While on holiday in Dorset, UK we paid our first visit to the 'Walled Garden' in Moreton in between the showers of rain.
I was very surprised to see the entry fee was only £3 with under 18s admitted for free. All the entrance money goes towards the upkeep of the place. The added bonus was the whole site was dog friendly.
There have been a few negative reviews about the flower beds looking neglected but it's been difficult for the owners trying to water a 5 acre plot of land with very little rainfall this year. That's been the downside of a usually hot summer. I thought parts of the gardens looked really good considering.
There were various paths to choose from. Although we stuck to the Dinosaur Trail, you could easily get lost and go off the beaten track as the signage wasn't very good.
There was also a small animal area with fish, goats, guinea pigs and ferrets etc. The pooch has grown up with cats and rabbits so he was more nervous of them than they were of him.
The Walled Garden also hosts EMA‘s Moreton Campus which is a college for young people with learning difficulties. The students are given work experience on the site whether it is in the café, gardens, or animal area. This will hopefully give them the tools for when they get future employment.
Looking at the leaflet, the gardens host a few activities throughout the year, such as fetes and Christmas parties. Unfortunately, the dog show was cancelled during the summer because of the hot weather, something I never thought I'd say living in England. Considering the weather and the £3 entry fee, I thought it was well worth the visit. The forecasted rain also held off until we had finished our visit.
