HIGH BEECHES NOMINATED AS BEST RHODODENDRON GARDEN IN 2010

High Beeches Gardens has been recommended as the best garden in the UK in which to see Rhododendrons growing in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Rhododendron, Camellias and Magnolias Group 2010 Handbook. The RHS group comprises the most knowledgeable experts and authorities on the subject in the country.

Sarah Bray of High Beeches Gardens says; “High Beeches is an amazing garden with many beautiful Rhododendrons. We work very hard to grow these plants so that their true beauty can be seen and admired. It is very rewarding that the quality and beauty of our plants has been recognised. We hope that many people will enjoy seeing our Rhododendrons in all their glory, this year.”
High Beeches Gardens has reopened for the 2010 season and is open every day 1-5pm except Wednesdays.
David Millais, a member of the RHS Rhododendrons, Camellias and Magnolias Committee and owner of Millais Nurseries is a recognised authority on the plants. His nursery specialises in these plants. Writing in the recently published 2010 RHS Handbook he states; “go to High Beeches Gardens in Sussex to see (Rhododendrons) plants on a good spacing, where they have room to develop and show their true characteristics.”
Rhododendrons need a well-drained, moist, acid soil. The temptation is always to over-crowd the plants, which causes stress, dull; leaves and dark oppressive avenues. The genus of Rhododendrons includes Azaleas.
High Beeches Gardens is a 27 acre woodland and water garden. It is described as ‘outstanding historically’ by English Heritage. The garden is more than 100 years old and is designed to look naturalistic – working with the natural landscape to show the beauty of the plants to best advantage. The garden is noted for the large number of ‘species’ plants. These are the wild forms of plants which have been collected from around the world. Species forms are selected for their outstanding colour, fragrance, leaf form and vigour. Collecting plants in the wild is strictly regulated and controlled and many of the specimens in High Beeches Gardens date back more than a century.
Sarah Bray recommends mid-April through to the end of May as the best time to see the Rhododendrons in full flower. Peak flowering depends on the weather conditions.

More information about the gardens can be obtained from www.highbeeches.com or telephone 01444 400589. You can also sign up for a newsletter about the gardens, on the website.

Particularly beautiful Rhododendrons at High Beeches Gardens include Rh. Hulabaloo which was bred at High Beeches and has deep pink flowers and a good shape. Rh. montroseanum has large pink flowers with crimson blotches. It was named after a late Duchess of Montrose and introduced by Frank Kingdom-Ward in 1925. Rh. macabeanum has handsome leaves of some 30cm length and large bell-shaped trusses of pale yellow with purple splashes. Again this was introduced by the famous, Victorian plant hunter Frank Kingdom-Ward in 1928. Rh. neriiflorum is a medium-sized shrub with trusses of deep red, highlighted with scarlet. It was introduced to this country in 1910 by George Forrest, another eminent plant hunter.

Visitors wishing to visit High Beeches Gardens in March can enjoy early Magnolias, Camellias and daffodils. Entry is £6.00 for adults and accompanied children aged 14 and under are admitted free of charge. High Beeches Gardens has a licensed tea-room and a picnic area.

For the first time, on June 26 and 27 High Beeches Gardens will be hosting a Wildflower and Wildlife Weekend, during which a number of experts will be on hand to give free guided tours and to answer questions. High Beeches Gardens has probably the best, natural, acid wildflower meadow in Sussex. The meadow is in peak flower in June and the gardens will open from 11am over this weekend. Sarah Bray says; “We hope that many people will be interested in the rich wildlife and wildflowers in the gardens and that they will come along and find out more.” Experts available over the weekend will include botanists, ornithologists, natural history experts, moth and butterfly experts and a medical herbalist.

For further information and photographs please contact;
Sarah Bray
High Beeches Gardens
High Beeches Lane
Handcross
West Sussex
RH17 6HQ
gardens@highbeeches.com www.highbeeches.com

26.03.10