6 things you didn't know about Furzey Gardens

If you’re planning a trip to the New Forest, it’s well worth making time to visit Furzey Gardens. These public gardens on the outskirts of the village of Minstead have a lot to offer to individuals and families alike and can provide a great day out. The six interesting facts highlighted below shed some light on these fantastic gardens and are sure to leave you eager for a visit.

1. Furzy Gardens help to promote valuable life skills

In combination with the Minstead Training Project, Furzey Gardens helps to provide valuable training and skills to people with learning disabilities. The students from the project have helped to maintain the garden as well as grow hundreds of new varieties of plants. Plus, a Furzey Gardens display created by the students won gold in the 2012 Chelsea Flower Show. Plants that have been grown by the students are also available to be purchased from the gardens.

2. Spot some plants you can’t find anywhere else

Amongst many other types of plants, within the gardens you will find a multitude of Azaleas and Rhododendron. A large number of these Azaleas and Rhododendron can’t be seen anywhere else. May and June is the best time of year to visit the gardens in order to see these stunning rare plants in bloom.

3. A chance to step into the past

Within the gardens, you will find a restored cottage that has been around since 1560. This is a fantastic opportunity to see what life was like for people living in the New Forest in the 16th century. There is also an vegetable garden next to the cottage that is in keeping with the 16th century time period. The Thatching Experience near to the cottage provides occasional demonstrations of the eye-catching art of thatching from a local thatcher.

4. Scrumptious snacks, beautiful artwork and the opportunity to indulge in retail therapy

Within Furzey Gardens is a coffee shop as well as a craft gallery. Enjoy a tasty cake and a refreshing drink before perusing the interesting artwork in the gallery from both amateur and professional artists. Then, pick up a souvenir of your visit from the selection of toys, crafts and gifts available in the gift shop.

5. Creepy crawlies and flying garden friends are well catered for

Furzey Bug Barn is a great way to find out about the different types of insects and where to discover them within the gardens. There are beautiful photographs to look at as well as an interactive display providing information about the Furzey bee hives.

6. A magical world waiting to be discovered

Was that a fairy you just glimpsed scurrying into the underbrush? Well it just might have been thanks to the delightful fairy doors carved around the gardens. There are over 30 such doors which provide a brilliant way to keep children entertained as they keep their eyes peeled while searching for them. From boutiques to pubs, these charming fairy buildings showcase the vibrant world of the fairy folk that goes on out of sight of curious human visitors.

Opening times and tickets

Furzey Gardens is open every day until dusk. The art gallery and tea rooms are open each day from March to October between 10am and 5pm, with food and drinks served until 4:30 pm.

Adult tickets are £7 each, tickets for children aged 4 to 16 years old are £4, and a family ticket for two adults and three children is £19.50. There is free access for disabled visitors and carers. Discount tickets are available for groups of 10 to 12 people, each costing £6, and an Annual Membership is also available. Parking at the gardens is free.

Nearby attractions offering fun for everyone

The fantastic tree houses in the gardens’ play area will have children in awe. Don’t be surprised if you have a hard time convincing them to leave! The on-site picnic area is also a lovely place to enjoy a family meal.

There are also many exciting attractions to visit nearby, such as the New Forest Centre which offers entertainment and education for kids with lots of exhibitions and displays during the year. Liberty's Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre and the New Forest Wildlife Park are perfect for animal lovers. There are several museums, stunning walks and amazing cycle routes in the area to name just a few of the other attractions on offer. With no shortage of camping and caravan parks nearby, you can enjoy inexpensive accommodation in beautiful surroundings too.

Get close to nature with rest and relaxation guaranteed

A visit to Furzey Gardens is sure to be a trip to remember. The amazing collection of plants and attractions offer a brilliant way to spend some hours simply enjoying the incredible beauty and tranquillity provided by these enchanting gardens.