Harlow Carr Gardens

Infobox UKproperty
property_name = Harlow Carr Gardens
imgage_name = Harlow Carr Entrance.jpg
image_size = 250px
caption = The entrance to Harlow Carr Gardens
type = Garden
NT/EH/RHS = Royal Horticultural Society
area = 27.5ha
main = Annual and perennial planting
other = Gardens Through Time
public_access = Yes
museum =
exhibition = Yes
country = England
region = Yorkshire and the Humber
gridSquare = SE2754
address = Cragg Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
postcode = HG3 1QB
refreshments = Yes
parking = Yes
shop = Yes
webAddress =
co_ord =coord|53|58|56|N|1|34|21|W|display=inline,title|region:GB_type:landmark

The Royal Horticultural Society's garden Harlow Carr near Harrogate in the English county of North Yorkshire is one of four public gardens run by the Society.

The garden is the most recent addition to the RHS, acquired by the merger of the Northern Horticultural Society with the RHS in 2001. It had been the Northern Horticultural Society's trial ground and display garden since they bought it in 1946.

Location

The Garden is situated on Crag Lane, off Otley Road (B6162) about a mile and a half from the centre of Harrogate. cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =RHS Garden Harlow Carr
work =
publisher =Royal Horticultural Society
date =2008
url =http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/Gardens/harlowcarr/harlowcarrreach.htm
format =pdf
doi =
accessdate = 2008-03-20 ]

Features

Harlow Carr has:

* Rose Revolution Borders

* Winter Walk

* Kitchen Garden

* Gardens through Time

* The Queen Mother’s Lake

* Woodland

* Streamside

* Wildflower meadow & bird hide

* Arboretum

* Humus-rich Terraces

* Winter Garden

* Scented Garden

* Foliage Garden

* Annual & perennial displays

* Ornamental Grasses Border

* Alpine Houses

* Herb Garden

It also has a shop and plant centre in addition to the legendary [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Britains Best: Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms
work =
publisher =UKTV History
date =
url =http://uktv.co.uk/history/britainsbest/site/id/234
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-03-20 ] Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms.

History

The gardens are situated in an area that was once part of the Forest of Knaresborough, an ancient royal hunting ground. Springs of sulphur water were discovered here in the 18th century but development of the site as a spa did not take place for over a hundred years. In 1840, the owner of the estate, Henry Wright, cleaned out and protected one of the wells and four years later built a hotel and a bath house. People were charged 2s 6d (12.5 new pence) to bathe in the warm waters. The gardens were laid out around the bath house and in 1861 the site at Harlow Carr springs was described as:

'a sweet secluded spot...the grounds neatly laid out, adorned with a selection of trees, shrubs, flowers, walks, easy seats and shady arbours.'

The hotel is now the Harrogate Arms and the bath house now houses the garden study centre. The building was converted in 1958 and contains a meeting room , the library and offices. The six well heads in front of the bath house have been capped off but remain beneath the present Limestone Rock Garden. At certain times there is a distinct smell of sulphur in this area.

The Northern Horticultural Society was founded in 1946 with the objective of:

'promoting and developing the science, art and practice of horticulture with special reference to the conditions pertaining to the North of England.'

The Society leased 10.5 hectares of mixed woodland, pasture and arable land at Harlow Hill from the Harrogate Corporation and it opened the Harlow Carr Botanical Gardens in 1950. The chief aim of the venture was to set up a trial ground where the suitability of plants for growing in northern climates could be assessed. The original 10.5 hectares has been extended to 27.5 .

Geoffrey Smith, writer and broadcaster, was Superintendent of Harlow Carr from 1954-74

References

External links

* [http://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlowcarr/ Official website]
* [http://www.rhs.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/74BA1193-32B8-41AB-9355-B7600F07949D/0/GardenMap.pdf Plan of the gardens]