Bide-A-Wee Gardens: "a very special garden... a highlight of many visitor's itinerary in Northumberland"
These are the words of Kathryn Bradley-Hole, of Gardeners World Magazine, and they perfectly sum up the attractions of Bide-A-Wee Cottage Garden. Set in the Northumberland countryside the garden is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life for just an hour or two. Enjoy the peace and solitude while taking in the views of the garden and the surrounding countryside from the many seated vantage points.
In May enjoy the splendour of a natural meadow in all its glory. Spot the many types of wild flowers - including yellow rattle buttercups, harebells and fine grasses - growing as nature intended. Or simply just watch the bees from the Bide-A-Wee hives do their work.
The Bide-A-Wee Garden has been created out of a small sandstone quarry over the last quarter of a century by Mark Robson. The site was originally bare and exposed apart from rough grass, whin (gorse) and an outer drystone boundary wall. So it has taken years of imagination, planning, development and nurturing to transform this former quarry into a garden gem.
The transformation however is respectful of its quarry beginnings which lends the garden a dramatic topography and natural rock.
The garden features both common and unusual perennials, but all woven within a matrix of trees, shrubs, grasses and ferns. Bide-A-Wee is also the holder of the National Collection of Centaurea.
The Gardens are open each year between may and August and attact thousands of visitors from the UK and beyond.
See some Garden images
Click here to seeimages of Bide-A-Wee Gardens. (Please note requires Flash Player)Garden visiting opening hours
The Garden is open to visitors from the beginning of May until the end of August, Saturday and Wednesday only 1:30-5.00pm.
Please note, guide dogs only.
Bide-A-Wee is non profit making, we charge a small charge admission for entry which is used to continue to develop the Gardens for future visitors.
Group bookings
We welcome larger parties by prior arrangement at other times so please complete the group booking form or call us on 01670 772238. Please note, minimum group size is 20 people or minimum fee of £70 (tea, coffee and biscuits can also be booked for additional £1 per person).
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