Situated between two adjoining valleys, Fast Rabbit Farm near Dartmouth includes five ponds, a lake, a stream and the River Black.
With 43 acres to explore, discover hundreds of rhododendrons, camellias, magnolias and a wide range of trees and shrubs. Underplanted with bulbs, the valley sides come alive in the Spring.
Don’t miss the wild flower meadow, the rose garden, the mediterranean garden, the orchard and the streamside walks.
Wonderful bluebells in the Spring.
The extensive plant centre is free to enter.
The gardens are rated by Trip Advisor as the first attraction in Dartmouth and as fourth in Devon by another site.
Further information about the Gardens is available via Fast Rabbit Farm’s website.
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The original garden of 12 acres was started in 1991 in the sheltered Strawberry Valley. The River Black runs through the site on its way to the sea at Blackpool Sands.
The garden was named after an amusing incident. An ageing collie famous for his love of chasing rabbits was shown a hare. However he didn’t chase it, puzzled by the name, until its owner shouted ‘fast rabbit’. Both hare and collie vanished into the distance and the garden got its name – needless to say, the hare easily outpaced the dog.
In the past few years a nursery and visitor centre have been added and new areas developed, including a further 12 acres of one of Devon’s most beautiful valleys, traversed by four long walks. This has been named Helen’s garden after the owner’s daughter and it features magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and roses as well as bulbs and herbaceous perennials.
This year an extensive wild-flower meadow is being planted with native species. A new large pond and a tranquil streamside walk has been created, planted with hydrangeas. A Mediterranean garden is also being developed on a four acre sunny hillside with almost a mile of new walkways.
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