A Plantsman's paradise of 20 acres of private gardens open to the public to visit in Ardleigh near Colchester, Essex. Professionally designed by its owner Fiona Edmond, the land is laid out as a series of structured gardens displaying a huge range of unusual trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs. Surely one of the best gardens open to visit in Essex. Featured in The English Garden Nov '21, Feb '22 and Garden News Oct '22. Now an RHS Partner Garden new for 2023. There is a traditional tea room serving light lunches, cakes and afternoon and cream teas with Gluten Free options also available. You can purchase plants for your own garden in our very competitively priced Nursery. Check our website for courses and workshops.
Essex' version of 'Kew Gardens'! Perfect size, you can see the whole place in a day. Plenty or benches around so you can pace yourself. Quiet too so feels more peaceful. Lovely welcome from the resident doggies! Free parking. Accessible toilets. Cafe on site. Friendly staff. Nice selection of plants to buy too. Kids loved running around and exploring, especially the tree house. They enjoyed the trampolines and swings too. Well worth a visit!
Had a lovely afternoon with my husband at Green Island Gardens yesterday, just chilling in the lovely sunshine and enjoying the peace and quiet. Had a lovely cuppa and a sneaky slice of fruit cake in the tearoom, served by a very friendly young lady. Lots of beautiful flowers and unusual plants to see. Definitely worth a visit, but allow plenty of time as there is a lot of ground to cover.
Our visit was about three and a half hours. The bluebells were in full bloom and looking fabulous. There are gardens and woodded areas planted in a natural informal style and paths that wiggle and wind through. There are lots of log piles for wildlife. And plenty of views and spots to pause. A delicious scone and coffee to finish. This place offers a refreshingly intimate, genuine, and relaxed experience.
We had a lovely walk in the Green Islands Gardens at the end of April, it was an oasis of peace and we enjoyed the floral splendour. Compliments to Fiona and her team for maintaining the Gardens in this way. T.M. Nijmegen Nederland
Such a beautiful place to visit. The owner of this place is very friendly and approachable. This is the perfect place for you if you are looking for a place where you just want to relax and enjoy beautiful gardens. This is probably one of the very few places where I have seen many different plants. It's fascinating. Everything seems to be done with so much love and care. There's a tearoom where you can sit for a cuppa and then just go for a walk and see the gardens. The toilets are well maintained and very clean. There's also a car park with plenty of car parking spaces.
Just had a lovely time watching Jemima Puddleduck outdoor theatre show with our toddler at Green Island Gardens. The show was good fun and engaging. Easy parking and we were greeted warmly by the owner and her sweet dog. The setting was beautiful with a nice tearoom for refreshments and a play area for kids to explore in the interval. Excellent organisation with picnic mats at the front and chairs mid way back to allow everyone a good view including very small people. Will be back for future plays and will also plan a separate visit to the gardens, now that we've discovered this little gem.
Identifies as women-owned
On-site services
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Gender-neutral toilets
Picnic tables
Public toilet
Swings
LGBTQ+ friendly
Good for kids
Playground
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Essex' version of 'Kew Gardens'! Perfect size, you can see the whole place in a day. Plenty or benches around so you can pace yourself. Quiet too so feels more peaceful. Lovely welcome from the resident doggies! Free parking. Accessible toilets. Cafe on site. Friendly staff. Nice selection of plants to buy too. Kids loved running around and exploring, especially the tree house. They enjoyed the trampolines and swings too. Well worth a visit!
Had a lovely afternoon with my husband at Green Island Gardens yesterday, just chilling in the lovely sunshine and enjoying the peace and quiet. Had a lovely cuppa and a sneaky slice of fruit cake in the tearoom, served by a very friendly young lady. Lots of beautiful flowers and unusual plants to see. Definitely worth a visit, but allow plenty of time as there is a lot of ground to cover.
Our visit was about three and a half hours. The bluebells were in full bloom and looking fabulous. There are gardens and woodded areas planted in a natural informal style and paths that wiggle and wind through. There are lots of log piles for wildlife. And plenty of views and spots to pause. A delicious scone and coffee to finish. This place offers a refreshingly intimate, genuine, and relaxed experience.
We had a lovely walk in the Green Islands Gardens at the end of April, it was an oasis of peace and we enjoyed the floral splendour. Compliments to Fiona and her team for maintaining the Gardens in this way. T.M. Nijmegen Nederland
Such a beautiful place to visit. The owner of this place is very friendly and approachable. This is the perfect place for you if you are looking for a place where you just want to relax and enjoy beautiful gardens. This is probably one of the very few places where I have seen many different plants. It's fascinating. Everything seems to be done with so much love and care. There's a tearoom where you can sit for a cuppa and then just go for a walk and see the gardens. The toilets are well maintained and very clean. There's also a car park with plenty of car parking spaces.
Just had a lovely time watching Jemima Puddleduck outdoor theatre show with our toddler at Green Island Gardens. The show was good fun and engaging. Easy parking and we were greeted warmly by the owner and her sweet dog. The setting was beautiful with a nice tearoom for refreshments and a play area for kids to explore in the interval. Excellent organisation with picnic mats at the front and chairs mid way back to allow everyone a good view including very small people. Will be back for future plays and will also plan a separate visit to the gardens, now that we've discovered this little gem.
