East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens

East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens is a large, privately owned garden of about 32 acres, laid out as a series of separate garden rooms so that each corner brings something different. Visitors can walk through herbaceous and gravel borders, a Dutch garden, a sunken rose garden, a Mediterranean garden of south-facing terraces, a Desert Wash planting and an exotic garden with a fountain. A large woodland garden, where hydrangeas are a highlight, gives shade on a warm day. Older children can enjoy spotting unusual plants and sculptures and have plenty of open lawn and walks to explore. A tea room with indoor and outdoor seating serves teas, coffee, cakes and savouries, which suits a longer visit. Only trained assistance dogs are admitted. Some paths are gravel or woodchip and there are steps, so pushchairs and wheelchairs may find parts of the garden hard going.