The Dorothy Clive Gardens - May 2003


The Gardens are situated at Willoughbridge, on the outskirts of Newcastle, Staffordshire, and are on part of the large area of land owned for some considerable time, dating back to the 19th Century, by a Colonel Clive , a local landed gentlemen of repute in the area. He died in the early part of the 21st Century and his wife thereafter decided to dedicate an area in his memory.
Part of the land owned was not suitable for general agriculture as it was a small Quarry but this was eminently suited to a redesign in the form of the present Gardens.
The Quarry was planted with a large amount and variety of rhodedendrons and azaleas particularly and shortly after the mid-2000's was opened to the public just for a short period in Spring & early Summer when those were in full bloom.
This proved so sucessful and being admired greatly , it was then further developed to become slowly but surely the superbly designed haven of gardening that it is presently .. and now being far more extensively stocked it is open to the public continuously throughout April to October. It is a veritable haven of peace and delight and is a very popular attraction locally , although rapidly becoming far better known over a wider area and is seemingly ever-growing both in quality and popularity
Quite definitely a place that is a sheer delight to visit - and with the more extensive planting it can be visited with pleasure throughout the longer period of the year

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Photos by Eric Nicholson - (C) May 2003