There are some truly beautiful gardens on show at Swannington in Bloom

Limited parking is available for blue badge holders only at locations marked with a P. Please note that in addition to the WC facilities at various properties as indicated below, facilities are also available at the church and at the main parking area (Romantic Garden Nursery).

For a map of where the gardens are please use the following links:

Heath Farm House, Broad Lane (teas/coffees)
Since moving to Heath Farm House in 1996, the current owners have tried to carve out a series of contrasting areas of interest from the bramble bushes which then surrounded the house. This comprises two areas of herbaceous borders either side of the house, a more formal parterre complete with box hedge and obelisk, and a canal behind the wall on the west side. A particularly wet area at the back of the house has been planted with iris, gunnera and hostas and an existing pond has been dug out and enlarged. Surrounding rough grassland has been planted with a selection of specimen trees.

Heath House, Broad Lane (cold drinks)
The woodland gardens at Heath House include formal lawned areas and terracing together with an informal orchard and woods. There are several mature specimen trees including cedars, oaks, maples and beeches - of particular note is a monkey puzzle thought to be around 150 years old. The current owners moved here nearly six years ago and whilst the gardens have played second fiddle to the urgent structural work required to the main house, the garden is beginning to come into its own. That said, there is still much to do! Building works are due to complete in 2011. The house and gardens remain far from complete and should still be considered works in progress.

The Old Rectory, The Street (cream teas, WC)
The Old Rectory is a three storey brick and pantiled house dating from 1635. It stands in 2 acres of grounds surrounded by mature beech and yew trees. At the southern end is a large pond with some exotic ducks. The western garden to the front is comprised principally of shrubs and grass whilst the eastern garden is largely lawns with shrubberies and more formal rose beds. In the 18 years that the current owners have been in situ, priority has been given to complementing the architecture of the house whilst minimising the maintenance commitments.

Beech House, Church Lane (teas, WC)
An informal garden planted with the emphasis on wildlife, the central feature of the lawned area is a large mature willow tree. Meet Oscar and Angus, the pygmy goats, chickens, geese and guinea pigs. Country living at its best.

Swannington Hall, Church Lane (P)
Built around 1485, the property has a long history including its use in 1549 to hold Robert Kett following his capture on Kett’s Lane (home to Honeysuckle Cottage also on the Swannington in Bloom trail). More recently in the 1980s, the Hall was a renowned pub and restaurant, boasting the largest beer garden in Norfolk. The current owners have lived at the property since 2001 and have undertaken significant work to the house and gardens. The formal garden to the rear of the house and the semi-formal beds on the other side of the moat were partly designed by regular Chelsea gold medallist Yvonne Innes.

The moat dates back to the mid 13th century and is fed by several springs. In more recent times, some of the moat banks have become rather weed infested, and were gradually being washed into the moat itself, so the current owners have cleared one bank and planted mixed ground cover plants, which look colourful and hold the bank together. Recent activity in and around the garden includes the planting of 60 young trees in the paddocks, construction of a raised bed vegetable garden (caged to keep the pigeons and squirrels out) along with a new greenhouse for strawberries, tomatoes and suchlike. The garden also attracts a huge range of wildlife including water voles, dab-chicks, ducks, moorhens, toads, carp, many other birds, dragonflies, bats and squirrels.

Honeysuckle Cottage, Ketts Lane
This cottage-style garden contains herbaceous borders and shrubs. It is semi-wooded, part lawned, bordered by streams and fields. Work is still in progress.

The Manor (teas, P)
This garden has been described as the most romantic in Norfolk. The house, built in 1700, creates a stunning backdrop to the garden. A huge 300 year old yew hedge, thought to be unique to this country, dominates the garden creating a natural framework for the mixed shrub and herbaceous borders. Specimen trees, a sunken rose garden and a knot garden add interest.

Manor Farm House
The house was built in the 1600s but the parts of the garden you see now were only planted about 40 years ago. These have recently been altered and improved. The garden now consists of a terrace built 6 years ago, which is home to a number of pots of agapanthus, a Knot garden planted in the same year, and a rose garden planted 3 years ago. Some mature knarled apple trees are under planted with primroses and helleborus.

The garden links to the Romantic Garden Nursery, which is also open to visitors, where you can see some interesting lead fountains working.

Five Ways Farm
The farmyard and its immediate surroundings have been fully re-ordered over the last 5 years to try and make the most of a space which multitasks as a farmyard, equestrian facility and dog run.

The delightful herb garden was designed and lovingly constructed single-handedly by the current resident as a birthday present for his wife. The substantial vegetable garden across Ketts Lane has also been added in recent years and continues to produce and expand with much hard work!