John’s Garden: Winter Open Days

John’s Garden is truly spectacular in Winter: a magnificent collection of trees, shrubs and conifers gives strong structure as well providing the perfect canopy for the hellebores, snowdrops, winter aconites and cyclamen that carpet the ground. The coloured stems or bark of birches, maples, cherries, dogwoods and scarlet willow shine like beacons while witch hazels and other winter-flowering shrubs fill the air with perfume. Conifers, evergreen shrubs and finely clipped topiary add colour, form and texture.

hellebores, cyclamen and snowdrops carpet the ground

The canal meanders quietly through the garden and creates its own special atmosphere, sparkling on sunny days and misty and moody on cold dull days. It is the ideal setting for a stunning border of softly billowing grasses in shades of palest straw, cinnamon, bronze and silver.

Stone and metal sculptures enhance the mood while, throughout the garden, there are urns and patio pots imaginatively planted for winter colour.

About John’s Garden

John’s Garden’ is a wonderful eight acre private garden created by nursery owner John Massey VMH. Informal borders, island beds, woodland dells and a wildlife garden are set against the beautiful backdrop of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. Regarded as one of the finest private small gardens in the UK, it is a ‘plantsman’s garden’ that has an abundance of rare plants as well as many familiar favourites.

Essential information 

A pot planted for Winter colour

• FEBRUARY: Saturdays 3rd | 10th | 17th | 24th
  
• MARCH: Saturdays 2nd | 9th  | 16th | 23rd | 30th
  
• MARCH: Sunday 31st (Easter Sunday) OPEN for the National Gardens Scheme
• 10am-3pm (last entrance)
• Tickets are available to buy on the day (cash payment preferred)
• Pre-booking is not required
• Admission: £7.50 per person**
  
• Children under 12 are allowed free of charge.
• *All dates are weather & ground conditions permitting. (During periods of  snow, frost or heavy rain, please check our website for information on the day)

Additional information:

• The owner John Massey, or or one of his team of gardeners, will be in the garden.
• The wildlife garden will be open only if ground conditions permit.
• A delicious selection of freshly prepared food and drinks are available to purchase from the tea room  more
• In addition, in fine weather, hot drinks and light refreshments are available from the Ossbox servery
• We are sorry but picnics are not allowed in the garden.
• We regret that dogs are not allowed in John’s Garden.
• Toilet facilities are available adjacent to the gift shop.
• Sensible shoes are essential in damp conditions.
• John’s Garden is open on most Saturdays throughout the year more

Supporting our Charity of the Year and the Adam Greathead Award:

The Ashwood Charitable Trust will distribute £6.50 from each entrance charge equally between the Charity of the Year 2024 and the Adam Greathead Award. (with the exception of the NGS Opening).

Don’t miss…

Be sure to visit our inspirational Winter in Bloom displays in the Plant Sales Greenhouses more

please click on the gallery images to enlarge and scroll through

Keep up to date with news from John’s Garden:

You can follow the gardeners here on Instagram and here on X (formerly Twitter).

Virtual Tours of John’s Garden

Enjoy our Virtual Tours of John’s Garden through the seasons more