Garden Studios

Broadview Gardens, near Tonbridge in Kent, are open free everyday and hold a countrywide Choice of Helleborus that are at their peak promptly.

Guided tours with probably the most gardening staff can be found this weekend (February 21&22) and next (March 1&2) and value £3 for an hour and half master class of ways to get one of the most out of growing Hellebores.

Booking is suggested for the 11am and 2pm tours, but everybody can see the eight-acre garden’s Hellebores, in addition to the snowdrops, cyclamen, crocus and Iris reticulata on show nowadays.

Spring flowers coming soon include Chionadoxa, or glory-of-the-snow, and the similarly beautifully blue Scillas, or Siberian squills.

There also are tulips bridging the space between spring and summer when the gardens feature traditional perennials in addition canna lilies, dahlias and a countrywide Choice of Japanese Anemones, which flower from August until October.

The model gardens are built by horticultural students on the neighbouring Hadlow College, with a brand new garden built from scratch per annum or an existing one updated.

There is a Mediterranean garden, Oriental garden and Italian garden, in addition to more contemporary gardens full of exciting ideas, including a Gold Medal winner from RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show which was rebuilt at the site.

The gardens are maintained by volunteers and scholars who need work experience, and there’s a garden centre and tea room on site.

Keep up to the moment with events on the Broadview Garden by following it on Twitter: @bvgardens; or visit the web site www.broadviewgardens.co.uk