News: Chilbolton Open Gardens 2026

On a beautiful sunny afternoon, almost 250 people made their way to Chilbolton to enjoy the opening of eleven gardens with floral arrangements in St Mary the Less Church.

The preceding week was one of heavy rain and gusty winds. Many roses had already seen their best. What were the stars of the show in Chilbolton?

The owners of Upcote have, over the years, worked hard to improve their extensive grounds. They have incorporated formal garden with large swathes of meadow planting.

Within the meadow areas, native orchids have thrived.

Watch Cottage was once again part of Chilbolton Open Gardens. It offers unique views of the River Test.

Discreetly planted borders allow the natural scene to dominate.

Hazel House was one of the gardens which had never been opened before. It charmed visitors with its mature trees, shrubs and sweeping lawn.

Delphiniums didn’t just survive the recent weather, but seemed to thrive in it.

Meadow House combines meticulous planning with abundance and variety. The owner displayed pictures of her garden from when she first arrived, which highlighted the transformation that she had made.

Peonies at Meadow House were the best we saw in the Village on the afternoon.

John Rowles once again opened his beautiful garden. He noted that it had been created by his late wife, Doreen, who had worked in it since 1976. Sadly she passed away in May 2025.

John said that many of the plants in the garden were from cuttings which Doreen had taken, or from seed. He noted that she had worked there until the last couple of days before she died.

By the kind permission of David and Sally Griffiths, Poplar Dene hosted the afternoon teas. Visitors were able to relax in the shade of a marquee.

Poplar Dene also hosted a plant stall, whose sales contributed to the Parish Council Community Benefit Fund and the Countess of Brecknock Hospice, which was this year’s chosen charity.

David Griffiths, who recently resigned as a Parish Councillor after 47 years of service, has focused much of the cultivation in his garden on roses.

The climbing rose on the barn is particularly fragrant, as the warmth of the brickwork helps to promote the perfume.

Bannuts Farm is a popular destination for Open Gardens visitors. Its large pond is surrounded by long-established planting.

As a contrast, there is also an Italianate courtyard.

Test Cottage, opened for the first time this year, was described as “a family garden where anything goes! Nature is encouraged and there is no such thing as weeds!”

Notwithstanding this, the formal planting and topiary is striking.

The less formal areas, where “anything goes”, were no less attractive.

Ballimore is a garden created from what was a field in 1994. Apart from the mature trees, every plant been selected by the owners, and the design takes advantage of views over the Test Valley.

Peony, Bowl of Beauty, was popular with visitors.

Beech House, a stalwart of Open Gardens, boasts custom-built pottagers for growing vegetables. The greenhouse is used for starting off plants and for growing salad items.

Carefully tended, it is both productive and provides a peaceful space for relaxing.

Opening for the first time, the owners of Chilbolton Cottage say that when their three boys were younger their garden acted as a football pitch, army camp and playground.

Now the emphasis is on attracting and sustaining wildlife.

They want to encourage self-seeding and letting the plants do the work. Biodiversity is at the centre of their gardening philosophy.

St Mary the Less Church was open and hosted stunning flower arrangements. They had over a hundred visitors during the afternoon.

By kind permission of James Painter and his family, visitors were able to park in the field next to the Church. This made for an easy walk for visitors to the gardens.

Aside from raising £2,700, it was proved that despite the amount of time and trouble residents spend in preparing their gardens, and the work done by the organisers, that Chilbolton Open Gardens is a worthwhile event.

Visitors were unstinting in their praise of what they saw, and gardeners were keen to explain their successes and sometimes, even their failures.

With everybody enjoying it, Open Gardens has secured its place in Chilbolton’s calendar.