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John’s Garden

Credits: film production Phil James; music composed and performed by Phil James.

‘John’s Garden’ at Ashwood Nurseries is a wonderful eight acre private garden created by nursery owner and Chelsea Gold medallist 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.

Looking towards the canal in late Spring

Regarded as one of the finest private gardens in the UK,  there are magnificent collections of trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials and conifers adding to the interest all year round with an abundance of rare plants as well as familiar favourites.

There are many fine features including a stunning pool and rock garden planted with choice alpines and miniature bulbs, an Anemone pavonina meadow, a rare tufa garden and a dramatic fern stumpery. The ruin garden and Christopher Lloyd border put the spotlight on some inspirational seasonal planting.

Throughout the garden, urns and patio pots are imaginatively planted.

‘Adam’s Garden’ is an area within John’s Garden dedicated to the memory of John’s former head gardener Adam Greathead who died aged 27 in 2017. This  tranquil space is home to a fine collection of named snowdrops, rare conifers, an island bed planted for spectacular Summer colour and a delightful Mediterranean border.

John’s Garden has been featured on TV as well as in numerous articles in the national and gardening press, and has been described by Carol Klein as ‘the most loved and looked after garden I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting’.

Essential information:

  • This is a private garden which is open on Saturdays only throughout the year. (The garden is also open on Easter Sunday. Sorry, closed in January).
  • See upcoming dates in top right column, please click on these for more information.
  • Garden admission: £7.50 per person**
  • Tickets are available to buy on the day (cash payment preferred)
  • Pre-booking is not required
  • Children under 12 are allowed free of charge.
  • The wildlife garden opens if weather and ground conditions permit.
  • A full colour souvenir guide is available to buy online or at the garden entrance.
  • Dogs: we are very sorry but dogs are not permitted in John’s Garden.
  • Picnics are not allowed in the garden.

Supporting The Ashwood Charitable Trust**

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 our Easter Sunday opening which is for the National Garden Scheme.

Group Visits:

Group Visits can be arranged to John’s Garden. These are entirely at John’s discretion but he welcomes groups and organisations with a keen interest in gardening  more 

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

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

Spring

The garden is a delight in spring with anemones, primroses, hepaticas, trilliums, erythroniums, narcissi, tulips and a host of other bulbs. Click on images to enlarge.

Summer

In summer there are inspirational displays of herbaceous perennials, salvias, hydrangeas, clematis and grasses. Click on images to enlarge.

Autumn

Autumn brings superb colour with carpets of cyclamen and colchicums, malus trees laden with crab apples and the fiery hues of liquidambar, euonymus and acers. Click on images to enlarge.

Winter

Outstanding winter interest is provided by hellebores, cyclamen, snowdrops, witch hazels and the coloured stems of dogwood and willow. Click on images to enlarge.