Join in, and open your garden
Why not join in with your garden. Villagers who opened their gardens in the past found it fun and rewarding.
For 2026, we want to expand the range of gardens that are open.
All gardens are welcome for inclusion in the event, however large or small. Your garden doesn’t need to be perfect, in fact a ‘work in progress’ is often of even more interest to visitors.
If you would like to join in, contact us
Getting to Chilbolton
Chilbolton is in Hampshire’s Test Valley.
Parking for Open Gardens 2026 is in the field adjacent to St Mary the Less Church in the Village, postcode SO20 6BQ, by the kind permission of Mr James Painter.
Chilbolton also has a shop, and tea room, and a pub, The Abbots Mitre.
Who benefits?
The proceeds from Chilbolton Open Gardens are divided equally between the Parish Council and a charity.
The chosen charity this year is The Countess of Brecknock Hospice.
New to Open Gardens (with pictures)
Here’s a brief preview of a lovely garden that, for the first time ever, will be included in Chilbolton Open Gardens.
It’s extensive, peaceful and surrounded by mature trees.
Restful sitting place
Beautiful vistas
Mature trees
Expansive lawn
(Dog for scale)
Indoor space
Productive
Inspiration
Some inspiration from the Hillier Arboretum. These images were captured on 19 Mar 2026, when the Arboretum was full of Magnolias, Azaleas and Camellias. They were very early flowering, perhaps as much as two weeks compared to last year.
The question is, given how early everything is this year, what will be at its best in mid-June?
Work In Progress (with pictures)
Another entry for Open Gardens 2026, which was was highly-praised at last year’s event, shows that nothing stands still. Every garden is a “work in progress” to some extent.
The beautiful Cherry walk, under-planted with daffodils, is in full flower, but strong winds on the day we visited were already spreading petals across the garden. A newly-erected fruit cage stands empty. “We might put blackcurrants and raspberries in there,” the owner says.
A large pond is a blank canvas awaiting some creative planting. Bud and blossom is dotted around the garden.
As we return to the house, the quince climbing its wall is already in flower with the promise of jam later in the year.
Looking impressive in March, this garden should be stunning in June.
Cherry walk
New fruit cage (Dog for scale)
Newly-created pond
Buds aplenty
Pollarded willow
Ornamental cherry
Ribes, flowering currant
Quince flowering
Work In Progress (with pictures)
One of this year’s Open Gardens has a good example of some “work in progress”. It includes a vegetable garden that has been productive in the past, but now needs a complete refresh.
Old rotted vegetable beds have been removed and fresh compost from a tumbler has been added to newly-riddled soil.
It will now include a new feature - a withy-bed - which will provide willows for basket making. Four new, raised vegetable beds will be installed and there will be a cut-flower border.
It also includes a greenhouse, whose water butts have been replenished by ample rain during the Winter, and whose glass has been cleaned. It is ready for the sowing of vegetable and flower seeds, together with tomato plants.
There’s a lot to be done. How much will be completed by 14 June this year?
Veg Garden
Worn-out veg beds
Prospective withy-bed
Location of raised veg beds
Compost tumbler
