Visitor numbers are blooming for Sherborne this summer!

From now until the end of October, Sherborne New Castle will be celebrating the 300th anniversary of Britain’s most famous landscape gardener as its grounds are regarded as one of the most significant ‘Capability’ Brown landscapes in the country.

The gardens and pleasure grounds surrounding the 50-acre lake form the Brownian landscape with sweeping lawns, attractive borders and specimen trees. Walks lead round the lake to Raleigh’s Seat, the Cascade and Folly. Shorter walks lead to the walled garden, Gingko Lawn and Orangery, and to the boathouse and pier that offer views of the medieval castle ruins.

Colour is on offer through the season, from spectacular displays of spring bulbs and daffodils, through summer planting and herbaceous borders to the reflections of autumn colour in the lake.

The Castle, also open, was built by Sir Walter Raleigh and opening times and admission fees can be seen on the website. ww

As a contrast to the more formal gardens at Sherborne New Castle, the Castleton Wildflower Garden on the site of an electricity sub-station is an example of the imagination of Sherborne residents who, under the “adopt a plot” scheme have turned it from an eyesore to a beautiful wildflower garden in just a few years.

Another example of Sherborne’s green-fingered residents is the successful Hidden Gardens of Sherborne weekend which takes place Saturday 4 June – Sunday 5 June, from 2pm – 5pm. Entry is just £8 to cover a whole weekend of viewing around 20 private gardens. This year there are seven gardens completely new to the event, including one with exciting contrasts that won the “Best of the Best “in last year’s Sherborne-in-Bloom competition. The front garden is full of topiary and classic box hedging contrasting with a back with a distinctly Mediterranean style of planting. Also opening again this year is one of the oldest gardens in the town described as a “burgage” garden which has a wall dating from the 1300s and an outlook over Sherborne Castles. Within the lovely cottage garden completely hidden away behind the house is an Art Gallery which is used to display the work of its two owners. All proceeds from the weekend will go to Marie Curie, the Weldmar Trust and other local charities.

However if you miss the Hidden Gardens Weekend, there is still plenty to enjoy with Sherborne’s public gardens like The Paddock Garden in Newland, opened in 2005 to celebrate 1300 years since the founding of Sherborne Abbey. This is the first public garden to be opened in the town since the Pageant Garden was established 100 years before. The older Pageant Garden opened in 1906 and is named after a famous pageant held in 1905 in the Castle grounds to commemorate the 1200th anniversary of the founding of the Abbey. The iconic bandstand is a central feature of the garden and is used regularly by the Sherborne Town Band and others on public occasions.

However if you like your garden a bit “on the wild side” the Quarr Local Nature Reserve is free to visit. Once a quarry where the distinctive ‘inferior oolite’ limestone was mined, many local buildings, including parts of the Abbey, are built from this material. All that remains of the quarry today is the exposed Jurassic cliff-face where many small fossils can be seen.

Finally look out for the results of the RHS South West in Bloom 2016 contest as Sherborne won Gold and Best in its category last year and has been automatically entered into the 2016 Champion of Champions competition. With so much to offer to visitors who can admire the colourful displays in its gardens, high street and visitor attractions, there should be no doubt about Sherborne’s winning status.

Contact Sherborne Tourist Information Centre for details and info about the area: sherborne.tic@westdorset-weymouth.gov.uk or visit www.sherbornedorset.co.uk