The oldest private garden in Norwich begins its summer season of open afternoons in aid of local charities on Sunday.
The Bishop’s House Garden is a city centre paradise including dramatic double borders backed by cloud-pruned yew, an impressive and productive kitchen garden, a rose and hosta walk, a wildflower labyrinth with a 400-year-old pear tree at its heart and a jungle walk through towering exotic plants.
Find a hebe grown from a cutting taken from Queen Victoria’s wedding bouquet, one of the biggest tulip trees in Norfolk and a view of the north side of the Cathedral which can only be seen from the garden. The Bishop of Norwich’s bees forage from hives in the replanted orchard, a new herb garden is being created and there are also lawns, a wildlife woodland walk, wisteria in bloom and a 700-year-old ruin.
There have been gardens here for more than nine centuries, growing food, offering hospitality, and highlighting the beauty of the natural world. They surround the home of the Bishop of Norwich, who shares them as part of his ministry.
The first open garden of the season, this Sunday May 12, will support Norwich Samaritans in their Diamond Anniversary year, raising money to recruit and train more volunteers to support people struggling to cope.
Bishop’s House Garden, through the archway gatehouse opposite Norwich Law Courts, will be open for Norwich Samaritans 1pm-4.30pm (last entry 4pm). Admission £5, children and wheelchair users free, assistance dogs only. Teas, plant stall.
The gardens will be open for St Martin’s Housing Trust on Sunday 19 May, CPRE Norfolk on Sunday 2 June, Nelson’s Journey on Sunday 9 June, St Barnabas Counselling Centre on Sunday 16 June, Norwich Integration Partnership on Sunday 23 June, National Garden Scheme on Sunday 7 July, Yare Valley Riding for the Disabled on Sunday 14 July, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI on Sunday 21 July and East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) on Sunday 4 August.