East Devon is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the county, especially when the flowers are in bloom, if you want to welcome in the new season in style, here are some of the region’s loveliest parks and gardens to visit this month.
In Sidmouth, the In Bloom team regularly win awards for their incredible floral displays which you can see all over town. One place to see them are at Blackmore Gardens, where the floral gardener and the Wind in the Willows displays were located a few years ago. It often doubles as an event venue during the Folk Festival.
Also in Sidmouth are the famous Connaught Gardens, which were named for one of Queen Victoria’s sons, the Duke of Connaught. These picturesque gardens are now used as a wedding venue, as well as part of the town’s festivals and it's not hard to see why. You might not expect it, but it was used as a strategic place during World War II, and evidence of this can still be seen in the gardens today.
Nearby in Seaton, you’ll find Seafield Gardens which are close to the town centre. With seasonal plans, a pond, cactus house and plenty of outdoor activities including a bowling green and tennis court, this is a lovely spot to while away a few hours. One of the main focal points of the gardens is the Jubilee Clock which was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, which was updated and refurbished a few years ago.
Budleigh Salterton is home to Bicton Park’s botanical gardens which is home to some of the largest historic gardens in the region. While there are entry charges for parts of Bicton Park, it is well worth the visit, especially for a chance to see the Palm House, which was inspired by Kew Gardens and houses a variety of exotic plants.
These are just a few of the gardens that you can visit in East Devon to see the seasonal flowers and spend some time relaxing, you can find a full list of gardens, parks and other green spaces across the region by visiting here.