Stapeley Water Gardens (one of Cheshire's Gardens of Distinction)
Stapeley Water Gardens and Palms Tropical Oasis
London Rd, Stapeley, Nantwich, Cheshire
Tel: 01270 623868
In summer, there's the national collection of water lilies to ogle, and all year round, there's the shelter of the Palms Tropical Oasis with its Koi carp, parrots, ponds and piranhas.
There are tearooms, of course, and wheelchair access to most areas, with wheelchair loan available too. For green travellers, the bus stop is just outside.
If you've ever seen Stapeley's display gardens at shows, you'll know they're not just a mail-order company. So you're in for a treat at their headquarters where, apart from the usual garden centre items, you'll find Koi and other fish available, plus a wide range of aquatic, marginal and bog plants (in season). And the extremely knowledgeable staff are ready to guide you through the array of pumps, filters and other equipment.
Outside, there are 2 1/2 acres devoted to displays, including various ponds in very different styles and a large area of naturalistic fish ponds filled with waterlilies and other aquatics to show the growth habit of these plants (this area is sometimes closed, so check before travelling).
On the other side of the site, there's the icing on the cake in the form of the spectacular Palms Tropical Oasis. If you can drag yourself away from the raised pond of Koi (more pets than prizewinners) in its Mediterranean setting, you'll find parrots, stingrays, tropical water lilies and other frost-tender aquatic plants, a formal Italianate water garden, frogs, lizards and terrapins, to name but a few of the exhibits. You can also thaw out here on a cold day, and enjoy food and drink in the cafe in the foyer.
Opening times (2008)
Open every day except Christmas Day
Summer: 9.00-18.00 (Sundays: 10.00-16.00, bank holidays 10.00-18.00)
Winter: 9.00-17.00 (Sundays: 10.00-16.00, bank holidays 10.00-17.00)
Palms Tropical Oasis: Daily all year except Christmas Day
10th Sept - Mid March: 10.00-17.00 daily including bank holidays.
Mid March - 10th Sept: 10.00-18.00 on Mon-Sat and bank holidays. 10.00-17.00 on Sundays.
Last admission 1 hour before closing time.
Admission fee (2008)
None for garden centre.
The Palms Tropical Oasis (Adult £4.95, child (3-15) £2.95, senior citizens/concessions £4.45, family(2+2) £13.60, (2+3) £15.00).
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