We are, without doubt, a nation of garden lovers. Last year alone, the British spent something in the region of £5 billion on their own gardens: and it seems we are just as passionate about visiting other people’s too.
With the recent warmer weather, there can be no better time to think about visiting one of the UK’s many stunning public gardens. There are some spectacular ones to visit, and most will now be beginning to burst with fresh green shoots and spring flowers as the weather improves. Fortunately many of our nation’s wonderful gardens are also fully accessible, so here is Quingo Scooters’ guide to some of the very best.
1. Chirk Castle, Wrexham
One of the greatest joys of this time of year is the reappearance of the snowdrops, and Chirk Castle in Wrexham is one of the very best places to enjoy them. The ground floor of the castle is accessible and there are six free Blue Badge parking spaces very close to the reception. But while the castle is well worth exploring, for us it was the gardens and grounds that are the real star of the show at Chirk Castle – there are accessible paths throughout and the woods there are blanketed with thousands of snowdrops at this time of year.
2. Bicton Botanical Gardens, Devon
We head a little way south now to Bicton in Devon, which is home to some wonderful botanical gardens. Of course, they are great to visit at any time of the year but particularly now when they are less crowded than in the summer, and the plants are beginning to bloom as the weather warms up. The site is generally accessible to those of us using mobility scooters although there are some steep slopes to look out for. There are also eight handy disabled parking spaces close by the entrance.
3. The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland
We absolutely love Alnwick. Not only does it have an incredible castle (and a vast bookshop housed in a former railway station), it also has these beautiful gardens to explore. They’re actually in the grounds of the castle itself and this is a great time to visit as the Cherry Orchard comes into bloom. It is mostly accessible too, with level paths, and there is ample parking for Blue Badge holders nearby, just off Denwick Lane. The gardens are great to explore, and there is even an accessible tree house, if you are feeling adventurous! If you need any help organising your visit beforehand, just call the team on 01665 511350 and choose option 1.
4. Sezincote House & Garden, The Cotswolds
This really is an extraordinary place: an Indian style palace in the heart of the Cotswolds. While some of the garden is sloped, it is possible to see a lot of the gardens on your scooter and to explore the beautiful grounds, which include even more Indian style architecture hidden away among the plants. As well as the fascinating buildings it is also packed with plenty of rare plants and trees that will keep any keen gardener busy. There are however no dedicated Blue Badge parking spaces on site, so we’d advise emailing the team at Sezincote before you visit to make sure that all your accessibility needs will be met when you arrive.
5. Springhill, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
It couldn’t be more appropriately named: the gorgeous Springhill Estate in Northern Ireland is a riot of spring colour at the moment, with snowdrops and other spring flowers just beginning to appear. There are plenty of nature trails to explore here (as well as a stunning 17th century house) and much of it is accessible for mobility scooter and wheelchair users. There is Blue Badge parking available close to the entrance as well as an accessible toilet, but just give the team a call on 028 8674 8210 if you have any other questions about access.
About Quingo Scooters
The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.
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All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC). AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847
