Spring forth into Britain’s best gardens

Kingcombe Meadows, Dorset

Rejoice in the wildflowers and butterflies that thrive at Kingcombe. Along the Hooke river, the patchwork of unimproved grasslands, old hedges, streams and ponds create a rich, thriving natural habitat. See cowslips in April, bluebells in May, and heath spotted orchids in the wet meadowns in June. Nearby, on the wooded slopes of Powerstock Common, you’ll find the elusive bee orchid, massed bluebells, and fantastic sea views.

Lower Porcorum, Dorchester DT2 0EQ (01300 320684; kingcombe.org; free). Park at The Kingcombe Centre and follow meadow paths.

Mells Walled Garden, Somerset

I love the garden, food and ambience that fills the Walled Garden in the pretty village of Mells. Within the old walls are large beds full of delightful cottage plants. There is a florist’s shop on site, where you can buy a bunch to take home. The delightful garden café serves homemade lunches and teas, and at weekends they light the wood-fired pizza oven. Food can be enjoyed in the vintage finds-filled glasshouse or the garden. I like my tea and cake on the sunny terrace overlooking the fields and grazing cattle.

Rectory Garden, Selwood Street, Mells BA 11 3PN (01373 812597; thewalledgardenatmells.co.uk; free).

Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire

Walk along the many paths that flow through Colby Woodland Garden. Statues and urns indicate that this is a garden landscape and not just a beautiful wooded river valley. Spring starts with crocus and camellias, then bluebells; wild meadow flowers are at their peak in summer; and in autumn, acers blaze with stunning colour. Cross bridges, build dens in the wood (there are lots of great activities for the kids), or enjoy a lunch of local cheeses with apple chutney and oven-fresh bread.

Stepaside, Amroth, Pembrokeshire SA67 8PP (01834 811885; nationaltrust.org.uk; £6).

Ham House, Surrey

From Richmond Tube station, walk along the river bank past Petersham Nurseries to beautiful Ham House. Overhead, the skies are filled with the chatter of green parakeets. The walled kitchen garden is one of the most productive in London, supplying the newly renovated Orangery Café with an array of unusual produce, including salsify and skirret. The Wilderness and the acres of meadows are managed to enhance their grass and flower diversity. Don’t miss the library at the far end of the café, which is full of gardening books. A woodburner makes this a great place to hide away in if the sun isn’t shining.

Ham Street, Ham, Surrey TW10 7RS (020 8940 1950; nationaltrust.org.uk; £11). 1.5 miles by riverside footpath from Richmond tube.

Spetchley Park, Worcestershire

These gardens are the joyous result of 400 years of care by one family. Now they are perfectly ripe, mellowed and bursting with mouth-watering plant temptations. The great Edwardian gardener and plantswoman Ellen Willmott helped her sister Rose Berkeley to plant and design many of the spaces. The inimitable collection of plant varieties and the setting are compelling enough reasons to visit, but so is the air of magical intimacy. Exploring in June felt like trespassing into a secret garden. It is a glorious mixture of packed borders and beautiful specimen trees, such as the cork oak near the 19th-century root house. My favourite place is the secretive Fountain Garden, where the ghost of Ellen may still linger. A lovely tea room serves light lunches and cream teas.

Spetchley, Worcester WR5 1RS (01905 345106; spetchleygardens.co.uk; closed Mondays and Tuesdays; £6.50).

Coton Manor, Northants

Incredible bluebells, a wildflower meadow, a great café, and the most surprising birds make Coton unmissable. The species-rich wildflower meadow is a particular success story and its May to July display shows what can be achieved in 10 years with some good management and two kilos of yellow-rattle seed. May’s highlight is the five-acre bluebell walk but a visit is worthwhile in any month. In August, roses were still blooming in the orchard, where trees with red-flushed fruit provided shade for kunekune pigs. Follow the sound of water from a natural spring to the water garden and its woodland plantings. Besides pigs and birds, there are long-horned cattle and wonderful vistas – this is not your average garden.

Coton Rd, Coton, Northants NN6 8RQ (01604 740219; cotonmanor.co.uk; closed Sundays and Mondays; £7).

Dartmoor, Devon

Dartmoor National Park is one of the most accessible, truly wild areas in Devon. Its open moorland and magical woods harbour incredible displays of wild flora. The woodlands erupt in early spring with white wood anemones and daffodils, followed by carpets of bluebells and foxgloves. The night skies are perfect for stargazing and it’s one of the few places in England where you can legally wild camp. There are rules to respect: no more than one or two nights with a small tent, and camp away from farmland and protected sites. To help you choose a good spot, the park has created a map with guidelines. (01626 832093; dartmoor-npa.gov.uk; free).

Plas Bodegroes, Gwynedd

Plas Bodegroes (Rosehip Hall) is a romantic, wisteria-covered Georgian manor with 10 chic but very relaxed rooms and charming gardens. Welsh paintings and fresh flowers fill the house, which is elegant and informal. There are lots of places to sit outside under the roses and enjoy an aperitif before you sit down to a first-class lunch or supper using the freshest Welsh fare.

Nefyn Road, Pwllheli, Gwynedd LL53 5TH (01758 612363; bodegroes.co.uk; doubles from £130, B&B).

Wood of Cree, Dumfries & Galloway

The ancient wood is the largest old oak woodland in southern Scotland. Its wealth of birds, including tawny owls and pied flycatchers, means that most of it is an RSPB reserve. Spring decorates the woodland floor in wildflowers, especially bluebells. More than 20 species of butterfly have been recorded here. The Cree Valley is rich with glorious waterfalls and water meadows, while elusive otters play in the river.

Dumfries & Galloway DG8 6RJ (01988 402130; creevalley.com; free). Four miles north of Newton Stewart on Millcroft Road. Cycle Route 7.

Pensthorpe, Norfolk

Walk through one of Norfolk’s largest flower meadow, visit Piet Oudolf’s stunning Millennium Garden and learn about the wildflowers that thrive in the glorious Wensum Valley. Wander around at your leisure and enjoy the flowers, rare butterflies, and red squirrels. The traditionally managed hay meadow is grazed in autumn by Norfolk longhorns and in spring and summer buzzes with insects and offers the most perfect display of wildflowers. There is a good tea room and adventure playground.

Fakenham Road, Fakenham NR21 0LN (01328 851465; pensthorpe.com; £11.25).

This is an edited extract from ‘Wild Garden Weekends’ by Tania Pascoe (wildthingspublishing.com, £16.99).