Dann and I made a day of being in King’s Lynn when I was in the area for a work trip, so we headed to The Gooderstone Water Gardens, as Dann always loves a little walk around a nature reserve, and so do I! The Gooderstone Water Gardens is a really interesting area, as it feels quant; like someone’s large back garden that they’ve let us all wander around. This area has a car park, which is easy to find, and then a little entrance. There wasn’t anyone there – but there was a card reader asking people to pay a fee to enter, with the concept of trust being the judge! If you are a resident, then the price is much cheaper, but there are also options to have season tickets and different rates in the summertime and wintertime.
Dann and I started our stroll, following one of the trails around The Gooderstone Water Gardens, which feels manicured and well looked after. There are various little statues, different plants with their own plaques, and even a good-sized tea room that was serving afternoon tea. In the area, there was a little wooden hut that had different vines and gourds hanging from it. There was a small area to sit and look over the water, spying birds, with a bunch of nature magazines. Everything just feels like visiting someone’s home! There was even a little area set up with panda plushies, in a bunch of bamboo, that felt like a discovery of a children’s play area.
The Gooderstone Water Gardens was created by Billy Knights, who was a retired farmer that wanted to turn the damp meadow, which was too wet for cattle to graze in, into a water garden’s as per his son’s joke. He worked on the gardens for a long time, and his wife loved having people over to their gardens, to show them around. The garden had been unattended for five years, but then in 2003, the site was opened back up to the public after a restoration. There is an entire 8 acre Natural Trail around the area too, providing for a lovely walk. They do run little events in the gardens, including easter egg hunts and craft fairs, which is so lovely!
The Goodstone Water Gardens is a lovely gardens for a stroll around, especially when the flowers are in bloom. Dann and I found it to be quite romantic, despite going in the off season, and we very much enjoyed how well maintained this water gardens is. It’s neat to get to explore something that feels like someone’s vision, come to life, as a place they loved to live.
You can check out our other Days Out to see what else we’ve been up too!