What’s happening at Parcevall Hall Gardens…

27th October  2024.  

Parcevall Hall Gardens is now closed to the public until 29th March 2025.

After a successful season the Gardens are now closed to the public until 29th March 2025.  Thank you to everyone who has been to visit during 2024, we look forward to welcoming you back to Parcevall Hall Gardens again in 2025!

12th September 2024.

There is great excitement around Parcevall today as we look forward to seeing the Gardens featured in the first programme of a new Channel 5 television series, ‘Yorkshire Great and Small’, which will be shown tonight at 8pm.  Co-hosted by Helen Skelton and Dan Walker, we were so lucky that the weather was perfect when filming took place, showing Parcevall at its glorious best.  In tonight’s programme Helen can be seen exploring Troller’s Gill, with Dan talking to Head Gardener Phill Nelson.

29th March 2024.

Well here we are, back open and ready to welcome you to the new season!  As well as the beauty of the Gardens, and more of that later, you will also find a smart new addition on the site of the former greenhouse in the form of a propagation house.  This welcome and long awaited structure, which would not have been possible without the financial support of the Friends of Parcevall Hall Gardens, means that Head Gardener Phill Nelson and his team will be able to propagate both seeds and vegetative cuttings which will help greatly increase the stock of woody plants at very little cost, as well as growing herbaceous perennials from seed.  Phill explains that more importantly a propagation house is like the engine room of any garden, which will give Parcevall Hall Gardens the facility to do all of the above for many years to come, something that he believes is a key element for the future.  The wooden structure it replaces stood for 90 years, so the aluminium replacement should be good to last for much longer.  And in the Gardens at present?  You will be able to see a large variety of spring flowering shrubs, including many rhododendrons and cherry trees.  There are also a profusion of hellebores and trilliums in flower as well as the start of the alpines in the Rock Gardens.  Not to forget of course the glorious daffodils that are just starting to put in a display that will last for the next three or four weeks.  And if all the walking around the Gardens gives you an appetite, then the Tea Room,(10am – 4pm daily) run by the wonderfully welcoming team from Love Brownies will provide a welcome respite for weary legs!

21st March 2024.

Featured on film with a stellar cast!

At last we have reopened for the new season and are delighted to have been chosen to be a part of the Historic Houses new promotional video.  Already shown on BBC television’s World Business report programme, you can view the video for yourself at www.historichouses.org with the link being on their home page, just below the map of member properties.  There are three clips of Parcevall Hall Gardens: the gateway leading through to the terraces, a drone aerial shot a little way in of the Hall and Gardens, and one of the pond towards the end of the video.  It’s a terrific advert for Historic Houses and we are thrilled to be seen in the company of such illustrious heritage properties.  Exciting times here at Parcevall at the moment with more news to follow very soon!

30th October 2023.

Parcevall Hall Gardens are now closed to visitors until 29th March 2024.

26th June 2023.

Parcevall in the news!

The gardens again featured in national televised coverage when ITV Evening News visited today to broadcast their weather forecast live from Parcevall.  The forecast, with weather presenter Jo Blythe, went out towards the end of the one hour news bulletin, with Jo’s description of the Hall and Gardens augmented by some stunning ground and drone images.  And the weather?  Absolutely perfect!

29th May 2023.

Filming in the Gardens.

Just to inform you that filming will be taking place in and around the gardens, between 9am and 1pm on Thursday 1st June.  This will be to take footage for inclusion in a promotional video by Historic Houses, which is being made to highlight some of that organisations many member properties.  The crew will consist of a director and cameraman, with the filming being mostly land based, but with the use of a drone for short periods to shoot some aerial inserts.  The gardens and Tea Room will remain open to visitors throughout the day as usual from 10am.

10th April 2023.

RHS Partner Garden of The Year 2023.

We are delighted to announce that Parcevall Hall Gardens will be taking part in the 2023 RHS Partner Garden of The Year competition!  It’s never been more important to get out into nature, and enjoy the sounds, scents and sights of the nation’s gardens and the Royal Horticultural Society is once again asking people to show appreciation of their favourites amongst its 221 Partner Gardens by clicking to vote.  The theme of the competition is ‘Feel Good’, reflecting how beneficial exercise and a connection to nature are for good mental health and well being.  If your visits to Parcevall Hall Gardens have made you feel good, the RHS want to know!  We can never state enough how grateful we are for the continued support of our visitors, and we would really appreciate it if you would vote for us.  Thank you!  Voting opened at 10am today, 10th April and continues until 12 noon on 29th September.  To vote and to find out more search for ‘Partner Gardens’ on the RHS website.

res.org.uk/pgoty

1st April 2023.

Back for a new season and looking forward to seeing you!

After what seems to have been a very long winter, we have now reopened for our new season.  During closure the gardens team have been very hard at work, clearing up the considerable amount of damage caused to Tibet Wood when Storm Arwen hit in November 2021.  As a result of their efforts we are pleased to let you know that Tibet Wood has been cleared of debris, tidied up and is now open to access once again.  A walk around the gardens sees them looking as good as ever, and with a background soundtrack of birdsong and the distant bleating of sheep with their newborn lambs, it is such a relaxing place to be!  Local bakers ‘Love Brownies’, who last year proved a massive hit with our visitors, return to run our popular Tea Room, offering hot and cold drinks along with a variety of tasty treats to tempt you!  You will find their menu on the Tea Room page of this website.  Parcevall Hall Gardens are now open daily between 10am to 6pm (last admission 5pm) until 30th October, and we do hope that you will be able to visit us and look forward to seeing you.

15th November 2022.

Not quite, but nearly, and further accolades for Parcevall Hall Gardens, and Yorkshire!

After a lengthy campaign which began on the 1st April, the result of the Historic Houses ‘Garden of the Year Award 2022’ was announced today, with Parcevall Hall Gardens coming a very close second in the public vote to South Yorkshire winners Wentworth Woodhouse.  After what has been a very tightly contested race throughout, with Parcevall chasing down the eventual winners from the onset, we have had tremendous support and we would like to convey our thanks to everyone of you who voted for us.  Being placed second from out of an initial application of over one hundred gardens across the UK, then being shortlisted down to the final eight to compete in this prestigious competition, was an achievement in itself of which we were delighted.  As those of you who are familiar with Parcevall Hall Gardens will appreciate, rising as it does 200 feet at the end of a Yorkshire Dale is not an easy terrain to garden on, with Head Gardener Phil, his assistant Nick and the garden’s team sometimes having to navigate their way through the most difficult of weather conditions to maintain the high horticultural standards that Parcevall displays for our visitors to enjoy across each season.  Without their ongoing efforts we would not have a garden regarded highly enough to take part in competitions like this.  We must say a huge thank you to Damian at visitor reception who has shown real enthusiasm in securing votes from our visitors, and to Sara for continually coming up with posts and images to keep our growing legion of Facebook friends updated. Our congratulations go to Wentworth Woodhouse for claiming the prize and for helping fly the flag for Yorkshire – well done!  We may not have come first, but we have thoroughly enjoyed taking part and have loved every minute!

31st October 2022.

After a record year, Parcevall Hall Gardens has now closed to visitors until 1st April 2023.

And what a wonderful season we have had, with visitor figures smashing all earlier records and footfall up by a mighty 25% on previous years!  It has meant so much to all of us who are involved with Parcevall Hall Gardens to see so many people spending their time enjoying the varieties of horticulture the gardens have to offer, along with its picturesque surrounds.  Our season began with the good news that we had been shortlisted from over one hundred other gardens, down to the final eight competing for the Historic Houses ‘Garden of the Year Award 2022’, sponsored by Christies.  The support that we have been shown by those who voted for us has been tremendous and we cannot thank you enough.  As you will gather tensions and anticipation are high here, as we wait for the final result to be announced around early afternoon, during the Historic House AGM in London on Tuesday 15th November.  Fingers crossed!  Some additional good news arrived with us in July, when it emerged that the gardens had been awarded a Travellers Choice Award by Tripadvisor.  This was due to us having positive reviews and ratings over the past year from our visitors.

And finally, the Love Brownies Tea Room, which has  been a welcome addition during 2022, have decided in line with us to close down until Spring next year.  No need to worry about missing out on your favourite treats from them though as they will be operating across the winter months from The Brownie Barn, just a short distance away in Howgill Lane, SatNav/ref BD23 6DJ.  Best to check their opening times prior to travelling though at www.lovebrownies.co.uk.

You can keep updated on all matters Parcevall Hall Gardens by checking in on this Latest News page across our winter closure, or for regular news updates become one of our FaceBook Friends and you won’t miss a thing!

16th September 2022.

A mark of respect.

As a mark of respect, Parcevall Hall Gardens will be closed on Monday 19th September, the day of the funeral of HRH Queen Elizabeth.  We will resume usual opening times from Tuesday 20th September onwards.

3rd August 2022.

Parcevall Hall Gardens moves up into second place.

Some good news arrived today regarding our involvement in the Historic Houses ‘Garden of the Year  Award 2022’, sponsored by Christie’s.  In what is continuing to be a very close run race between the three front runners, we are delighted to hear that Parcevall Hall Gardens has moved up into second place,  only just behind the current leader.  Any votes for us would be very much appreciated and can be cast at www.historichouses.org/vote.  Voting remains open until 30th September.

18th July 2022.

Historic Building Restoration Grant:  Henry Simpsons Barn.

4th July 2022.

Parcevall Hall Gardens receives a Travellers’ Choice Award from Tripadvisor.

A new week begins and what better way to start it than with some good news!  We heard today that the gardens have received a Travellers’ Choice Award from Tripadvisor.  Every year the company celebrates attractions across the world that consistently deliver amazing experiences, by honouring them with this award – and this year Parcevall Hall Gardens has been included on that list.  This means that we have earned positive reviews and ratings over the past year from our visitors, so we thank them very much and feel very honoured to now be placed in the top 10% of attractions worldwide.

15th June 2022.  

Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award 2022, sponsored by Christie’s.  Latest update.

We were delighted to hear today from Historic Houses, that Parcevall Hall Gardens are currently in third place for votes cast at the halfway point, as we continue in our quest to win the above prestigious award.  At this stage we are told that it is a very close run thing between the top three of eight competing gardens, with few votes separating us!  These are indeed exciting times here at Parcevall, and we are pleased to have been recognised and shortlisted as one of the final eight selected gardens.  We are also very appreciative of those of you who have been kind enough to vote for us already.  Anyone who would still like to cast a vote in our direction can do so at www.historichouses.org/vote until the end of September.  The recent  glorious weather here in the Yorkshire Dales has really helped show the gardens off at their very best,   When the sun is shining it’s a wonderful place to be, and we hope that you are able to visit in the near future to experience that for yourself.  We look forward to seeing you soon.

29th April 2022.  Tearoom now open!

The wonderfully welcoming team at Love Brownies have taken over our Tearoom.  The café, situated at the entrance to the gardens, serves award-winning chocolate brownies, including vegan brownies, hot and cold drinks, ice-cream and delicious deep filled sandwiches.  It’s the perfect spot to relax with spectacular views across Wharfedale to Simon’s Seat.  Open Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm.

1st April 2022.  Parcevall Hall Gardens shortlisted for prestigious Garden Award.

Well, we promised you some exciting news was on the way, and now, with the embargo lifted, we can finally reveal all!  We are delighted to announce that Parcevall Hall Gardens has been selected as one of eight finalists shortlisted from amongst hundreds of gardens, parks and grounds, to contest for the prestigious Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award 2022, sponsored by Christie’s.  Historic Houses are the association that represents and supports the UK’s independent historic homes, castles and gardens.  Voting opened today and you can cast yours now at www.historichouses.org/vote which will remain open through until 30th September.  The winner will be announced at the Historic Houses AGM, which will take place in London on Tuesday 15th November.  Further details about this to follow at a later date.  Only one vote per person is allowed, although we do hope that you will spread the word far and wide to encourage friends and family to vote for Parcevall Hall Gardens as well!  Every vote counts!

1st April 2022.  The gardens are open for the new season.

Parcevall Hall Gardens reopened to visitors today for the new season, and will remain so daily, between 10am – 6pm (last admission 5pm) until 31st October.  Please remember that we can only accept card payment for admission.  Just to let you know that there is no access to Tibet Wood at present due to damage sustained during those wild and windy winter storms.  However Head Gardener Phill Nelson, along with his deputy Nick Smith and the team, are busy tidying up what is a huge task at every given moment, so we will keep you updated.  It feels like an age since we last had visitors to the gardens and we are really looking forward to welcoming friends old and new back again.

29th March 2022.  A very exciting announcement on the way!

With just a few days to go before we reopen for the 2022 season, at 10am on the 1st April, there is great excitement around the Gardens at some news we will be announcing on that day.  Sorry that we cannot be more precise over timing at present, but promise that just as soon as we can release details you will be amongst the first to know!

31st October 2021.  Parcevall Hall Gardens is now closed to visitors until 1st April 2022.

Parcevall Hall Gardens is now closed to visitors until 1st April 2022.  We thank everyone who has been able to visit the Gardens during the past season for your support, and look forward to welcoming you back again during 2022.  Until then stay safe and well, and we will keep you informed on this webpage with any latest news updates.

16th October 2021.  What a month this is turning out to be!

As the headline states, what a month this is turning out to be!  Anyone who knows Parcevall, from those of us who work for the Gardens and all of our supportive visitors, many of whom return year after year, collectively we wonder at its breathtaking beauty.  As you will read in the previous post, it is also a view shared by many visiting journalists and feature writers who we have been fortunate in having visit the Gardens to write for their respective publications.  This month has been a very special one for us with two magazines, ‘The English Garden’ and ‘Gardens Illustrated’ both running features about Parcevall Hall Gardens, totalling twenty pages in all.  Accompanied by a series of wonderful images taken by two multi international, award winning photographers, Richard Bloom and Claire Takacs, these two magazines features really do show off Parcevall Hall Gardens at their finest.

Some nice quotes from the media.

It goes without saying that everyone involved with Parcevall Hall Gardens thinks that it is a very special place.  Over time it has been the favourite garden of professional gardener, broadcaster, writer and lecturer, the late Geoffrey Smith and is currently rated as being up there amongst the best by his modern day counterpart Alan Titchmarsh.  This is what the written press have had to say about us.

‘On a recent visit from Ulster to Wales then across to York, out of fourteen gardens and four nurseries visited the highlight, and my favourite I saw, was one in North Yorkshire called Parcevall Hall, which was a really relaxed and beautiful Art Deco garden with lovely views out.  It was just gorgeous!’ – Claire McNally, Gardener’s Corner, BBC Radio Ulster.

‘Wow!  It actually takes your breath away! – Dan Walker, Channel 5 TV’s ‘Yorkshire Great and Small with Helen and Dan’.

‘Steeped in history and enveloped in woodland, Parcevall Hall Gardens in the Yorkshire Dales are a gardener’s delight’ – Gardens Illustrated Magazine.

‘Parcevall’s gardens zing with life in spring and are a magical spot in the height of summer, but it’s a mellow beauty that takes over as the days shorten and atmospheric mists cloak the fells’ – The English Garden.

‘If the flame of desire for rock gardens is ever to be rekindled, this might be the place’ – Country Life Magazine.

‘Standing In Solitary Splendour’ – Country Life Magazine.

‘Blooming Paradise’ – BBC Countryfile Magazine’.

‘If it’s inspiration that you are looking for, then look no further than Parcevall Hall Gardens’ – Yorkshire Life Magazine.

‘A tranquil oasis of interesting plants’ – BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine.

‘A plants persons garden brimming with history, atmosphere and beauty’ – Gardens Illustrated Magazine.

‘One of the most beautiful gardens to be found in the North of England’ – The Craven Herald.

‘It feels like a place for everyone’ – House and Garden Magazine.

‘Breathtaking!’ – Harrogate Advertiser.

‘A 24-Acre gem’ – Daily Mail Weekend.

‘A botanical masterpiece!’ – Living Magazine.

‘Standing on the terrace, taking in the summer scents, it’s a paradise’ – Yorkshire Post Magazine.

‘Perfect sense of place’ – The Garden.

‘Wharfedale’s horticultural treasure’ – Yorkshire Ridings Magazine.

‘A hidden gem’ – Living North. 

‘Serene’ –  SLOW TRAVEL Yorkshire Dales Guide 2019.

‘Charm itself’ – The Times.

‘Perfection’ / ‘Stunning’ – David Overend, Yorkshire Post.

‘An unexpected surprise for visitors’ – RHS Garden Magazine.

The current spell of good weather really has been showing Parcevall off at its very best, but whatever the season the Gardens will always have something special to offer.

9th May 2021.  The Gardens receive a welcome pat on the bark (sorry, back!)

The Gardens received some very welcome news today that, after a recent visit and assessment by inspectors from the Tree Register, they deemed us to be the location of fourteen Champion Trees.  It has been reported back to Head Gardener Phill Nelson, that Parcevall is home to three National Champions, one English Champion, with two additional English Champions for height only, and the remaining eight trees being North Yorkshire Champions.  The Tree Register was founded in 1988 by the internationally acclaimed dendrologist, the late Alan Mitchell   Its Patron is His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.  The Register holds a unique database of over 200,000 of the British Isles most notable trees and is home to the definitive list of Champion Trees.  So, during your next visit to the Gardens, if you feel like branching out into a whole other area of interest that the grounds has to offer, Phill Nelson and his team will be delighted to, socially distanced of course, point you in the direction of those trees that can be easily accessed and viewed.

12th April 2021.  Parcevall Hall Gardens reopens to visitors.

After a staggered start to the new season, Parcevall Hall Gardens has now reopened fully to visitors and, unless advised otherwise by the Government, will remain so until 31st October.  The Gardens will now open daily between 10am to 6pm, with last admission at 5pm.  Please note that for the foreseeable future, only card payment will be accepted for admission, as for hygiene reasons we are unable to accept cash or cheques.  For full information please refer to this websites Home page.  We look forward to welcoming back old friends to the Gardens and to meeting new ones across the coming season.

1st November 2020.  Parcevall Hall Gardens is now closed until Spring 2021.

After a shorter than usual season due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Parcevall Hall Gardens has now closed to the public until Spring 2021.  Circumstances allowing we are hoping to reopen briefly for our annual Snowdrop Weekend sometime in February, before fully reopening for the 2021 season on 1st April.  Full details for both will be posted on our website a little nearer the time.  As ever we want to thank you for your continued support during this reduced season, which we know has not been an easy time for so many due to Coronavirus.  It is always good to see a lot of familiar faces visiting the Gardens again, and for Head Gardener Phill and his team to have the opportunity to say hello, though this year socially distanced.  So, until we reopen again, stay safe and well throughout the coming months and we look forward to welcoming you back to Parcevall in 2021.

1st October 2020.  The Gardens remain open until 31st October.

After the trepidation of if and when to open for a foreshortened 2020 season, it eventually turned out to be the correct decision, with visitor numbers at this present point of time exceeding our expectations.   Some good spells of fine weather has almost certainly played a part in encouraging a healthy footfall.  The Gardens will now remain open to the public until 31st October, but please note that the admissions office will not be staffed after Sunday evening 4th October.  If you are visiting us after this date during the remainder of the month you will find an honesty box at which to pay for admission, £7 Adult, £6 Concession, located at the Gardens Office door.  Please note that after 4th October unfortunately we can only accept cash transactions for payment.  Our Head Gardener Phill and his staff will still be working in the grounds and more than happy to help you if they can assist, so if you see them please do say hello.

8th July 2020.  COVID-19 Update.  Parcevall Hall Gardens is open to the public again!

It has been a long wait, but we are pleased to announce that Parcevall Hall Gardens will be open for visitors again daily, from Wednesday July 8th through until October 31st.  Opening times will be 10am until 4pm.  Gates will close at 5.30pm.  On arrival at the Gardens entrance please remain in your vehicle until a member of our Visitor Reception staff comes to greet you.  During the Coronavirus outbreak we are only accepting card payment for admission and for hygiene reasons are unable to accept cash or cheques.  As the Tea Room will be closed throughout 2020 visitors are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the grounds, on the understanding that they tidy up afterwards and take all their rubbish home with them.  Public toilet facilities are available and situated just outside the Rose Garden.  There are two individual toilets, both of which will be checked and cleaned on a regular basis.  For your wellbeing we would ask that social distancing guidelines are adhered to throughout the gardens and in particular in the toilet area.  During what are still difficult times until COVID-19 is finally eradicated, we will endeavour to make each visitor experience an enjoyable one, where the peaceful atmosphere and beauty of the gardens and surrounds may be enjoyed at their best.  As the gardens will be operating on a maximum capacity basis, at times it may be possible that they become full.  With this in mind whenever possible, regular updates will be posted on the Parcevall Hall Gardens Facebook page or, please check with the Garden Office on 01756 720311.  We are really looking forward to welcoming friends old and new to the gardens again and hope that you very much enjoy your visit.

10th June 2020.  Read all about us in Country Life Magazine.

There is a wonderful six page article about the Gardens in the current edition, out on June 12th, of Country Life Magazine.  Beautifully written by Steven Desmond, the feature is accompanied by a selection of glorious images of Parcevall Hall Gardens by the award winning photographer Richard Bloom.

3rd June 2020.  COVID-19 Update.  PARCEVALL HALL GARDENS REMAINS CLOSED.

Just t0 update you that Parcevall Hall Gardens and our surrounding footpaths will remain closed to visitors until further notice.  Hopefully this will not be for much longer, but until we have Government clearance it remains in the interests of your health and wellbeing that we do not reopen until it is completely safe to do so.  As ever, please keep checking this website for further updates and we look forward to welcoming you back to Parcevall soon.

24th March 2020.  Gardens closed until further notice.

In light of the current Coronavirus outbreak and following the influx of mass tourism across the Yorkshire Dales and to close proximity coastal resorts over the past weekend, it is with regret that Parcevall Hall Gardens has decided to remain closed until further notice.  The safety and well being of our visitors, staff and to our local residents is paramount and after seeing the irresponsible behaviour of some members of the public during the recent tourism onslaught, opening, while not being able to guarantee adequate space for social distancing, is not an option that we are prepared to take.  Please check this website for any further news and updates regarding reopening.

9th February 2020.  ‘Snowdrop Weekends’ return.

Now in the events fifth year and ever growing in popularity, the ‘Snowdrop Weekends’ at Parcevall Hall Gardens return in 2020 on Saturday/Sunday 22nd/23rd February, Saturday 29th February and Sunday 1st March.  On each weekend the Gardens will open daily between 10am to 4pm.  Admission will remain at the reduced rate of £4 each for  Adults, with accompanied children up to the age of 12 years admitted free of charge.  As Parcevall will not fully reopen for the new season until Monday 30th March, please note that there will be no refreshment facilities available on each of the days and that admission payment should be made by means of an honesty box, located at the door to the Gardens Office which can be found by the main entrance.  As well as being able to view the snowdrops, if the weather is good a visit will also present the perfect opportunity to take a pre season glimpse at the Garden, enjoy a stroll around the grounds and along the way, appreciate the spectacular views that Wharfedale has to offer.

17th June 2019.  BBC Television ‘Escape to the Country’.

A film crew from BBC Television visited the Gardens this afternoon to record two inserts for the popular property search programme ‘Escape to the Country’.  No need to panic though, you can rest assured that the Hall and Gardens are not up for sale!  The reason for the visit was to highlight Sir William Milner’s connection to the Hall, and in particular his skills involved in developing and nuturing the immediate surrounding landscape into the glorious gardens we see today.

2nd March 2019.  Parcevall in April edition of House & Garden magazine.

The April 2019 edition of House & Garden magazine, on sale from 1st March, has a six page article about Parcevall Hall Gardens, with text by the gardens author and writer Caroline Beck and images by International Garden Photographer of The Year 2016 Richard Bloom.  It is a lovely feature that shows off Parcevall at its best and a really interesting read.  Needless to say we are delighted with it!

20th February 2019.  New Season to start early at Parcevall on 30th March.

There’s a bonus if you are intending to visit Parcevall Hall Gardens at the beginning of our 2019 season as we will now be opening to the public two days earlier than scheduled, on Saturday 30th March.  The Gardens will open between 10am to 6pm, with last admission at 5pm and will continue to do so daily until 31st October.

13th February 2019.  The Snowdrops are finally in bloom!

We can confirm, albeit a couple of weeks later than scheduled due to the recent spell of cold weather, that the Snowdrops have finally made an appearance at Parcevall and are in full bloom!  The Gardens will now open to visitors over the following weekends, 16th/17th and 23rd/24th February, 2nd/3rd and 9th/10th March, between 10am and 4pm each day.

29th January 2019.  Snowdrop Weekends’ update.

Due to the current snap of cold weather our snowdrops are proving somewhat reluctant to burst into full bloom and as such are running a week or so behind schedule!  After a walk around the grounds this morning, Head Gardener Phill Nelson says that while there are signs of the blooms emerging it requires a little more time before they will be looking at their best.  So, with this in mind, we are recommending that if you are intending to come and visit during one of our Snowdrop Weekends that you do so on either Saturday and Sunday 16th/17th or 23rd/24th February.  To give everyone who wants to the opportunity to see the snowdrops we will also be extending this event over the first two weekends of March, 2nd/3rd and 9th/10th.  Parcevall Hall Gardens will be open on all these weekends between 10am and 4pm each day.

17th January 2019.  ‘Snowdrop Weekends’ dates confirmed.

We are pleased to confirm that this years ‘Snowdrop Weekends’ will take place on Saturdays and Sundays 2nd/3rd, 9th/10th, 16th/17th and 23rd/24th February, with the Gardens open between 10am and 4pm each day.   As in previous years the admission price for adults will remain at a reduced £4 each, payable via an honesty box situated at the Gardens Office door.  Again, accompanied children under 12 years of age will be admitted free of charge.  If you are intending to visit, please note that the Tea Room will be closed, but do feel free to bring a flask and make use of our picnic area if the weather allows.  As ever, for safety reasons, with the Gardens being located on a steep hillside we recommend that our visitors wear strong walking shoes with good grips, take care when following the woodland paths and, prepare for changeable weather conditions by dressing for warmth.  Parcevall Hall Gardens will reopen fully for the 2019 season on Monday 1st April.

31st October 2018.  Another season draws to a close.

At the end of another successful season, with visitors travelling from far and wide to see the Gardens, we will now be closed on a daily basis until 1st April 2019.  Parcevall Hall Gardens will however reopen briefly in February for our Snowdrop Weekends, which have grown in popularity across the past four years, with dates for these to be announced nearer the time.  Also, do keep a lookout for a further good news story from Parcevall, hopefully occurring sometime in March!  Again, thank you as ever for your continued support from Phill Nelson and his gardening team, along with everyone at Parcevall Hall Gardens.  We look forward to seeing you again in 2019.

26th March 2018.  A new season beckons as Parcevall begins to bloom!

How time appears to have flown since last October, as Parcevall now prepares to open for the start of a new season on Good Friday 30th March.  The Gardens will then remain open daily between 10am and 6pm (last admission 5pm) until 31st October.  Despite  some challenging weather conditions across the winter months, when both the Gardens and staff had to cope with some lively rain and snow storms, all the hard work put in by Head Gardener Phill Nelson and his team is now beginning to reap its rewards.  The Rhododendrons are beginning to thrive, along with Daffodils and other Spring flowering bulbs and shrubs.  A walk around the Wilderness will reveal the addition of a new small bird hide with feeders and, some young plantings put in around it.  2018 also marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of  William Milner (1893-1960), later to become Sir William, a farsighted architect, horticulturist and plantsman without whom Parcevall Hall and its surrounding 24 acres of formal and woodland gardens would not exist as they are today.  Our Visitor Reception Team, Helen and Damian, return from last season to welcome you on arrival and point you in the right direction, while Phill and the Gardens staff will be pleased to answer any horticultural questions that you may have regarding  your visit, so please don’t be afraid to ask.

23rd January 2018.  It’s confirmed, ‘Snowdrop Weekend’ event extended!

Originating in 2016 as one Snowdrop Weekend, 2018 will see this popular event extended over four weekends in February and confirming the dates in our previous post that the Gardens will open on Saturday and Sunday 3rd/4th, 10th/11th, 17th/18th and 24th/25th, between 10am and 4pm.  Nothing looks lovelier than Parcevall Hall Gardens when the snowdrops start to appear and announce that Spring is finally on its way!  As well as taking the opportunity to see the fresh blanket of newly emerged snowdrops, visitors can also enjoy the glorious surrounds of the Yorkshire Dales scenery that the Gardens have to offer, at a time of year when Parcevall is usually closed.  Admission for the Snowdrop Weekends will again be at the reduced rate of £4 each for Adults, payable via an honesty box situated at the Gardens Office door.  For accompanied children under 12 years admission is free.  As Parcevall Hall Gardens does not fully reopen for the new season until 30th March, the Tea Room will remain closed.  Please note that the Gardens are situated on a steep hillside, so for safety reasons it is recommended that visitors wear strong walking shoes with good grips, take care when following the woodland paths and, dress for warmth bearing the possibility of changeable weather in mind.

31st October 2017.  Parcevall Hall Gardens is now closed until Spring 2018.

It is always a sad time for us when as today, we close Parcevall Hall Gardens to visitors for the Winter months.  We will reopen again on Good Friday, 30th March 2018, with the new season continuing daily between 10am to 6pm (last admission 5pm) until the end of October. As many of you will know, over the past two years, the Gardens have opened in February for a ‘Snowdrop Weekend’.  Due to its popularity, we will be extending that event in 2018 over the four weekends of February, commencing on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th, then continuing on the following weekends 10/11, 17/18, 24/25.  More details to follow early in the coming year. As ever we thank you for your continued support and look forward to welcoming both old friends and new to Parcevall Hall Gardens in 2018.

30th March 2017.  A new season set to blossom at Parcevall.

After much hard work by Head Gardener Phill Nelson and his team during the winter closure, the gardens are once again ready to welcome visitors when they reopen for the new season on Saturday 1st April. Helped by some very good weather conditions across the summer, last season proved to be a record year for the number of visitors coming to see the gardens which was very pleasing.   The Tea Room will also reopen to coincide with the gardens and over the weekend of 1st/2nd April, will be hosting an exhibition of original watercolours, prints and cards by Embsay artist Shirley Schofield, all of which will be available to buy.  This year the Visitor Reception Team will consist of Helen, a familiar face to many of you from last season, now sharing meet and greet duties with our latest recruit, Damian. Our grateful thanks go to long-time stalwart Rod, who has relocated to pastures new.  As well as being a delight to visit for lovers of horticulture and tranquil surrounds, Parcevall Hall Gardens is also full of surprises in other ways, with a Comma (Polygonia c-album) butterfly, more usually to be found in Southern England, Scotland and North Wales and not in the Yorkshire Dales, being recently spotted here.  Parcevall Hall Gardens will reopen to the public for the 2017 season between 10am and 6pm daily (last entry 5pm) from 1st April until 31st October.

13th February 2017.  Another opportunity to see the Snowdrops!

After our planned Snowdrop Weekend turned into a very wintry ‘snowflake weekend’ and as the long-term weather forecast is currently looking better, we have decided to open the gardens at Parcevall again next Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th February, between 10am to 4pm each day, to offer another opportunity to view the snowdrops while they are looking at their best.  Entrance will again be at the reduced rate of £4 each for Adults, with accompanied children up to the age of 12 years admitted free of charge.  As before, admission payment will be by way of an honesty box located at the door of the gardens office by the main entrance.  Due to the gardens not fully reopening to the public for the new season until 1st April, there will be no refreshment facilities available on either day.  Just a reminder that as the gardens are located on a steep hillside, for safety reasons we do recommend that our visitors wear strong walking shoes with good grips, take care when following the woodland paths and, dress for warmth.

4th February 2017.  It’s Snowdrop Weekend at Parcevall on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th February.

After what proved to be a very popular pre-season event last year, Parcevall Hall Gardens will again be opening especially for its second Snowdrop Weekend on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th February, from 10am to 4pm each day.  Entry to the gardens across the weekend will be at the reduced rate of £4 each for Adults, with accompanied children up to the age of 12 years admitted free of charge. Admission payment will be by way of an honesty box located at the door to the gardens office by the main entrance.  As well as being able to view the snowdrops, if the weather is good it will also present the perfect opportunity to take a walk around the grounds and, along the way, appreciate the spectacular views that Wharfedale has to offer. With the gardens being located on the side of a steep hillside, for safety reasons it is recommended that visitors wear strong walking shoes with good grips, take care when following the woodland paths and, dress for warmth with the possibility of changeable weather in mind.  As Parcevall Hall Gardens will not fully reopen for the new season until 1st April, please note that there will be no refreshment facilities available on either day.

28th October 2016.  Just three more days to go!

Just a reminder that Parcevall Hall Gardens will close for the winter break this Sunday 30th October until Saturday 1st April 2017.  However, a note for your diary, as we will be reopening briefly for our Snowdrop Weekend on the 11th and 12th of February, more details of which will follow nearer the time.  As ever the gardening team would like to thank you for your continued support across the season and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2017.

8th September 2016.  Advance notice of Tea Room closure for one day.

Due to repair works taking place on the Parcevall Estate main water pipe, from 8am until 5pm on Monday 19th September, as the water supply will be turned off the Tea Room will remain closed throughout that day. Please note also that there will be no toilet facilities available for visitors to the gardens, which will be open as usual between 10am and 6pm, with last admission at 5pm.

13th May 2016.  A visit to Parcevall is always full of visual surprises and, you never know who you might meet!

Always full of visual treats and surprises at each twist and turn, some visitors to Parcevall yesterday had the additional bonus of seeing BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Carol Klein, who was with us filming for the programme, both in Troller’s Gill and around the Rock Garden near to the Hall.  Carol was recording inserts looking at how exposed plants cope in the wild and comparing them with similar plants that thrive in a location such as our Rock Garden, which has been described as being one of the finest examples of its kind in the North of England.  The piece is scheduled to be broadcast during the BBC Two Gardeners’ World programme on Friday 20th May at 20.30.  The weather was glorious and just could not have been better and it was a real pleasure to welcome Carol and the film crew to the gardens.

20th April 2016.  Every spin of the wheel is a guaranteed winner for cyclists visiting Parcevall!

With the starting date for the 2016 Tour de Yorkshire cycle race fast approaching, we were delighted to find that the route on the opening day, Friday 29th April, would bring the race very close by to Parcevall.  Even more exciting is that this will be as the riders contest for the right to wear the first ‘King of The Mountains’ jersey, when they are well and truly tested along the demanding stretch of the B6265 at Greenhow Hill as the pack climbs towards Grassington.   Large crowds are expected to line the Tour route throughout and we know that many amateur cyclists from across the UK and Europe are expected to visit the area, both to watch the race and also, with a good number trying out the route for themselves either prior to, or after, the main event has moved on.  As with last year we have again decided to celebrate the Tour by offering anyone who arrives at Parcevall having travelled here by bike, half-price admission of just £3.50.  The offer will run for two weeks from Sunday 24th April through until Sunday 8th May.  So whether you live locally and are just out to get some exercise or, travelling the race route and looking for the opportunity to rest some weary legs, we would be very pleased to see you.

21st March 2016.  Just a reminder that Parcevall’s new season starts earlier this year.

As Easter falls early this year, Parcevall Hall Gardens will be opening for the 2016 season on Good Friday, 25th March, one week earlier than usual.   2016 has been designated as the ‘Year of the English Garden’ by VisitEngland, The National Tourist Board for England, principally to celebrate the tercentenary of the birth of the man known as being the great ‘improver’ of landscapes, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown.  Parcevall, in common with a number of other wonderful gardens across the UK, had its landscape brought to life by its own horticultural genius and ‘man of vision’, the late Sir William Milner, who created from what was once wild, weather ravaged moorland, twenty-four acres of beautiful woodland garden that is now recognised as being one of the finest in the North of England.  The gardens at Parcevall will open daily from 25th March through until 31st October, between 10am to 6pm (last entry 5pm).

31st October 2015.  Another seasons draws to a close.

How quickly this season appears to have passed by!  After seven months of welcoming visitors, not only from the UK but, from across the globe, Parcevall Hall Gardens will now be closed until 25th March 2016 when we look forward to seeing you again.   As ever, we thank everyone who has visited us throughout 2015 for your support and, for the many kind comments that have been made about the gardens during the times that you have spent with us.

19th September 2015.  Parcevall Tea Rooms closing early this year.

Whilst the gardens will remain open to visitors until 31st October, just to give good notice that the Tea Rooms at Parcevall Hall Gardens, which have recently received an excellent review in the Ilkley Gazette (17/9/2015), will be closing a few days earlier than usual this season.  The final day that you will be able to choose from a whole host of the tasty culinary delights on offer will be Sunday 27th September.  The Tea Rooms will then reopen again when our new season commences on 25th March 2016.

1st April 2015.  The start of a new season at Parcevall.

After winter closure Parcevall Hall Gardens has reopened to visitors again between 10am-6pm daily (last admission 5pm), until 31st October.   Had we been open prior to today, any comments from visitors to Parcevall saying that the experience had left them ‘blown away’ could most likely have been put down to the fact that it has been more than a bit blustery here over the past few days!  But despite the gusty winds, the gardens are in good shape and looking at their best after all the hard work put in over the winter months by Head Gardener Phill Nelson, Nick and the team.  So hopefully our visitors will now be literally ‘blown away’ when they look around the gardens for all the right reasons!  The local forecast appears to be promising much quieter weather conditions as we move towards Easter weekend, so fingers crossed that it proves to be accurate.  Fortunately we didn’t see too much snow at Parcevall during the time we have been closed and it hasn’t been overly wet either.  This allowed for a busy time across the gardens during the months of closure, especially at the edge of Tarn Ghyll Wood just as you go over the arched wooden bridge.  With time this banking of woodland had become quite shaded and as such, not allowing for much of interest to grow there. Now that area has been opened up and planted with around 40 rhododendrons, which have been air layered and were grown at Parcevall over the past three years.  Added to that the gardens have had a donation of some Sorbus and Betula to compliment the planting.  There has also been some considerable stooling back and clearing the woodland of dead or inappropriate trees and shrubs.  Some hard landscaping has taken place on the terraces at the back of the rose garden and the apple trees have had their regular winter pruning.  As ever, Parcevall is attracting plenty of varieties of birds and wildlife to add to the interest of a visit, although after all the work that has gone into preparing the grounds and beds to look in pristine condition, the gardens team are hoping not to see an influx of Easter (or any other time) bunnies, as they tend to have a fond liking for eating the plants!  Throughout the season Phill will be posting monthly Head Gardener updates, both here and on our Facebook page, that will feature his choice of Plant of the Month and also offer some useful tips about what to do to help maintain your own garden.  Our seasonal assistants Lucy and Rod return to greet and advise our visitors on arrival and like them, we all look forward to welcoming both familiar faces and new ones to Parcevall across the 2015 season.

31st October 2014.  Winter closure.

Parcevall Hall Gardens is now closed for the winter months and will reopen to the public again on 1st April 2015.  Thank you to everyone who has visited the gardens throughout the past season, your continued support is very important to us and we look forward to seeing you again in spring.

7th August 2014.  All roads again lead back to Parcevall!

After some disruption for local transport while British Telecom carried out essential telegraph post replacement work in Skyreholme, we are pleased to report that the road to Parcevall Hall Gardens has now reopened and it is back to business as usual!

28th June 2014.  Can you really discount the benefit of cycling to Parcevall Hall Gardens?

To celebrate The Grand Départ 2014 taking place in Yorkshire, Parcevall Hall Gardens is offering a special incentive to cycling enthusiasts of a half-price admission rate of £3 per person to anyone who arrives having travelled here on a bike!  The offer will run for two weeks from Sunday 29th June until Saturday 12th July so as to give those who have planned a cycling holiday around the event, or fitness-orientated locals with stamina to burn, the opportunity to visit our award-winning gardens.

 24th April 2014.  Parcevall featured in this weeks Craven Herald & Pioneer.

There is a very good picture feature on the gardens in the ‘DalesLife’ section of the current edition of the Craven Herald & Pioneer.  Written by local journalist Victoria Benn, the piece is full of interesting information about the history and structure of Parcevall Hall Gardens as gathered during her interview with Head Gardener Phill Nelson.

1st April 2014.  We are now open for the new season and looking forward to welcoming you to Parcevall!

After what appears to have been an endless winter break at Parcevall Hall Gardens, we are now open again and looking forward to welcoming visitors throughout the new season.  This year those of you who have visited Parcevall on a regular basis will notice a change of personnel to greet you on arrival at the gardens entrance and we are pleased to welcome Lucy, who joins us to share seasonal staff duties alongside a familiar face in Rod.  Lucy comes in to replace Celia (and not forgetting her trusted canine companion Boo!) who have moved on to pastures new.  Celia has done sterling work on Parcevall’s behalf during her time with us, for which we are very grateful and wish both her and Boo all the best for the future.

Over the period of closure, Phill, Nick and the gardening team have been working hard as ever, regardless of what the weather decided to throw at them, looking after the gardens and grounds and taking care of the general upkeep to ensure that everything looks neat and tidy.  The opportunity has also been taken during closure to re-tarmac the main drive that leads up to the Hall whilst traffice flow was at a minimum and work is just about completed, with the road now re-opened  and accessible.

Photographer Nicola Stocken was at Parcevall earlier this year in the company of television gardening celebrity Katie Rushworth, co-presenter with Alan Titchmarsh of ITV’s ‘Love Your Garden’ series.  Katie chose Parcevall as a location for the photo-shoot, which was for a feature in the NFU’s ‘Countryside’ magazine, as it is one of her favourite gardens.

With not a lot of snow falling during the winter month’s and in general reasonably mild conditions, we are hoping that trend continues across the coming weeks and leads into a glorious summer!  Head Gardener Phill Nelson reports that the daffodills are starting to open during the present spell of warm weather;  that the rock garden is looking good with plenty of interest and the woodlands are beginning to come to life with daffodills and rhododendrons.  As ever there is plenty of bird life to see, with the spectacular low-flying Red kites now almost a daily occurence!  Regular news updates and snippets about the gardens and grounds will be posted on this page during the season and don’t forget that if you want to keep right up-to-date, you can also find us on Facebook.

Parcevall Hall Gardens will remain open to the public daily between 10am and 6pm (last admittance 5pm) from 1st April until 31st October.

31st October 2013.  Parcevall Hall Gardens is now closed until 1st April 2014.

After what has proved to be a record year for visitors, Parcevall Hall Gardens is now closed across the winter months and will reopen again on 1st April 2014.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who came to look around the gardens throughout the 2013 season and look forward to greeting both old friends and new when we open to visitors again in 2014 .

17th September 2013.  Parcevall recognised again with a third successive ‘Gold Rose Award’ by Yorkshire in Bloom 2013.

We are delighted to announce that for the third year in succession, Parcevall Hall Gardens has been awarded a ‘Gold Rose Award’ at the prestigious Yorkshire in Bloom Awards 2013.  The ceremony, which this year took place in the Knavesmire Stand at York Racecourse, was attended by 430 guests with the awards being presented by Joe Maiden, the well known gardener, horticulturalist, author and BBC Radio presenter.  Our award was in the category of Country Houses, Estates, Parks and Gardens and the judges commented that “Parcevall is a delight to visit and offers a wide range of garden areas and plants in a natural setting”. After receiving the award Head Gardener Phill Nelson said, “I am delighted to have collected a Yorkshire in Bloom Gold Rose Award on behalf of Parcevall Hall Gardens for a third successive year.  As on the two previous occasions, great credit has to be given to every member of our gardens team for their dedication and hard work in maintaining such consistently high standards throughout the year. The glorious weather that we have been blessed with for most of this current season has given our visitors the opportunity to enjoy the gardens at their very best.  To see Parcevall Hall Gardens recognised once again as one of the finest in Yorkshire is very pleasing”.

13th April 2013.  Yorkshire Post profiles Phill Nelson.

The gardens section of todays Yorkshire Post Magazine features a profile piece about our Head Gardener Phill Nelson.  It’s a really nice little insight with mentions of Phill’s pet gardening hate, favourite plant, first thing he planted at Parcevall, best gardening tip and what inspired him to start gardening.  You can find out all the answers on page 44 of the magazine!

10th April 2013.  Take a walk around the gardens with Phill Nelson on BBC Radio York.

You can gently ease your way into the day on Sunday 14th April and take a tour around Parcevall Hall Gardens in the company of Head Gardener Phillip Nelson, all from the comfort of your favourite chair! Phill will be joined by BBC local radio presenter Steve Bailey to take a walk and to talk in general about the many aspects of the gardens.  The interview will go out in three parts, with the first scheduled to be broadcast at around 10am, during the Mark Forrest programme on BBC Radio York which is on air between 9am-12noon.  BBC Radio York can be found on either 103.7fm or 95.5fm, or for those living out of the transmission area through the internet on their website.

6th April 2013.  Now you can find us on Facebook.

Parcevall Hall Gardens can now be found on Facebook.  Whilst at the moment still in the early stages of development, we will be adding more images, current and historical information and looking forward to hearing your comments and observations as the season progresses.  Just click on the letter f, which you will find in the top right hand corner of any of the Parcevall Hall Gardens website pages to find us.

22nd March 2013.  Reprinted copies of Heather Beaumont’s booklet about Sir William Milner now available.

Thanks to the Friends of Parcevall Hall Gardens, a second edition of the long out of print booklet about Sir William Milner, written by Dr Heather M Beaumont, is now available for purchase from the Gardens Office at Parcevall.  Without the vision, creativity and brilliant mind of Sir William Milner, at 6′ 7″ a gentle giant and somewhat eccentric, who reconstructed and extended from dilapidation the original 16th/17th century building and around it created a landscape and gardens of such beauty from wild moorland, Parcevall Hall Gardens would not exist. In what is a fascinating read, Dr Beaumont, who was Warden of Parcevall Hall between 1977-82, attempts to bring together the various strands of his life and to sketch a portrait of the man, based on the reminiscences of some of those who knew him.  ‘Sir William Milner’ by Heather M Beaumont is priced £2.00 (add 50p for postage and packing)>

21st August 2012.  Parcevall Hall Gardens Guide now revised.

As it has now been several years since the Gardens Guide was written and during that time quite a number of changes have taken place, we thought that it was time to revise it.  The latest version of the guide, which includes amongst other changes, updated information about the grounds and gardens written by Head Gardener Phillip Nelson, is now available from the Gardens Office at Parcevall priced £2.00 (add 60p for postage and packing).  An essential read both for visitors and those wishing to learn more about the remarkable history and development of Parcevall Hall Gardens.

Please check this page for regular updates of all our latest news and visitor information.