April treat in store for garden lovers as Jonathan and Caroline open up Ravensford Farm

PEOPLE who visit a popular Hamsterley garden every year are in for a treat as it opens for the first time in the spring.

Jonathan and Caroline Peacock have been welcoming people to their garden, at Ravensford Farm, for about two decades as part of the National Open Gardens Scheme (NGS), but they
have never opened so early before.
Visitors can look forward to seeing a range of spring bulbs and many unusual shrubs and trees.
Mrs Peacock said: “The main reason we are opening early is to enable faithful visitors to see the garden at a completely different time of of year.”
The Peacock’s garden is usually open between July and September and attracts viewers from as far afield Hartlepool, Newcastle and the Lake District.
Their two-and-a-half acre garden has several interesting features such as statues and art and has been featured in the publication Garden News.
Ms Peacock said: “On NGS day we sell plants and jams from the garden.
“We serve home-baked cakes for tea and Northumbrian pipers provide the background music.”
People do not have to be NGS members to visit the garden and the entrance fee is £4. There is no cost for children. The garden is open on Saturday, April 1, from 2pm to 5pm.
Later, on April 23, The Old Vicarage, in Hutton Magna, will be open also from 2pm to 5pm.
The south facing garden features cut and topiary hedging, an old orchard, and rose and herbaceous borders featuring hellebores in profusion, with tulips and primulas.
NGS is now in its 90th year and raises cash for several charities.