On: 16/01/2010 In: Heart of England stories
Best Country Garden of the year; Leamington Spa station gardens!
Just when you thought you knew all the famous gardens in our region, another one arrives! A distinguished panel of judges, including Viscount Linley, the Duchess of Devonshire, Lord Bragg and Sue Lawley have just named Leamington Spa railway station's gardens as the Country Life magazine's Best Country Garden for 2009. To win the award they had to beat everything from large historic gardens to allotments; the other finalists included the "gentrified farm" gardens at Plas Cadnant in North Wales and the extensive grounds of Corsock House, a Mansion set in a Scottish Glen!
The gardens were largely neglected until 2005 when they were adopted by the volunteers of the Friends of Leamington Station (President, Pete Waterman). Since then the group have restored them to become what is believed to be the biggest working railway station garden in the country. This is now the 3rd national award they have won, and the most significant yet.
Some of the garden can be seen at the "London end" of the station frontage on the Old Warwick Road, as well of course from the platforms or a train!
The gardens were largely neglected until 2005 when they were adopted by the volunteers of the Friends of Leamington Station (President, Pete Waterman). Since then the group have restored them to become what is believed to be the biggest working railway station garden in the country. This is now the 3rd national award they have won, and the most significant yet.
Some of the garden can be seen at the "London end" of the station frontage on the Old Warwick Road, as well of course from the platforms or a train!