All posts by Sarah Richardson

Explore Warwickshire’s National Trust Gardens this Summer

News
Where summer blooms and time slows down: Explore National Trust summer gardens in Warwickshire that celebrate colour, calm and quiet
  • The best National Trust summer gardens to visit in early summer 
  • Visitors are encouraged to embrace the colour and calm of a National Trust garden and pause for a peaceful escape 
  • Gardens are free to explore for National Trust members

Early summer is the perfect time to reconnect with natures quiet rhythms. As borders burst into colour, National Trust gardens in summer invite visitors to slow down and linger a little longer.
Take in the sights and scents of flowers in full bloom and pause for a moment finding a peaceful escape from the pace of everyday life.
Visitors can while away hours in the sunshine meandering along tree-lined paths, through formal gardens and historic parterres, or basking in the warmth of walled kitchen gardens. Shady orchards are home to heritage varieties of fruit trees, and wildflower meadows buzz with life. Enjoy a solo stroll or share the moment with family and friends and pack a picnic for a full day out.
Each garden is looked after by a team of the charity’s staff and volunteers and is planted to not only add colour and interest, but support wildlife and nature too.
To celebrate the colourful, quiet days of early summer, the National Trust has pulled together a list of the best summer gardens to explore now in Warwickshire.
 
Here are the details for the best summer gardens in Warwickshire:
Baddesley Clinton
Summer is a spectacular time to explore the gardens at Baddesley Clinton, with formal gardens, wildflower meadows and historic stew ponds, the longer days are the perfect time to explore. The colourful borders come into full bloom and visitors can wander through displays of soft peonies and sweetly scented sweet peas climbing through the flower beds. Fragrant roses fill the air while bountiful borders spill over onto pathways, creating a vibrant patchwork of colour throughout the grounds. From formal planting schemes to productive vegetable gardens overflowing with seasonal produce, there are blooms at every turn, while the wildflower meadows hum with buzzing bees and butterflies, making it the perfect place to slow down, soak up the scenery and enjoy the beauty of the season.
Charlecote Park 
Charlecote comes alive in summer with its flowers spilling over beds and borders, framed by lush greenery. From late spring into summer, delicate peonies, striking purple allium, bright marigolds and heliotropes transform the gardens. Nearby, the Orangery and the charming Victorian-era Granny’s Summerhouse are framed by flourishing blooms, while the secluded Woodland Garden offers cool, shaded paths ideal for a peaceful escape on warmer days. Just beyond the gardens, in the deer park, bees from the Apiary are gathering nectar, dragonflies are buzzing around the river, and visitors may even spot a flash of kingfisher blue along the Avon.
Packwood House
At Packwood House, the grade II listed gardens dating back to 1650, provide a peaceful retreat filled with colour and tranquillity throughout the summer months. In the beautiful Carolean Garden, visitors can admire stunning herbaceous borders and take in sweeping views across the gardens and surrounding parkland, while climbing roses, fragrant honeysuckles and vibrant terrace beds bring a dazzling burst of seasonal colour. Bursting with a kaleidoscope of blooms, the gardens are the perfect place to enjoy the long, warm days of summer outdoors. From the contemporary mingled-style planting and wildflower meadows to the orchard and productive Kitchen Garden, there is beauty around every corner and the magnificent ancient yew trees are waiting to be explored.
Upton House
  • Gardens open daily 10am – 5pm
  • Gardens open until 7pm for evening picnics on 19 & 26 June | 24 & 31 July | 21 & 28 August
Summer is a wonderful time to explore the gardens at Upton House, where colourful borders, fragrant roses and sweeping views create the perfect seasonal escape. The honey-coloured house is home to a renowned art collection, as well as a café and gift shop, making it ideal for a relaxed day out.
Remodelled by Lady Bearsted with guidance from Kitty Lloyd-Jones in the 1930s, the gardens feature highlights including the mirror pool, rose garden and herbaceous borders, all bursting with colour throughout the summer months. Visitors can enjoy peaceful walks beneath the cedar trees, admire vibrant displays of lupins, delphiniums and peonies, or unwind in the lush Bog Garden beside gently trickling water.

A Rare Opportunity to Visit Radway Grange Garden

News
On Saturday 6 June, the garden at Radway Grange will be open to the public. This is a rare opportunity to visit this stunning private garden with parterre, stumpery, topiary lawn, lake and areas of woodland. Renowned 18th-century architect and landscape designer, Sanderson Miller, created a landscape park around the house and his influence can still be seen today in the picturesque layout and historic character of the grounds.
There will also be plants, handmade crafts and delicious homemade teas on sale, with all proceeds going to the Radway Church roof restoration fund.
To book tickets, please visit https://www.radwayevents.co.uk.

Candidates for the by-election in Bishops Itchington, Fenny Compton and Napton

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Candidates announced for the by-election in Bishops Itchington, Fenny Compton and Napton ward which includes Avon Dassett: https://orlo.uk/wE3zU

The by-election will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026. Please make sure you are registered to vote by Monday 20 April 2026.

The by-election is for the seat currently held by Cllr Nigel Rock. Cllr Natalie Gist remains in post.

Crisis Resilience Fund – help for increased heating oil costs

News

The government has announced the Crisis Resilience Fund (CRF), which provides additional financial support for low income residents experiencing financial shock and struggling to meet essential costs.

Warwickshire has been identified as an area with a higher reliance on heating oil and will receive an additional allocation of CRF funding to support people who are facing difficulties with heating oil costs.

Initially, support will be provided through the Warwickshire Local Welfare Scheme, administered by Warwickshire County Council. Each application will be considered on an individual basis, taking account of the person’s circumstances.

For residents applying for help with heating oil costs, advisers will discuss when they usually purchase oil, how they purchase it, the typical price they would expect to pay, and why they are currently unable to meet the cost. We recognise that recent price increases have been sudden and this will be considered as part of the assessment. Residents are advised to contact the Local Welfare Scheme on 0800 4081448 or 01926 359182.

Banbury and North Oxfordshire Ramblers guided walk – Farnborough Circular

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Don’t let the colder weather keep you indoors. We are out walking every week and have a range of stunning winter walks to choose from that will inspire you to embrace the season.
Why not come along and try out two or three taster walks, meeting up with others who have recently done the same, experienced the benefits of walking with a group of like minded people out in the countryside, and become a member of the Ramblers.
All our walks can be found at: www.ramblers-oxon.org.uk/bnowalks
BNO – Farnborough Circular, 9.5 miles, Moderate pace
Sunday, 5th April, 10.00am finish 3.00pm,
Start: Farnborough, car park by lake
Postcode: Location is 240 metres to the West of OX17 1DU
What3Words: ///prefect.creatures.natural
Circular walk via canal to Fenny Compton, open fields to Northend and back over the Dassett Hills.
Bring refreshments for picnic lunch and coffee stops en route – possible pub stop around lunch time (drink only). Optional pub stop.
Assistance Dogs only

Planning application for Avon Hill Quarries

News

Avon Hill Quarries have submitted the following planning application:

Construction of 5 no. new build holiday lets and parking, formation of new vehicular access and associated access track with 2 no. passing bays, 5 no. visitor parking spaces, hard and soft landscaping and biodiversity enhancement and change of use of land as a fishery exclusively for use by occupiers of the holiday lets.

The planning portal, with full details of the application, may be accessed here.

You can comment on the application and are also encouraged to let Councillor Natalie Gist know your views.

This year’s annual parish meeting on 18 May will be on the subject of planning, and so you are encouraged to come along to hear more about the planning process locally.