Harlow Carr!

I spent the morning at Harlow Carr...

The Royal Horticultural Society's Botanical Gardens opened in 1950. The gardens were set up as a trial ground where the suitability of plants for growing in northern climates could be assessed and the original 10.5 hectares has since been extended to 27.5 acres of what was once part of the Forest of Knaresborough, an ancient royal hunting ground. As you walk around the gardens at certain places the smell of sulphur is a reminder that springs of sulphur water were discovered here in 1734 and the site was developed as a spa in 1844, when Henry Wright, the owner of the estate built a hotel and a bath house. The hotel remains as the Harrogate Arms and the bath house now houses the Study Centre at the gardens.

In the time I've been visiting Harlow Carr the gardens have developed to include a new Learning Centre, which was designed to be one of the greenest buildings in the country and the new Alpine House.

It's a wonderrful place to spend a sunny Spring Sunday morning!
Chris