I think springtime at Tatton Park is almost as lovely as Autumn. Almost. The low sunshine is a thing of beauty along with the colour burst of the Rhododendrons in the garden. They almost mirror the golden hues of autumn.
With being so busy recently, we have been opting for a local walk for at least one of the weekend days. This means that we take advantage of our National Trust membership as well as taking in the sights and sounds.
Springtime in Tatton Park
Not to start off on a negative, but the only downside to Tatton Park is that it isn’t 100% National Trust. This means that you do have to pay for parking whether you are a Trust member or not. And it’s seven quid these days. That being said, there really is enough to do to keep you entertained all day. That included the kids and dogs too – there is a huge playground and the entire park for the four-legged family members. I just thought that it was worth a mention early on.
The Trust Garden
Knowing that it is Rhododendron flowing time, I had to visit the Tatton Garden. There is nothing quite like the spectacular blooms of Rhodies bringing you right into spring. The ones at Quarry Bank Mill the week before were gorgeous and we knew that they would be just as nice (if not better) in the gardens here. We were not wrong!
The garden at Tatton Park is so large that you can, more often than not, find space even when it is busy. It is actually one of the reasons why I don’t mind the paid parking so much. Plus, if you are a National Trust member, then you don’t pay for entry to the garden or the mansion, so it balances out really.
Visiting the Japanese Garden
While making our way around the garden, we chatted about memories of visiting Tatton Park with my parents. We commented about how it would be nice to see inside the Japanese Garden, having seen that it only opened on Wednesday each week. To our surprise, as we rounded the corner towards the garden, we realised that people were walking around it. Not outside around, but actually in it. For once, we had visited on an open day!
We made our way to the gate and down the uneven stone steps towards the water. Eager to take a look, we followed the line of people. Apparently you can’t find that space I spoke about earlier when you’re in the Japanese Garden. A small price to pay as we were in there though!
Flora and fauna
I am constantly impressed with garden design, with how authentic that can make a space when it is outside the origin country. Not that I have ever been to Japan, but from what I can tell from pictures and stories, it is true to the style. The moss and ferns, mixed with the delicate leaves of the Acers.
And the absolutely amazing blooms of the Peony! I left somewhat downhearted at my tiny stems after enjoying seeing flowers which were literally the size of my head!
The rest of the garden
Just about managing to drag ourselves away from the mystical Japanese garden, we started to wander through the trees and paths of the rest of the garden. The canopy of trees still giving glimses of the sky above as the buds begin to grow into leaves again.
The last time we were here, it was cold and wet. The trees offered no shelter through their leaf free branches. Spring brings with it that feeling of everything coming back to life, budding the shelter which we’ll need when summer hits. I have noticed the more I spend time outdoors, the more I appreciate the small switches of the days taking us from season to season.
Our visit to the garden was brightened with so many colours and flowers, that it has really inspired me to add more spring colour to our garden. I used to have plenty of bulbs, but a combination of wet weather and me inadvertently chopping them when weeding means I have very few now.
A walk into Knutsford
Although our time in the Tatton Park garden had come to a temporary end, our visit continued. Although I have no evidence for it, we walked through the park to Knutsford for a blimp in the shops. This resulted in me buying a large glass jar with the intention of starting a terrarium. Keep your eyes peeled for progress on that one.
It certainly was a perfect day for a wander around the posher parts of the area. And it is a good reminder to revisit places through the year to enjoy the changing seasons. All I have to do following this trip is add some colour to my garden and learn how to set up a terrarium. There’s always something fun which comes from a simple trip like this…and I like that about it!
Have you enjoyed springtime at Tatton Park? Do you prefer it to autumn?
Let me know in the comments below
Tatton Park
Address: Tatton Park Gardens, Mereheath Dr, Knutsford WA16 6QN