Essex has so many great gardens to visit in spring, but this has been previously named one of the best in the world and has been described as being "a little piece of heaven".
Green Island Gardens is an award-winning private garden in Ardleigh, near Colchester.
It is professionally designed by its owner, Fiona Edmond, and spans 20 acres, with so much to see during your time there.
Here is all to know about this stunning spot in Essex and why it is worth a visit.
All to know about Green Island Gardens in Ardleigh
Green Island Gardens can be found in the village of Ardleigh near Colchester.
The land is laid out as a "series of structured gardens displaying a huge range of unusual trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs", its website explains.
It is designed with all seasons in mind, creating "year-round horticultural interest and delights for the senses whenever you visit".
The main land includes terraces, a Japanese garden, island beds, water gardens, gravel, seaside gardens and extensive woodland gardens.
The website adds: "The gardens are sensitively planted for interest all year round and special highlights include the snowdrops in February, Bluebells and Azaleas in April/May, main borders and water gardens June to September and finally the autumn colour in October/November."
At the plant nursery, there is an array of shrubs, herbaceous plants and bulbs, and a selection of ornamental trees for sale.
Green Island Gardens also has a relaxing tea room with teas, coffees, homemade cakes and freshly baked scones.
Light lunches are also available, with choices of baguettes and toasted sandwiches to order, jacket potatoes and homemade soups.
Traditional cream teas with sandwiches, savouries, scones and cakes can be ordered in advance.
Green Island Garden opening times from April to October are 10am to 5pm on Tuesday to Saturday, and 11am to 4pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
The gardens are rated an impressive 4.6/5 on Tripadvisor from hundreds of reviews.
One wrote: "A lovely time to see the woodland gardens, as they are full of colour and interest.
"Whether you are interested in unusual plants or just want to spend time in a beautiful and peaceful place, the gardens are definitely worth a visit in spring."
Another said: "Green Island Gardens is an absolute gem and well worth visiting.
"The gardens are stunning and easy to explore thanks to the excellent map.
"Fiona, the owner, is incredibly welcoming and adds such a lovely personal touch.
"The tea room serves the best scones I’ve had in the UK, and there’s even a great playground for children."
Green Island Gardens are among the best in the world to visit
If all of the above has not convinced you, how about the fact that Green Island Gardens has been crowned among the best in the world?
Green Island Gardens in Ardleigh was crowned the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) Partner Garden of the Year 2024.
The garden was up against more than 200 other gardens in the UK and around the world.
It was also named the best in the Midlands and East Anglia region.
The garden only joined the RHS Partner Garden scheme in 2023, but owner Fiona Edmond decided not to enter the competition in 2023, instead focusing on settling into the scheme.
She entered the competition for the first time in 2024, and said at the time after the win: "We are so excited to have won this award, especially since there was such fierce competition.
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"We are immensely proud to be an RHS Partner Garden, and it makes all the hard work worthwhile when visitors really appreciate what we are doing here.
"It is an absolute pleasure to share what I have created with so many knowledgeable gardeners that have come to Green Island since we became an RHS Partner Garden.
"We are hopeful that what has often been described as ‘Colchester’s best kept secret’ for 20 years may become less of a secret once the news gets out."
Have you got a favourite garden in Essex to visit? Let us know in the comments.
