This year there are free show tours for the local community

One of the highlights of the gardening calendar is coming up at Chiswick House and Gardens next month, with their Camellia Show bursting into bloom from Friday 3 March to Sunday 2 April.

And new for this year, they will be running free Camellia Show Garden Tours, for the local community, on Wednesdays at 11am and Sundays at 12pm. The tours are guided by knowledgeable volunteer guides and will cover the history of the gardens, Conservatory and the stunning Camellia collection. Visitors will also be guided through the historic back sheds area which is not normally open to the public. The 45 minute tours start outside the entrance to the Camellia Show where a Garden Guide will meet you.

For group bookings of 5 or more people, with knowledgeable guides, please contact Louise Randall louise.randall@chgt.org.uk or 020 3141 3367.

The grounds recently scooped Gold and Overall Winner of the London in Bloom “Heritage Parks & Garden Award for 2016”. They also won Gold in the Walled Garden category for the historic kitchen garden and members of the small team attained the “Horticultural Achievement Award 2016”. And at this year's RHS spring fair their heritage Camellias featured in a display which won Gold.

Many of the Camellias have been growing for over 200 years in what is now a Grade I listed Conservatory. The collection is thought to be the oldest under glass in the Western world and includes rare and historically important examples, many believed to be descended from the original planting in 1828. There are 33 varieties housed in the 300 ft glass house, including the Middlemist's Red, one of the rarest Camellias in the world.

An on-site propagation programme run by the gardeners in the newly restored Melon House means you can buy a choice of varieties from Chiswick's original collection and grow your very own heritage Camellia at home. The whole family can enjoy the Grade 1 listed estate, including a lovely play area, stop off for refreshments at the award winning Chiswick House Café and visit the 18th century Villa at weekends.

The show remains free to the public with donations welcomed. Chiswick House and Gardens Trust Director, Clare O'Brien, says “We've had an amazing year winning so many awards. And we hope visitors will show their appreciation by making contributions towards the hard work our small team and brilliant band of volunteers do to retain gold standards of care.”

Conservatory opening hours: Daily 10am – 4pm (Closed Mondays) Do check their website for opening times and details.

February 27, 2017