News: Wherwell Open Gardens 2026

The Village of Wherwell held its annual Open Gardens afternoon, boasting exceptional displays of roses.

The tranquillity of Wherwell Church was a good place to start, with beautiful displays of cut flowers.

There was a delightful arrangement of Nigella, Love in the Mist.

The Old Rectory boasted some beautiful roses. Here we have a climber, a rambler and a shrub.

There was much to admire in the Old Rectory’s walled garden, with a double perennial border, boasting some stunning Delphiniums.

At Harewell Hall, the Italianate garden has an impressive water feature sitting at the centre of a canal bordered by cypress trees, punctuated with roses.

This garden in Church Street has been owned by the same family since 1928. Mike Gee describes it as a “simple cottage garden”.

The Wisteria on the pergola was “proudly planted about 90 years ago” by Mike’s grandfather.

Mole Hall is a reminder of the role the River Test plays in defining the unique character of Wherwell Village, and the views it provides.

Kettle Cottage got its name from “Wherwell” which means Kettle Springs, or Cauldron Springs.

The owner, who describes themself as “a novice gardener”, has terraced the garden to make it easier to manage.

Another terraced garden, in Beech Grove, began as “just a grass slope”. James, who is a professional horticulturalist, transformed it, with the help of his brother-in-law and a digger, into a tiered garden planted with roses, fruit trees and vegetable beds.

The David Austin roses are clearly thriving in this garden, adding beautiful splashes of colour throughout it.

At Abbey Oak, visitors were treated to a commanding view of the Test Valley, over to Chilbolton.

Alex Gumn, who tends the garden, told us that she avoids using chemicals and has let some areas remain untended. There were Ox-Eye Daisies where the grass had not been cut back.

In common with many gardeners we spoke to, Alex said that it had been difficult to control Box Hedge moth and caterpillars this year, despite using nematodes.

The garden is terraced with borders set against the retaining walls.

As usual, Joyce and Michael Payne had opened Dancing Ledge to visitors. A well-established Rambling Rector leads the eye along the impressive grassy slope down to the river.

Nearing the 5pm close, Michael was hopeful that they would achieve 200 visitors to their garden that day.

Proceeds this year from Wherwell Open Gardens will support the restoration of the Church Clock, and maintenance of the Village Hall.

In two weeks time, it will be the turn of Chilbolton gardeners to showcase their efforts. Chilbolton Open Gardens will take place on Sunday 14 Jun 2026 between 2pm and 5pm.