Although we have some amazing parks and gardens here in Manchester, sometimes it’s nice to pack up a picnic and travel a bit further afield for a change of scenery. A visit to a garden can be a welcome escape from daily life, while it can also capture children’s imaginations and transport you to different places.
Just over an hour’s drive from Manchester is Ness Botanic Gardens, where you’ll find a vast range of flowers, plants and shrubs spread over 64 acres. From water gardens to a wildflower meadow, there’s plenty to see and you can easily lose yourself here for an hour or two.
The gardens were first created in 1898 by Arthur Bulley, a wealthy cotton trader. His daughter gave the gardens to the University of Liverpool in 1948, several years after his death.
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Today Ness Botanic Garden features a range of planting areas, with the blooms constantly changing throughout the year. There’s a rock garden displaying alpine shrubs, while a kitchen garden serves as inspiration for what you can grow in your own backyard.
Among the flowers you can see are Rhododendrons, Azaleas and an impressive Laburnum arch. The gardens are also a haven for wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled for birds and insects.
There’s a play area for children, as well as an orchard which is home to some hens. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own picnics and enjoy them on the lawn - or you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or cake from the gardens’ cafe, The Botanic Cafe.
The gardens are open everyday from 10am until dusk with the last entry at 5pm, from March 1 until October 31 (opening hours are shortened during winter). A wheelchair accessible route available in the garden. Only registered disability assistance dogs are allowed to enter the gardens.
During the summer season children under four can enter for free, children aged five to 16 cost £3.50 while adults cost £7.50. A family ticket for two adults and three children costs £20 (all prices without Gift Aid). Discounts are also available for students, those over 60, carers and more. Click here for more information.
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- The idyllic ice cream farm with gorgeous wildflower meadow and giant bumblebee
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