Get ready to welcome Spring in West Devon

As winter loosens its grip on Tavistock and Okehampton, the signs of spring begin to ripple across West Devon’s landscapes. From the edges of Dartmoor to sheltered town gardens and allotments, lighter evenings and milder air signal it’s time to step back outdoors and prepare the soil for a new growing season.

Spring in this part of Devon brings unique opportunities — and a few challenges. The region’s higher rainfall and cooler nights mean gardeners should focus first on improving drainage and gently warming the soil. Turning over beds, adding well-rotted organic matter, and clearing away winter debris will give plants the best start. Hardy vegetables such as broad beans, early peas, and onions can often be sown directly, while tomatoes and tender flowers are better started indoors until the risk of late frost has passed.

Lawns may need their first careful cut, borders benefit from dividing overcrowded perennials, and shrubs can be lightly pruned to encourage fresh growth. Above all, spring gardening here is about timing and patience — working with West Devon’s climate rather than against it, and enjoying the steady return of colour across Tavistock and Okehampton’s gardens.

A new chapter is already well underway at Endsleigh Walled Gardens. After closing its gates two years ago, the much loved nursery is once again welcoming visitors, and the response over the past few weeks has been incredibly heartening. Many people have shared how special it feels to walk back through the gates and see the gardens beginning to flourish once more.

This is about far more than simply reopening. It marks the start of a long term journey to carefully restore and reimagine five acres of historic gardens, one thoughtful phase at a time.

We are currently in our soft launch phase and open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Phase One has brought a small refreshments café, shop and nursery back to life. Visitors can enjoy coffee and homemade bakes, browse a growing selection of gifts, and take their first look at the nursery as it begins to rebuild.

At present we have a small selection of plants available, but we are adding more all the time as we gradually expand our range and grow stock for the seasons ahead.

Behind the scenes, our dedicated volunteers are already shaping Phase Two, beginning the revival of the display gardens so they can once again become a place to wander, pause, learn and feel inspired.

As we move towards a full opening in spring, we will introduce workshops, education sessions and community growing projects. If you are interested in joining our volunteer team, we would love to hear from you.

Open Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.

Website: www.endsleighwalledgardens.com / Contact: Kayliegh / Email: [email protected].