Indulge your Green Fingers on your Next Holiday...

Verdant gardens overflowing with natural beauty are a hallmark of some of the destinations that I can offer. With many people enjoying nature, especially over the last 12-months – many of us have found ourselves connected to the natural beauty around us. This has created enthusiasts who enjoy the colours, fragrance and even the structure of the many species found within flora and fauna.

Here are some perfect destinations for nature lovers. Many of these amazing estates are easily accessible on a holiday booked with me as my hotel suppliers allow you access to enjoy these beautiful finds.

Tenerife The Orchid Garden in Puerto del la Cruz, northern Tenerife, is actually the oldest on the island and has a private mansion that dates back to 1730. The current owners have thankfully opened up the grounds to visitors to show off the impressive display of orchids. Writer Agatha Christie and German botanist Alexander von Humboldt each visited the fabulous displays in their day.

Alternately, why not travel a bit further west along the coast and you’ll come across the Parque del Drago and its famous “thousand-year-old” Icod Dragon tree. It may actually be only 800 years old (but who’s counting?) yet this Icod Dragon is considered the oldest living thing on the island. It towers more than 16 metres in height and spans 20 metres around the base.

With an incredibly diverse landscape, charming rural villages and a host of idyllic beaches, Tenerife provides an endless supply of things to see and do. Offering a range of high-quality accommodation, with world-class golf courses and luxurious spa facilities, Tenerife is the perfect destination for a magical, memorable experience.

Madeira This Atlantic island is home to several endemic plant and animal species. In 1960, the Madeira Botanical Garden transformed from a dream to reality. It is located 3km from the centre of Funchal, where the climate conditions are much in favour of exuberant vegetation. With about 35,000m2, the Botanical Garden boasts harmonious forms, contrasting colours and more than 2000 exotic plants. It is owned by the Regional Government of Madeira and, apart from being a beautiful place of leisure, it also serves as a Science and Culture Centre. Throughout the gardens visitors can find the plants labelled with their scientific names, common name and origin – helpful for novices like myself!

Holidays on Madeira have so much more to offer than you imagined! Fantastic walking and hiking, water sports, golf, spas, and botanical gardens are just a few of the many memorable things you can see and do on this lovely island.

Isles of Scilly Closer to Home we have the Tresco Abbey Gardens on the Isles of Scilly. The sub-tropical Abbey Garden is a glorious exception; often called ‘the perennial Kew Gardens’ without the glass, home to 20,000 flourishing plants from more than 80 countries, and just 30 miles off the coast of Cornwall. Fringing the lush grid of paths which criss-cross the gardens are a host of succulents, towering palms and giant, lipstick-red flame trees. In spring, flowers bloom weeks ahead of those on the mainland – the perfect tonic after a long, cold winter. In the autumn the reds, golds and ambers of the seasonal foliage contrast with the magnificent proteas, aloes and camellias. Even at the winter solstice there are usually more than 300 species of plant in flower.

Tresco is the archipelago’s second largest island. In addition to the Abbey Gardens it boasts a number of other attractions and has a relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere. With rugged coastlines, empty beaches and historical sites, the island has lots to offer. The only privately owned island in the archipelago is ideal for enjoying the great outdoors and is reached by a short ferry transfer from St Mary’s harbour. Whether you choose to stay on the island or just visit for the day, it is a must-see for anyone planning on coming to the islands.

If you are looking to indulge your green fingers on your next holiday or just like the sound of the destinations I’ve mentioned, then get in touch and lets discuss options on where to stay and how to get there.