East Ruston Old Vicarage

East Ruston Old Vicarage is located off the A149 near Stalham in the beautiful Norfolk countryside, 17 miles north east of Norwich. The gardens are generally open from March through to October, with the exact days and times detailed on their website.

The stunning and vast gardens at East Ruston Old Vicarage offer visitors an unexpected surprise - who would think that a sheltered garden so close to the harsh Norfolk coast could exist? Discover many differing gardens including a walled garden, rose garden, woodland garden, Mediterranean garden, exotic garden and even a desert inspired by the landscape of Arizona. A magical place that includes both formal and informal planting, sculptures, topiary, interesting buildings and areas that have been allowed to grow wild, including a corn field with corn field weeds of yesteryear.

When Alan Gray and Graham Robeson first came to the property there was no garden whatsoever. This blank canvas allowed them to use their flair and creativity and obvious love of plants, colour, form, space, texture, shape and nature to design and create each garden entirely from scratch.

Visitors to East Ruston Old Vicarage can explore this beautiful space and see a wide variety of rare and unusual plants, many of which are propagated and available to purchase from their plant sales area. Situated just 1½ miles from the North Sea in an exposed prairie landscape of large arable fields, careful planting has meant that this now sheltered spot attracts much wildlife, helped by the conscious efforts to plant mixed hedgerows, banks, wildflower areas and ponds.

The soil at East Ruston Old Vicarage is of excellent quality, a light sandy loam with a neutral pH. Due to the garden’s proximity to the sea, the risk of serious frost damage is lessened. The large shelter belts of Pinus radiata, the Monterey Pine, Alnus cordata, the Italian Alder, Holm Oak and Eucalyptus also enhances the garden’s unique microclimate, enabling them to grow such a vast range of plants.

There are two tearooms and a tea garden with seating in both sun and shade. Hot and cold food and drink is available at East Ruston Old Vicarage, including cream teas and light lunches.

Visitors can purchase many rare and unusual plants from East Ruston Old Vicarage’s plant sales area.

To find out more about East Ruston Old Vicarage, including opening dates and times, admission costs and special events, please go to their website.

http://www.e-ruston-oldvicaragegardens.co.uk/