Private gardens across the Harrogate district will open to visitors this summer.

The National Open Garden Scheme, which was established in 1927, gives people the chance to see beautiful gardens, enjoy tea and cake and raise money for charity.

Last year, visits to Yorkshire gardens raised £173,758 for charities such as Marie Curie and Macmillan Cancer Support. The national total was £3,501,227.

The Stray Ferret has compiled a list of gardens taking place in the National Open Garden Scheme, as well as independently organised village open garden initiatives.

If we have missed any off, email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will add them to the list.

May 18

Rudding Park 

1pm-4pm – 20 acres of attractive formal gardens, extensive kitchen garden and lawns around grade one regency house. Formal gardens with extensive rhododendron and azalea planting. Recent designs featuring grasses and perennials. Admission £6, children go free.

Follifoot, Harrogate, HG3 1JH.

For more information, or to book, visit www.ruddingpark.co.uk 

May 25

Marton-cum-Grafton

1pm-5pm – Two gardens in adjacent villages within walking distance of each other. Orchard House: contemporary village garden with gravel garden, raised beds and extensive views over alpaca paddock. Well House: traditional cottage garden with herbaceous borders, climbing roses and ornamental shrubs. Paths meander through borders to an orchard with chickens. Combined admission £7, children go free.

Marton-cum-Grafton, YO51 9QJ.

For more information, or to book, call 07901 592768 or email gwg01@talktalk.net 

June 1

Great Ouseburn Open Gardens

11am-5pm – One of North Yorkshire's most picturesque villages. This year we have spectacular gardens open, varying in shapes and sizes.nYou will also find a plant stall, a pop-up cafe, Yorkshire ice-cream, classic cars, live music and an art show featuring local artists. Admission £7.50, accompanied under 16s go free.

Great Ouseburn, North Yorkshire, YO26 9RL.

For more information, email gogardenfest@gmail.com or visit www.govh.co.uk/go-garden-festival.

June 7

Old Sleningford Hall

12pm-3.30pm – Large country garden with award winning permaculture forest garden. Mature trees, woodland walk and Victorian fernery, romantic lake with islands, watermill, walled kitchen garden, long herbaceous border and huge beech hedges. Reasonable wheelchair access to most parts of the garden. Admission £7.50, children go free.

Mickley, nr Ripon, HG4 3JD.

June 8

Old Sleningford Hall

12pm-3.30pm – Large country garden with award winning permaculture forest garden. Mature trees, woodland walk and Victorian fernery, romantic lake with islands, watermill, walled kitchen garden, long herbaceous border and huge beech hedges. Reasonable wheelchair access to most parts of the garden. Admission £7.50, children go free.

Mickley, nr Ripon, HG4 3JD.

June 12

The Priory, Nun Monkton

11am-4pm – Large varied country garden surrounding William and Mary House at the confluence of the rivers Nidd and Ouse. Featuring species trees, swathes of lawn, clipped yew, beech and box hedges, formal rose garden and mixed borders. Admission £7.50, children go free.

York, YO26 8ES.

June 18

Jervaulx Hall

12pm-5pm – Eight-acre garden adjacent to ruins of Jervaulx Abbey and Abbey Mill with views of River Ure. Mixed borders and beds, croquet lawn, parterre and glasshouse. Magnificent older trees and woodland areas with choice trees and shrubs. Growing collection of contemporary sculptures. Admission £7, children go free.

Jervaulx, Ripon, HG4 4PH

June 22

Birstwith Hall

2pm-5pm – Varied four-acre garden nestling in secluded Yorkshire dale. Formal garden and ornamental orchard, extensive lawns leading to picturesque stream and large pond. Walled garden and Victorian greenhouse. Admission £5, children go free.

High Birstwith, Harrogate, HG3 2JW.

To book, call 01423 770250 or email ladya@birstwithhall.co.uk

Goldsborough Hall

11am-4pm – Historic 12-acre garden set around Grade Two listed house. 120ft double herbaceous borders, rose garden and woodland walk. Large, restored kitchen garden with rill, fountain and large glasshouse. Quarter mile lime tree walk, orchard and flower borders. Gravel paths and some steep slopes. Admission £7.50, children go free.

Church Street, Goldsborough, HG5 8NR.

For more information, or to book tickets, contact 01423 867321, email info@goldsboroughhall.com, or visit www.goldsboroughhall.com

Yorke House and White Rose Cottage

11am-4.30pm – Award winning country garden in the heart of Nidderdale. A series of distinct areas flowing through two acres of ornamental garden. Colour-themed borders of herbaceous perennials, roses and shrubs. Natural pond and stream with waterside plantings. Secluded seating areas and attractive views. Adjacent cottage garden designed for wheelchair access. Exhibition of naturalistic sculptures. Admission £6, children go free.

Dacre Banks, Nidderdale, HG3 4EW.

For more information, or to book tickets, contact 01423 780456, email pat@yorkehouse.co.uk or visit www.yorkehouse.co.uk

June 28

Conyngham Hall

Tree trail walks around Conyngham Hall. Map available at Knaresborough library. Allotments and rewilding. Refreshments and plant sales available, including cacti, carnivorous plants and perennials. Admission £5.

52 Bond End, Knaresborough, HG5 9AX.

If you’re interested in the guided trail, have any questions, or can spare an hour or two to help out, please contact khsyorkshire@gmail.com

June 29

Marton-cum-Grafton

1pm-5pm – Two gardens in adjacent villages within walking distance of each other. Orchard House: contemporary village garden with gravel garden, raised beds and extensive views over alpaca paddock. Well House: traditional cottage garden with herbaceous borders, climbing roses and ornamental shrubs. Paths meander through borders to an orchard with chickens. Combined admission £7, children go free.

Marton-cum-Grafton, York YO51 9QJ.

For more information, or to book, call 07901 592768 or email gwg01@talktalk.net

Prospect House

12.30pm-4.30pm – One acre walled garden with mixed herbaceous borders and landscaping. Colour-themed borders, physic bed, woodland area, mature hedging and trees. Renovated outhouse converted into potting area used for garden workshops. Admission £5, children go free.

Scarah Lane, Burton Leonard, Harrogate, HG3 3RS.

For more information, or to book, contact 07989 195773, email cathyrk@icloud.com or visit www.abrightprospect.co.uk 

Conyngham Hall

Tree trail walks around Conyngham Hall. Map available at Knaresborough library. Allotments and rewilding. Refreshments and plant sales available, including cacti, carnivorous plants and perennials. Admission £5.

52 Bond End, Knaresborough, HG5 9AX.

If you’re interested in the guided trail, have any questions, or can spare an hour or two to help out, please contact khsyorkshire@gmail.com

July 5

Hampsthwaite Open Gardens

12.30pm-5pm – This year's trail takes in the newer part of the village incorporating gardens that are already very well established, family gardens, modern spaces, small gardens that are packed full of little surprises and ending with a truly charming English country garden with produce and a pond. Refreshments and plant sale available at the end. Admission £5, under 15s go free.

Hampsthwaite, Yorkshire, HG3 2EQ.

For more information, contact 07934 560133 or email greg.nello@btinternet.com

July 6

Clifton Castle

2pm-5pm – Gardens and parkland with fine views over lower Wensleydale. Formal walks through the wooded ‘pleasure grounds’ with bridges, follies, cascades and wildflowers. Walled kitchen garden, newly laid wildflower meadows with sculptures, gravel paths and steep slopes to a river. Admission £7, children go free.

Ripon, HG4 4AB

Dacre Banks Gardens

12pm-5pm – Three gardens linked by level walk along the valley. Each may be accessed individually by car. Low Hall: walled garden with herbaceous borders, climbing roses and water garden. Orchard House: perennial borders and shrubs selected to attract wildlife. Yorke House and White Rose Cottage: colour-themed borders, water features and seating areas with attractive views. Combined admission £10, children go free.

Nidderdale, HG3 4EW.

For more information, visit www.yorkehouse.co.uk

Littlethorpe Manor

1.30pm-5pm – 11-acre estate. Walled garden with herbaceous planting, roses and gazebo. Sunken garden with ornamental plants and herbs. Formal lawn with fountain pool, hornbeam towers and yew hedging. Large pond with classical pavilion and boardwalk. Physic garden with rill, raised beds and medicinal plants. Gravel paths and some steep steps. Admission £8, children go free.

Littlethorpe Road, Littlethorpe, Ripon, HG4 3LG.

For more information, or to book, visit www.littlethorpemanor.com 

July 26

6 Fulwith Avenue

11am-4.30pm – Small town garden with wall fountain, gothic folly, waterfall and Japanese tea garden. Multi-layered planting of different texture and colour. Admission £5.

Harrogate, HG2 8HR.

Pre-booking essential. Go to www.ngs.org.uk for more information.

August 3

Greencroft

12pm-4pm – Half acre country garden with long herbaceous borders, colourful late summer perennials, annuals and exotics. Circular garden with views to large wildlife pond and surrounding countryside. Ornamental features including gazebo, temple pavilions, formal pool, stone wall with mullions, gate to pergola and a water cascade. Admissions £5, children go free.

Pottery Lane, Littlethorpe, Ripon, HG4 3LS.

For more information, or to book, contact 01765 602487 or email s-walden@outlook.com

August 16

Swindon House Farm

11am-4pm – Country garden surrounded by farmland with mixed perennial borders, a pond garden, orchard, roses, mature trees, native hedges and wildlife. Wildflower areas in the paddock with re-wilding areas and mown paths. A potager with espaliers, raised willow hurdle beds, thyme path and small camomile lawn. Admission £5, children go free.

Spring Lane, Kirkby Overblow, Harrogate, HG3 1HT.

For more information, or to book, contact 07770 916666 or email pennybrook65@gmail.com 

August 27

Duncanne House

5.30pm-8.30pm – Secluded town garden borrows enclosure from surrounding gardens. Birch glade leads to rear garden with water feature, sculptural grass bank, lawns, beds, treehouse and rustic tea pavilion. Admission £15, children go free.

Roecliffe Lane, Boroughbridge, York, YO51 9LN.

Pre-booking essential. Go to www.ngs.org.uk for more information.

August 28

The Orchards

11am-3pm – Relaxed 2-acre family garden set into a hillside. Arts and crafts structure with contemporary planting. Subtropical zone and greenhouse further downhill with interesting plants and edibles. Arts and crafts terracing, stone staircase, wildlife pond, woodland glade and giant planters. Plant sale by Cliffbank Nursery. Square and Compass pub nearby. Admission £5, children go free.

Crag Lane, Huby, Leeds, LS17 0BW.

For more information, visit www.instagram.com/harrogategardening 

August 29

The Orchards

11am-3pm – Relaxed 2-acre family garden set into a hillside. Arts and crafts structure with contemporary planting. Subtropical zone and greenhouse further downhill with interesting plants and edibles. Arts and crafts terracing, stone staircase, wildlife pond, woodland glade and giant planters. Plant sale by Cliffbank Nursery. Square and Compass pub nearby. Admission £5, children go free.

Crag Lane, Huby, Leeds, LS17 0BW.

For more information, visit www.instagram.com/harrogategardening

September 17

Jervaulx Hall

12pm-5pm – Eight-acre garden adjacent to ruins of Jervaulx Abbey and Abbey Mill with views of River Ure. Mixed borders and beds, croquet lawn, parterre and glasshouse. Magnificent older trees and woodland areas with choice trees and shrubs. Growing collection of contemporary sculptures. Admission £7, children go free.

Jervaulx, Ripon, HG4 4PH.

For more information on any of the listed venues, or to see more photographs of them, please visit www.findagarden.ngs.org.uk