Two men have transformed a quiet corner of England into an exotic Himalayan-style woodland. JENNIFER KEE finds out how they did it.

NORTH Yorkshire has areas renowned for wild grandeur, but the foothills of Everest they are not.

Yet hidden away in a valley near Ripon is a slice of countryside that could have been carved straight out of the landscapes of India or Nepal.

The Himalayan Gardens at Grewelthorpe, widely considered the home of the largest collection of rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias in the north, has just opened for the spring.

Peter Roberts bought the 20-acre grounds in 1996. Two years later, after enlisting the help of plant collector Alan Clarke, the two transformed what was described by Peter as a ‘jungle’ into a Himalayan plant haven.

“After clearing the area of weeds, we quickly discovered these Himalayan plants do well and we carried on planting over the past ten years. It now looks like a mirror of the Himalayas, as strange as it may seem.”

The gardens opened to the public last weekend and will remain open until June. Now is the perfect time to marvel at the vibrant collection of some 1,400 rhododendron varieties, 250 azalea varieties and 150 different magnolias which are all in bloom.

The inspiration for the gardens, which attract some 10,000 visitors each year, comes from the plants native to the Himalaya region, including Vietnam, China and Northern India. Peter also visited Burma and Bhutan a few years ago to see how the plants grow in their native habitat.

The gardens provide the perfect environment for these plants – a sheltered area with acidic soil and lots of springs providing water.

Alan Clarke sources the seeds during trips to the Himalaya region around November and December time, collecting the seeds from their native home.

The large variety of rhododendrons are popular with visiting gardeners and the vast collection is always growing.

Preserving endangered rhododendron varieties is also important in the Himalayan Gardens, as it nurtures 95 species of the Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘Red List’ endangered species.

“For anyone who is keen on plants, there is a phenomenal array of plants and some very rare ones too,” adds Peter.

“When you think about Himalayan plants, it is not just big shrubs, it’s also perennials and we grow plants to suit all tastes.”

Visitors can stroll through these peaceful valleys, enjoy the colourful sights and the idea is if they see anything they like, they can buy it from the nursery which sells many ericaceous shrubs and perennials.

Peter also hopes people will be inspired, just like he is, by just coming along to have a look.

“The magnolia dell is quite spectacular and these flowers, which have come early this year, would be one of my favourites. They look as though they are going to be very good this year, as long we don’t have any frost,” he says.

Among the attractions is the sculpture park which feature works by Terrence Coventry and Hamish Mackie, both new for 2014. And for visitors wishing to have a rest, the new Chinese pagoda offers a place to sit and admire the view.


Fact file

- Himalayan gardens, near Grewelthorpe, North Yorkshire. Follow the signposts.

- Contact: 01765 658 009 or himalayangarden.com

- Opening times: Until Sunday, June 8, 10am to 4pm every day except Monday (unless it’s a bank holiday).

- Admission: Adults: £6.50, under-12s free.

- Facilities: tea room and nursery.

- Disabled access: Limited.

- Toilets: Yes.

- Car/coach parking: Yes.

- Guided tours: Pre-booked only

- Length of visit: Allow two hours.