health problem each year.

A substantial body of research confirms that spending time in green spaces and gardens can have a positive impact on people’s mental health.

The Mental Health Foundation's Mental Health and Nature report emphasises the importance of our sense of connection to nature in promoting mental health, in addition to time spent in nature.

As of January 2019, the NHS has formally included social prescribing in its Long Term Plan. The approach connects people to community-based activities, groups, and services to address the practical, social, and emotional requirements that impact their health and wellbeing.

A growing number of general practitioners are recommending gardening as a preventative measure in addition to its rehabilitation purposes.

An increasing number of GPs are prescribing gardening not only for rehabilitation but also as a preventative mechanism.

According to the government, gardens and other green areas are increasingly recognised as being linked to improved physical, social, and mental health.

Jean Wiseman, 73, the Ravensthorpe Nursery garden owner, said: “All sorts of people open their gardens, from rolling acres to tiny little courtyard gardens (...) But if you think about it, most people don't have rolling acres. They have a little patch, and they want to make the most of it. And by going and looking at gardens like that, they get good ideas for their own garden.

“I do honestly think that it gives a lot of people a lot of solace because not everybody's as lucky as we are to have somewhere to get out into the open air and look at something beautiful. I'm sure it's therapy for a lot of people.”

Northamptonshire serves as an example county for others to follow, demonstrating that garden spaces can be active, healing settings that improve the health and happiness of the community. The county continues to incorporate gardens into well-being strategies.

More than 25 Northamptonshire gardens are set to open to the public in the following weeks.

From a traditional cottage garden to modern new-build gardens, every spot has its own unique collection of plants.

Take a look below to find out more about the Northamptonshire gardens that are going to be accessible to the public this summer.

An NGS spokesperson said: “From country acres to urban retreats, the Northamptonshire gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme this summer offer a warm welcome and wheelbarrow loads of garden inspiration.

“With some selling plants and most serving delicious home-made refreshments, garden visiting offers an affordable and enjoyable day out. And, with all proceeds going to support some of the UK best-loved nursing and health charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie and Parkinson’s UK, your visit helps change lives.”

Flore Gardens

People can visit the gardens in Flore, Northamptonshire, on June 22 and 23, at the 1 Yew Tree Gardens, The Croft, Private Garden Of Bliss Lane Nursery, The Old Bakery, The Garden House, Russell House, Rock Springs, 25 Larbourne Park Road, and Three Corners.

Photo: National Garden Scheme

Photo: National Garden Scheme

Long Buckby Gardens

Seven gardens are open in Long Buckby on June 23, at 53 East Street, Long Barn, Grange Farm, 7 Burnham Way, 23 Cotton End, The Grotto, Wisteria House, and 3 Cotton End.

Old West Farm

The large rural garden in Little Preston, Daventry, is open for groups of up to 30 people by arrangement visits until June 29.

Kilsby Gardens

The gardens in Kilsby are open to visitors on June 30, at the Rainbow's End, Lynn Cottage, 12 Rugby Road, Bolberry House, Summerhill, and 9 Watling Street.

Ravensthorpe Nursery

The garden in East Haddon Road, Ravensthorpe, is set to open to the public between July 5 and 7 and September 6 and 8.

Photo: Richard Wiseman

Photo: Richard Wiseman

Hardwick Hill

The five acre garden in Lower End, Priors Hardwick, is open to the public on July 11.

Woodcote Villa

The canal side garden in Old Watling Street, Long Buckby, has two open days this year, on July 21 and September 1, and groups of between 18 and 36 people can book it for arrangement visits until August 23.