The Beth Chatto Gardens are an example of what you can achieve if you begin with a challenging landscape. These 7.5 acres of beautiful gardens are located 10 minutes' drive from Colchester and are open all year round. Beth herself is an author, lecturer and 10-time Chelsea Gold Medal Winner, and her Gardens reflect her passion for plants. Her mantra is 'the Right Plant for the Right Place' and that is what you'll find here. The Gravel Garden (which is FREE for visitors to explore) used to be a carpark. It is never watered and is recognised worldwide as a masterpiece of design and nature. Books have been written about it and Beth's own book, 'The Gravel Garden', has recently been reprinted: now called 'Drought-resistant planting'. The Gardens are made up of different named areas: The Water Garden, Woodland Garden, Scree Garden, Herbaceous Walk, and Reservoir Garden, which is currently undergoing development (due to be completed in 2016). The Gardens include an extensive plant nursery, with many plants propagated from the Gardens themselves and often hard to find elsewhere. Accompanied children are welcome to the Gardens and the Beth Chatto Education Trust offers workshops during the holidays to help children learn more about nature and our environment.
