23
London and South East gardens for all seasons The little book of
London and South East
gardensfor all seasons
The little book of
WelcomeWelcome to our guide to gardens in London and the South East highlighting the best ones to visit throughout the seasons. One of my favourite times is winter, when structures become framed by frost and everywhere is buzzing with activity as our gardeners prepare for the new year. But our gardens are interesting to visit at anytime, changing with the seasons and always offering something different and fascinating to look at.
I’m extremely proud to be part of our dedicated and highly skilled team that cares for some of the UK’s most beautiful and historically important gardens. With your support, we’re helping to conserve them, for both you and future generations to enjoy.We have over 200 in total, from vast landscape gardens to intimate urban gems, the earliest dating back to Elizabethan times. Often
restored to their original beauty, they combine heritage planting with new and exciting ideas.
I hope this guide will make you want to explore our gardens, not only in summer but in spring, autumn and winter, too. From impressive spring bulb displaysto fabulous herbaceous borders packed with flowers, you’ll find lots of inspiration for your garden at home, no matter when you visit. Ifyou’re looking for advice, ourgardeners are always happyto share their expert knowledge,or you could join them on one oftheir regular garden tours.
Mike CalnanHead of Gardens
Contents
Autumn Ightham Mote Scotney Castle Morden Hall Park HughendenSissinghurst Castle Garden Uppark House and Garden
Winter Waddesdon Manor NymansClivedenOsterley Park and House
6
Spring Emmetts Garden Bateman’s Hinton Ampner Greys Court
11
16
Map 32
Inspire me 34
Top tips 35
Gardens are listed by seasonon the contents page and ina map on page 32, so thatyou can see at a glance where they are and start planning your visits today. We’ve focused on a seasonal highlight, but the gardensall have so much to offer throughout the year that we’re sure you’ll want tovisit them again and again. Please note all garden events and tours
are subject to availability and weather conditions.
Please check opening timeswhen planning your visit.
On each site page there are symbols tokeep things simple and familiar. Theseare as follows:
How to use this book
dOpen times
gGarden tours
sShop
JWheelchair accessibility
DAssistance dogsare welcome at all our properties and gardens
SummerStoweSheffield Park andGardenStanden House and Garden Polesden LaceyMottistone Gardens Basildon ParkHam House Mottisfont
25
(December, January and February)
Elegant stems and stripped-bare branchesadd a sculptural element to the tranquil winter landscape, accented with bright berries, rich evergreens and often-fragrant late-flowering shrubs and climbers.
Meet Anthony MasonHead Gardener at Cliveden
What are the best things about your job?With so many best bits, it’s very hard to narrow it down but my favourite is being outside in the fresh air working with what nature gave us.
What’s your favourite plant and why?This changes with every season, but for now one of my favourite trees is Sorbus aucuparia. This native gives flowers for insects, colourful autumn leaves and berries for birds and, for us, rowan jelly. It’s a great all-rounder.
Getting into Cliveden early standing on the terrace and seeing the morning mist over the parterre and river beyond is very special and a real privilege.
‘
Anthony Mason, Head Gardener at Cliveden’
Winter
6
The Rothschilds’ flamboyant Victorian gardens
Winter heralds the arrival of thousands of snowdrops, theirdelicate icy heads suspended from fine green stems.In February a flurry of early flowering daffodils emerges in thefamous daffodil valley. In the formal gardens, even in the deadof winter, bedding plants chosen every year for their colourburst cheerfully into flower, and trees, their leaves strippedbare, proudly display their framework of branches. In theWinter Garden there’s also a magical display of winter-flowering shrubs, variegated holly, evergreens and colourful winter stemmed plants such as white-stemmed bramble, polyanthus, heucheras and grasses.
Other points of interestThe Rose Garden (June – September), carpet bedding in the parterre (beds replanted annually and each season), spring tulips and autumn colour.
A garden lover’s delight in a romantic setting
Winter showcases the formal structure and views of the garden and its surrounding landscape to perfection. The winter walk alongside the main lawn is planted with winter-flowering shrubs, including camellias, sweet box, barberry and daphnes that are a show of colour and texture from November to March. In the Wall Gardenseed heads cling to the flowers, creating a magical display, complemented by the exotic shapes and flowers of the Chilean myrtles and Chilean lantern tree. And throughout the gardens winter-flowering hellebores, red berries and the fire-bright stems of dogwood (Cornus alba and Cornus sanguinea) add a blaze of seasonal colour.
Other points of interestSignificant international plant collection, including the largest collection of Chilean plants in England, magnolias, rhododendrons and camellias and bulbs in spring, seasonal herbaceous borders, rose garden,autumn colour in the arboretum.
Waddesdon Manor Waddesdon, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 0JH
NymansHandcross, near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6EB
dOpen January – December.
gGuided garden tours twice daily throughout the yearand daily buggy tours of the gardens and woods throughout the year. Scheduled head gardener walks and pop-up talks. Garden experience days available online.
sNursery with plant sales.
JWheelchair access.
dOpen January – Marchweekends only and every day in school half-term holidays.April – December Wednesday – Sundayand bank holidays.
gTwice daily garden tours most days April – October. Group tours and talks on request.
JNo wheelchair access on the Water Garden tour.
Great for ideas – jam-packed borders offer endless inspiration for your garden at home.
A picture in plants – every year almost 19,000 bedding plants are used to recreate a design based on a collection, exhibition or work of art in the house.
7 8
A series of impressive formal gardenswith far-reaching views
Enjoy the wider landscape of Cliveden in winter with extensive walks through over three hundred acres of gardens, tree-lined avenues and woodland and riverside paths. In the Water Garden the bare branches of the trees create crystal clear reflections in the ponds. Sculptures and decorative timber arches in the Rose Garden add artistic beauty tothe barren winter landscape. In the Italianate Long Garden, topiary and sculptures mingle with the geometric shapes of the Parterre, punctuated by pyramids and obelisk hedges. Plants in the herbaceous borders are left in flower, their pretty seed heads a picture in the frost and snow.
Other points of interestAn abundance of annual bedding, changed throughout the seasons, planted in the huge beds of the six-acre Parterre and the Long Garden. Magnificent summer herbaceous bordersin front of the house. The intimate Rose Garden, in flower from mid-June to late September. Maples and berries in the Water Garden. Daffodils and bluebells in the woods in spring.
Urban eighteenth-century formal gardens restored to their original grandeur
Discover a treasure trove of winter delights when you visit Osterley’s garden. The large secluded site is home to a plethora of trees, shrubs and other plants that look stunning in the coldest months and provide the perfect inspiration for your garden at home. Marvel at the Clematis urophylla, with itswhite bell-shaped flowers and lush green foliage. Admire beautiful rare plants, the fiery stems of the Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’, ghost brambles and lovely willows. From November to March, you’ll find colourful bark, striking leaf shapes, pretty seed heads and vibrant berries. Elsewhere in thegardens, camellias display their winter colour, and long walksthrough the meadows offer striking views of the trees.
Other points of interestMrs Child’s flower garden, a restored eighteenth-century ladies’ flower garden, is filled with bulbs in spring and old English flowers in summer. The Tudorwalled garden offers late summer and autumn interest with an ornamental vegetable garden, late flowering perennial borders and a flower-cutting garden. Robert Adam’s semicircular Garden House.
10
ClivedenCliveden Road, Taplow, Maidenhead, Buckinghamshire, SL1 8NS
Osterley Park and HouseJersey Road, Isleworth, Middlesex,Sat nav: TW7 4RD
dOpen January – December.
sPlants are available to buy from the book shop which is open at various times throughout the year. Theyare 100 per cent organic and all grown at Osterley
JWheelchair access.
dOpen January – December.
gPre-booked group tours available. The Potting ShedNews highlighting things tolook out for in the garden isavailable from reception.
sThe shop sells a range of peat-free plants, including herbaceous plants and roses.
JWheelchair access.
A garden for all seasons – the gardens are divided into three specific areas to ensure interest all year round – perfect if you’re looking for inspiration.
Feel like a king! – follow in the footsteps of dukes, earls, kings and queens as you wander from one spectacular garden to the next.
9
Spring(March, April and May)
Gardens wake up with unfurling leaves and new buds. Vibrant tulips, bright yellow daffodils, crocus, cyclamen, scilla, carpets of bluebells and delicate pink cherry and apple blossom burst into life.
Meet Adam FordGarden and Outdoors Managerat Greys CourtWhat inspired you to become a gardener?My father was a keen gardener and we always grew our own vegetables. He gave me a love of fresh, home-grown produce. Gardening allows me to bring together my passions for being out in the fresh air, working with my hands and creating beautiful spaces that anyone can enjoy.
What is your favourite thing about spring?The wonderful display of our wisteria blossom. Planted over 120 years ago, the wisteria is one of the oldest plants in the garden at Greys Court. The gnarled twisted branches are a spectacular sight at any time of the year but it’s particularly impressive in full bloom.
I’d like Greys Court to be a beautiful‘ space but also a historic landmarkthat tells the story of its creatorand marks her moment in time.’Adam Ford, Garden and Outdoors Manager at Greys Court
11
An Edwardian hillside gardenwith panoramic views over theWeald
A series of gardens, formerly owned by celebrated plantsman Frederick Lubbock and lovingly restored to their Edwardian origins, creates a magnificent display of colour in spring. Daffodils and spring bulbs fill the gardens, and the woods are awash with a carpet of bluebells. In the cherry orchard the trees are a show of pretty blossom, and thousands of pink, red and black tulips mingle with the grassland. In the north of the garden, high-altitude alpine plants pop up along the winding paths. Magnolias and a rainbow of rhododendrons and azaleas nestle amongst the exotic trees of the South Garden, where in May the handkerchief tree and snowdrop tree create a spectacular display.
Other points of interestThe Italianate Rose Garden in summer, seasonalautumn colour, the sweet-smelling candy-floss tree (katsura), plus rockery and alpine plants and breathtaking views all year round.
Rudyard Kipling’s peaceful sanctuary and family home
Rudyard Kipling’s iron-framed pear alley is an explosion of colour in spring as the pear trees display their extravagant white blossom, edged by tulips, camassias, narcissi and other spring bulbs. In the rest of the orchard the apple trees are also in full bloom. Amongst the ornamental treesand shrubs of the Wild Garden, which include azaleas and the beautifully fragrant balsam poplar, there’s a mass ofwhite snowdrops, yellow narcissi, blue scillas, fritillaries, bluebells and wood anemones. Nearer to the house, the borders by the Quarter Deck are alive with red lungwort, primroses, hellebores and Siberian squill.
Other points of interestBorders of colourful annuals in the Mulberry Garden and Kipling’s favourite roses in summer. Fruit and vegetables from the orchard and kitchen garden in autumn. The architectural beauty of the pleached limes, and outstanding garden views in winter.
Emmetts GardenIde Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 6BA
Bateman’sBateman’s Lane, Burwash, EastSussex, TN19 7DS
dOpen January – December.
gPre-booked garden tours are available in the latespring and summer.
sThe shop sells seasonal plants grown in the gardens, including spring bulbs and summerannuals, as well as gardenproduce.
JWheelchair access.
dOpen January – December.
gGarden tours March –October, Monday – Friday at 11am. Please check availability on the day.
sPlants available to buyin the shop.
JWheelchair access.
A garden for every taste –wander through the different gardens to discover your perfect happy place.
A literary garden – the garden and landscape at Bateman’s providedthe inspiration for Rudyard’smagical tales in Puck of Pook’s Hilland Rewards and Fairies.
12 13
A luxurious rural idyll offers a peacefuland soothing space to relax in
Share in Ralph Dutton’s blossoming vision as soon as you enter the gardens in spring. The Magnolia Garden is a showcase of the tree’s exotic flowers, juxtaposed with equally striking camellias. In the cherry orchard you’ll find the pink flowers of cherry ‘Kanzan’ and the snowy white ‘Mount Fuji’ as well as other cherries and crab apples. In the Tudor Walled Garden nineteenth-century espalier apple and pear trees mingle with more recently planted trees, a show of blossom in spring, alongside the dainty heads of crown imperial. Tulips, daffodils and narcissi abound, with the main terrace borders an exuberant show of spring colour. In the Yew Garden hexagonal bedding is planted with forget-me-nots and tulips.
Other points of interestStunning roses that flower from May to the end of August. A newly planted Winter Garden. In autumn the Walled Garden has an abundance of produce, whilst flowers in the formal borders exude a warm, mellow glow. Aflamboyant display of dahlias flowers until the first frosts.
A series of medieval walled garden rooms offers a haven of tranquillity
Open the gates within the walled garden to discover a hidden gem behind each one. Framed by the original medievalwalls, they offer a magical journey of discovery. In the Cherry Garden and Orchard see the Japanese cherries and fruit trees in full blossom, along with peonies, crab apple and clematis. Stand and admire the patchwork of spring bulbs, inspired by the design of a quilt in Lady Brunner’s bedroom. Enter the labyrinthine wisteria room that looks and smells spectacular in spring. In the White Garden, you’ll find early season shrubs including magnolia and sweet box. Everywhere, spring bulbs appear. There are over 2,000 tulips just as you enter the walled gardens and the cutting beds are filled with daffodils and tulips. Sir Felix’s walk around the estate is an amazing display of bluebells.
Other points of interestRoses abound in summer. In the organic Kitchen Garden individual vegetable plots, abundant in autumn, provide inspiration for your home. In winter colourful stems and berries stand out amongst the striking skyscape.
Hinton Ampner Hinton Ampner, near Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0LA
Greys CourtRotherfield Greys, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4PG
dOpen January – December.
gGarden tours are available every day (closed 24th and25th December). Please check at reception on the day. Pre-booked group tours also available.
sA plant stall sells some plants from the gardenas well as seasonal produce.
JWheelchair access.
dOpen January – December, some areas may be closed due to the weather.
gGuided garden tours Tuesday and Thursdays, ask at reception for details.
sThe plant centre sells many of the plants from the garden.
JWheelchair access.
A designated ‘Silent Space’ –switch off your phone and stop awhile to enjoy a moment of quiet contemplation, just as Ralph Dutton intended.
Wisteria hysteria – the wonderful, gnarled branches of the 120-year-old wisteria create an enchanted forest that’s beautiful to see all year round.
14 15
(June, July and August)
Gorgeously scented roses, formalparterres packed with summer bedding, traditional herbaceous borders and bold flowering annuals create an explosion of colour.
Meet Jamie HarrisHead Gardener at Polesden Lacey
JuneJune is the last month to get any planting done… the soilwill still have some moisture from the spring rains andthe temperatures won’t be climbing too high just yet.
June and JulyJune and July are the key months for roses. To extend the flowering season for as long as possible you’ll need to keep on top of the deadheading. Regular deadheading directs energy into stronger growth and more flowers over a longerperiod.
AugustIn August in the vegetable garden, harvest French and runner beans regularly and ensure that the courgettes are picked before they get too big.
My job is to work with the team to‘make sure Mrs Greville’s Edwardianlandscape garden is lookinggorgeous all year round. I love what I do and I count myself luckyto be able to watch our gardenstransform with each new season.Jamie Harris, Head Gardener at Polesden Lacey ’
Summer
16
Sublime eighteenth-century landscape gardens with picture-perfect views
Explore one of the world’s most significant eighteenth-century landscape gardens. With a focus on greenery, it’s a grandiose mixture of rolling lawns, temples, pathways, trees, shrubs andtranquil stretches of water. In summer, views appear and disappear between the trees and monuments. Look out for theIndian bean tree, tulip tree and mock orange, all displaying theirdelightful summer blooms. Abundant limes assault the senseswith their grand stature and sweet scent. The meadows are filledwith wild flowers, and in the Sleeping Wood, with its meanderingpaths and colourful flowering shrubs, you’ll find roses, lilac andhoneysuckle.
Other points of interestIn spring snowdrops adorn the banks, and bluebells and wild daffodils appear around every corner. In autumn the rich colours of the liquid amber trees and fieldmaple add to the views. In winter the bare trees allowextended views across the parkland and createatmospheric reflections across the lakes.
Magical lakes encircled by glades,woods and parkland
Explore over a hundred acres of traditional landscape gardens. They were originally laid out in the eighteenth century by ‘Capability’ Brown and Humphry Repton and later planted with an impressive collection of trees and shrubs.Crimson waterlilies create a sea of colour on the four lakesin the summer sun, and the surrounding winding pathwayscome alive with colour. Highlights include the large, roundflowers of the calico bush and the purple blue cones of theKorean fir. You’ll also find the Indian bean tree, with its heart-shaped leaves and white flowers, the sweet-smelling katsura tree and more.
Other points of interestMagnificent autumn colour from the trees and shrubs, which include acers, Taxodium and tupelo trees. From April to June azaleas and rhododendrons are a blaze of colour. Beautiful winter treescapes and winter colour, including the red black berries of the mahonia, the yellow spiked flowers of the witch hazel and the rich red stems of dogwood. Carpets of snowdrops.
18
StoweBuckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18 5EQ
Sheffield Park and GardenSheffield Park, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 3QX
dOpen January – December.
gGarden tours 11am every Tuesday and Thursday all year. Please ask at reception for details.
sPlant sales in the reception shop.
JWheelchair access.
dOpen January – December.
gGuided tours throughoutthe year depending on gardener availability. Please check on the day.
sPlant centre sells a seasonal range of plants, laid out to resemble a garden border.
JWheelchair access.
Gardening on the grandest scale – over 250 acres and 28 monuments and temples pay tribute to their original Georgian design.
Water everywhere – a series of interlinked man-made lakesdisplay mesmerising reflections of the trees and shrubs around.
17
The Arts and Crafts hillside garden restored to its original splendour
Throughout the summer, borders around the house are planted with bright bedding inspired by the William Morris patterns inside the adjacent rooms. Each area has its own theme and range from traditional cottage garden plants such as sweet William and sunflowers to more tropical cannas and Tetropanax. These often mingle with topiary that mirrors features on the house itself. Elsewhere the rosery offers an opportunity to sit by the swimming pond; you can play croquet on the lawn; the kitchen garden is bursting with produce and at the top of the garden the terrace and summerhouse overlook the beautiful Weirwoodreservoir and Ashdown Forest.
Other points of interestSpring bulb and tulip festival with 14,000 bulbs all around the garden. The sloping lawn is full of wild flowers including orchids in the spring, while for contrast the cool and shady quarry garden right next to the house is home to some very rare and unusual plants. Autumn colour from Japanese maples over a century old is also spectacular.
Standen House and GardenWest Hoathly Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4NE
dOpen January – December.
gGarden tours by garden volunteers take place throughout the year. Timings vary so please check at reception or on the website for further details.
sThe plant shop sells plants grown in the nursery and Seasonal Kitchen Garden produce is available to buy from the shop.
JWheelchair access is limited, due to topography of garden
Inspirational – jam-packed borders provide lots of ideas for your garden at home.
Edwardian hostess Mrs Greville’s gardens delight all year round
Visit the Ladies Garden in summer to see Polesden Lacey’s new rose, ‘Margaret Greville’, celebrating 75 years of National Trust care of the gardens. Delight in the abundance of over 2,000 roses in the Edwardian Rose Garden, including rambling and climbing roses around the pergola and the yellow-petalled ‘Graham Thomas’.The double herbaceous border is filled with gorgeous perennials that flower right into autumn. In the old kitchen garden, seasonal annuals hark back to MrsGreville’s original cut- flower borders. Beds of lavenderand thyme fill the air with their heady scent.
Other points of interestDedicated spring borders offer a mixture of perennials, trees, shrubs and bulbs. Over 75,000 spring bulbs appear in lawns, borders, beds and containers. Graham Stuart Thomas’s winter garden is a carpet of yellow aconites and snowdrops. Preserve Copse has a magnificent autumn display of Japanese maples and there’s wonderfulautumn foliage throughout the 1,400-acre estate.
Polesden LaceyGreat Bookham, near Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6BD
dOpen January – December.
gGarden tours are availablethroughout the day everyday in the summer, and atweekends from November– March. Details availableat reception.
sGarden shop sells indoor and outdoor plants.
JWheelchair access.
High society garden – everything in the garden reflects Mrs Greville’s desire to impress her guests with lavish displays.
19 20
A sheltered Mediterranean-style garden nestled in a valley
In summer treat your senses to a riot of colours and smells as you enter the National Trust’s most southerly dry garden.With Mottistone’s island location offering glimpses of thesea, its borders are filled with drought-resistant plants thatthrive without watering. Discover the unique monocotborder, featuring New Zealand flax, grasses and the largeleaves of the exotic banana plants. Admire the subtropicalborder with its impressive display of giant viper’s bugloss,palms and foliage plants. And delight in the doubleherbaceous border, each side mirroring the other perfectly,with catmint, African daisies, delphiniums, salvias,penstemons and more. You’ll also find a tranquil rose gardenand a small organic kitchen garden you could imaginetransporting to your home.
Other points of interestThe colourful borders flower right through the autumn. In spring bluebells fill the woods behind the house and appear in the gardens, too, which are also awash with spring bulbs including narcissi, daffodils and camassias.
21
An authentic Victorian garden with stunning views over the Thames Valley
Walk through over four hundred acres of garden and parkland and enjoy commanding views of the Thames Valley hills. In the Victorian pleasure grounds the herbaceous border by the house is filled with colour, planted with a mixture of perennials and annuals, including day lilies, roses and sweet peas. At the back of the house, the rose garden has been restored to its original 1950s design, with a mixof old shrub roses, sweet peas and annuals that flower throughout spring and summer. The Victorian terrace, uniting the house with the landscape, is a great place to stop and admire the countryside.
Other points of interestEver-changing views of the landscape throughout the seasons. In autumn the native beeches are a blaze ofyellows and orange, whilst in winter the trees’ skeletal formsare laid bare. The grounds have four waymarked walkingtrails, peppered by daffodils, spring bulbs and bluebells in spring, snowdrops in winter and wild flowers in summer.
22
Mottistone GardensMottistone, Near Brighstone, Isle of Wight, PO30 4ED
Basildon ParkLower Basildon, Reading, Berkshire, RG8 9NR
dOpen January – December.
sPlant stall sells a range ofpeat-free plants, including perennials and roses found in the gardens.
JWheelchair access.
dOpen March – October, Sunday – Thursday.
sSeasonal peat-free plantsfor sale, propagated on site, so you can take a little bit of Mottistone home with you.
Never water your borders again– Mottistone’s magnificent borders are testament to the garden’s non-watering policy.
Take a walk – 400 acres of historic parkland deliver an ever-changing landscape that’s magnificent all year round.
Beautiful riverside gardens offer a sensory treat
Traditional walled gardens are magnificent all summer long. National Trust’s Gardens Adviser Graham Thomas’s world-famous Rose Garden is home to the National Collection of pre-1900 highly fragranced old-fashioned roses, an extraordinary spectacle in June. These are complemented in late summer by avenues of purple lavender and two exceptionally long and deep herbaceousborders featuring agapanthus, geraniums, pinks, lilies, phlox and more, all carefully chosen for their structure, scent and colourful palette.
Other points of interestSeasonally changing borders flower well into September.In autumn the newly built Kitchen Garden will be filled with produce, including hanging gourds, salads and climbing vines. Late-flowering roses provide colourful displays from September to November complementing the bright autumn leaves of the giant ancient planes and many other trees.
MottisfontNear Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 0LP
dOpen January – December.
gGarden walks available everyday of the year (closed 24 and 25 December). Details available at reception. Daily Ask the Gardener sessions in June in the Rose Garden.
sPlants available in the shop.
JWheelchair access.
Glorious old-fashioned roses– beautiful, highly scented and once flowering, the flowers are left to produce ornamental fruit in autumn and winter.
Faithfully re-imagined seventeenth-century garden on the banks of the RiverThames
Take a step back in time to over three hundred and fifty years ago and see many of the plants and produce that would have originally grown in the gardens. In summer the long South Terrace border that abuts the house features an array of plants all dated to the 1680s. The walled background with tall yew topiary cones showcases each specimen in authentic seventeenth-century style. The cherry garden is filled with the heady scent of lavender, the box parterre framing itsfragrant purple heads. The walled kitchen garden is crammed with heritage crops. Highlights include a French-style potager garden, a cut-flower plot and a historic plot, which tells a different story every year. The café at the centre is housedin the oldest orangery in the UK, where the bounty of the garden is served up to customers.
Other points of interestWisteria, thousands of tulips, a walled vine border planted with crocus, narcissi and other spring bulbs. Authentic seventeenth-century ‘Wilderness’ filled with bulbs and bluebells in spring, wild flowers in summer and snowdrops in winter. Autumn harvest in the kitchen garden.
Ham House and GardenHam Street, Ham, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7RS
dOpen January – December.
gGarden history tours run every day all year round (closed 24 and 25 December). In spring and summer thereare also Wednesdaykitchen garden tours.
sThe shop sells a large selection of Ham-grown plants and other varieties. From late spring to late September it also sells Ham House vegetable bags.
JWheelchair access.
Great for lunch – the Orangery café prepares freshly made food straight from the garden to your plate.
23 24
(September, October and November)
Leaves and stems produce a kaleidoscopeof glowing colour in shades of orange, gold, red and yellow. Fruit trees are laden with apples, late-flowering plants continue to bloom and landscapes and vistas are at their best.
Meet Troy SmithHead Gardener at Sissinghurst
What do you love most about autumn at Sissinghurst? The colours of high summer slowly diluting to reveal amore mysterious melancholic mood. The ancient oak trees that wrap like a duvet around the garden take on the colours of faded Venetian architecture and everywhere feels momentary and ephemeral.
If you had to pick one plant for autumn colour,what would it be?The English oak; its leaves turn an intense conkerbrown colour and last long into November.
What are your top jobs for autumn in the garden? Lifting and dividing herbaceous plants to ensure theygive their best next year.
I sometimes feel like the luckiest person‘ alive, not only do I get my hands inthe soil at Sissinghurst, a soil in whichgenerations of gardeners have createdmagic, but I also get to play a part inshaping the future of this great garden.’
Autumn
Troy Smith, Head Gardener at Sissinghurst
25
Tranquil gardens surrounding aromantic medieval moated manor
Wonder at the beautiful colours of autumn from the moment you arrive. The long herbaceous border overlooking the north lawn flowers right through to the arrival of winter. Discover ‘Rambling Rosie’ roses on the arches, plus globe artichokes, rudbeckia, phlox, anemones and more. Beech hedges andcherry trees along the east bank provide a show of brightyellows, oranges and reds. In the pleasure grounds, take in theirresistible toffee apple aroma of the katsura trees. You’ll alsofind yellow and blazing red acers, a golden yellow tulip tree,bronzed beeches and stunning red euonymus. In theorchard, the apple trees are laden with ripe fruit, which can beenjoyed at the annual apple and orchard event at end of Sept.
Other points of interestBeautiful sweet pea walk in the cutting garden in summer. Colourful herbaceous borders and beddingdisplays in the formal garden in winter/spring and summer/autumn. The birch bank in winter, where cornus, cyclamen, daphne, witch hazel, hellebores, snowdrops and crocus add colour to the dazzlingwhite stems of the Himalayan birch.
A picturesque castle garden with aromantic fairytale feel
Wind your way down through the gardens and around the moat to discover a selection of outstanding tree species highlighted for their seasonal colour, such as the sweet gum tree whose stunning scarlet leaves reflect in the water of the moat. In the walled garden, the productive autumn harvest includes a wide range of seasonal produce, apples, pears, soft fruits, colourful cut -flower beds and a glut of pumpkins. Elsewhere naturalistic herbaceous borders continue to flower until the first frosts.
Other points of interestIn spring, rhododendrons and azaleas are a mass of pinks, purples and blues. The enchanting castle ruins are swathed in white wisteria, rambling roses and climbinghydrangea in late spring and summer, surrounded byherbaceous and herb beds. Improved winter access on hard-standing paths, with new winter planting and structural interest from ancient gnarled trees and of course, Scotney Castle.
Ightham Mote Mote Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0NT
Scotney CastleLamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 8JN
dOpen January – December.
gGarden tours and talks run throughout the year. Please check website.
sPlants and produce from the walled garden available spring to autumn, as well as a shop selling a wide range of plants all year round.
JWheelchair access.
dGarden openJanuary – December.
gDaily garden tours taking in the south lake run April –October. Tours may also run November – March. Please check availability on the day.
sPlants and produceavailable from the cutting garden and the shop sells plants spring to autumn.
JWheelchair access.
Perfect for picnics – a meandering stream and ornamental lake edged by informal lawns and specimen trees offer a peaceful spot to sit.
A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) – green-winged orchids in May on the terraces.
26 27
Mary Anne Disraeli’s beautifullyrestored Victorian gardens
Perched on a hilltop, Benjamin Disraeli’s country home delivers historic vistas of the surrounding woodland and valleys that come into their own in autumn. Its tree-filled pleasure grounds are a mosaic of colour, with the rich golds and reds of the beech trees, ash, maples and horse chestnut contrasting with lush evergreens. In September and October the trees in the orchard and walled garden are laden with fruit, and vegetables are ripe to pick. Mary Anne’s formal parterre features a blazing display of colour. The annual apple weekend celebrates the autumn produce with gardeners on hand to answer questions on the historic gardens.
Other points of interestSpring bulbs and apple blossom, ever-changing seasonal parterre bedding and summer roses. Newly revived west-bank winter garden with primrose walk, yews, winter-flowering shrubs and a Christmas box and Irish juniper walkway.
29
HughendenHigh Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4LA
dOpen January – December.
gRegular garden tours andtalks available, updated daily on the noticeboard.
sProduce and plants for sale.
JWheelchair access.
Inspirational bedding – the formal parterre is re-planted twice a year to create an ever-changing display.
London’s hidden gem – just a 500-metre walk from theNorthern Line and it feels like you’re right in the middle of the countryside!
Morden Hall Park Morden Hall Road, Morden, London, SM4 5JD
A perfectly preserved country estate in the heart of London
A magical oasis and wildlife haven in the centre of the capital, Morden Hall Park offers a diverse countryside landscape. Punctuated by the River Wandle and its tributaries, and with magnificent tree-lined avenues, in autumn the grounds are ablaze with colour. Apple trees throughout the park bear their ripe fruit, with an annual apple day to celebrate their bounty. And in the Community Wildlife Garden you’ll find a variety of seasonal fruit and vegetables ready for harvest.
Other points of interestSpring apple blossom and spring bulbs. Historic rose garden featuring heritage varieties. Wildflower meadow currently being restored to its nineteenth-century origins. An abundance of wildlife in the wetlands, wild and enchanting winter walks.
dOpen January – December.
sMorden Hall Park Garden Centre is open 7 days aweek. It is the National Trust’s only garden centre and the first peat-free garden centre in the UK.
JGrounds partly wheelchairaccessible, loose gravel paths. Rose garden is fully accessible.
28
The world-renowned gardens of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson
Discover a garden crammed full of plants and colour.Faithful to Vita’s painterly vision, the garden offers avisual delight wherever you look. In autumn the orchard is bursting with pears, apples and crab apples, their trunks swathed in mauve autumn crocus. In the South Cottage Garden, the borders and beds are ablaze with reds, oranges and yellows from late season perennials such as dahlias and salvias. In the spring garden asters create a blast of colour in September and October. In November large mature English oak trees display their beautiful warm brown hues and autumn trees on the estate create a spectacular show.
Other points of interestOnce flowering old roses, and the greens, greys and whites of the White Garden in summer. Narcissus, tulips,fritillaries, erythroniums and other bulbs in the springgarden and orchard.
Sissinghurst Castle Garden Biddenden Road, near Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 2AB
dGardens open March –October, estate January– December.
gWeekly behind the scenes tours of the vegetablegarden (Mondays) andnursery and cutting garden (Tuesdays and Thursdays, March – October).
sVita’s original nursery sells plants propagated from the gardens.
JWheelchair access.
An artist’s garden – passionate about colour, Vita Sackville-West’s innovative purple border is a mass of bluesand purples all year long.
Intimate Georgian gardens perched high on the South Downs ridge
Drive through canopies of deciduous beeches in autumnal shades of russet and golden yellow as you approach the house and gardens from the north and south drives. On arrival you’ll be met by one of two magnificent tulip trees, the leaves an impressive show of autumn colour. Adding to the warm autumnal palette are the orange leaves of the Japanese angelica in the tea garden behind the shop, the fiery scarlet leaves of the sugar maple and acers, and the black mulberry with its mellow hues of yellow and gold. Right up on the South Downs, views stretch as far as the Isle of Wight on a clear day. In the scented garden and herbaceous borders,late-flowering plants make the most of the autumn sun.
Other points of interestThe scented garden, with fragrant lilies, mock orange and scented geraniums. Long flowering herbaceous border with penstemons, clematis, yarrow and rock rose. Picture perfect picnic spots in the wildflower meadows. Stunning winter views and the skeletal forms of the woodland trees.
Uppark House and GardenSouth Harting, Petersfield, West Sussex, GU31 5QR
dOpen January –December, weather permitting.
gThursday afternoon garden tours April –October.
sPlant sales in the tea garden.
JWheelchair access.
Café with a view – tables and chairs on the grassallow you to take in theamazing vistas whilst enjoying a delicious treat.
30 31
5
2
18
11
16
4 9
1713
19
146 10
15
3
8
1
721
12
20
22
Isle ofWight
Maidstone
Brighton
Bournemouth
Portsmouth
London
Oxford
Milton Keynes
Guildford
1 Basildon Park
2 Bateman’s
3 Cliveden
4 Emmetts Garden
5 Greys Court
6 Ham House and Garden
7 Hinton Ampner
8 Hughenden
9 Ightham Mote
10 Morden Hall Park
11 Mottisfont
12 Mottistone Gardens
13 Nymans
14 Osterley Park and House
15 Polesden Lacey
16 Scotney Castle
17 Sheffield Park and Garden
Sissinghurst Castle Garden
19 Standen Houseand Garden
20 Stowe
21 Uppark Houseand Garden
Waddesdon Manor
18
22
The little map of gardens
3332
The way we look after our gardens really matters. There are an estimated 16 million gardens in the UK, according to The Wildlife Trusts. Together they form a huge potential refuge for species that are declining in the wild. Here are some ways you can bring more nature to your back door.
Bird box and feedingBirds are an important part of garden ecosystems. By installing bird boxes and feeding birds you can make sure theythrive. Put your bird box up high in asheltered site. In spring, provide protein-rich feed, such as fat balls. Seeds are best in the winter.
Let the grass growGive your mower a break. Long grass is one of the rarest garden habitats. By letting some or all of your lawn grow you will make space for many plant and insect species, including butterflies and wildflowers. Leave the grass long over winter and cut it again in the spring.
Grow climbersIvy is a very useful plant for wildlife. Both the flowers and seeds are good sources of food and pollen. Plus, it provides year-round cover for birds and insects. Clematis and roses are also excellent climbers for wildlife.
CompostA compost heap is a win-win. Making and using your own compost will naturally enrich your soil. It will also provide a habitat for worms, woodlice and many other insects, including frogs and slow worms.
FlowersFlowers look beautiful and bring colour and scent into your garden. They also provide food for many insects. Grow as many varieties as possible to ensure nectar and pollen from spring through into autumn.
Your favourite plants for everTake cuttings of your favourite perennials so that you can enjoy them year after year – and to giveas gifts to family and friends. Instead of doing this in early summer, do it at the beginning of October, when the sun is less hot and they areless likely to dry out. Our Wooden Dibber is just the thing for making holes in your compost ready to transplant your chosen stems.
Inspire me
Keep theheads on yourherbaceous plantsInstead of deadheading all the perennials in your borders, try leaving some of them over winter. Not only do the seed heads look lovely, they also provide a welcome habitat for insects during the coldermonths.
Protect your potted plantsIf you’ve got shrubs and perennials in pots, make sure both the plants and the pots aren’t destroyed in the frosts. Give thema bubble- wrap jacket – and ifyou’re not keen on the look, coverit in hessian for a rustic winterfinish. Have a look at ourdecorative plant pots for a greatway of adding instant focus to aspecial spot.
Daffodil delightRecreate the daffodil-strewn lawns of many of our gardens at home. Scatter bulbs over the area to create even drifts, then plant using a metal or wooden spike. Make sure you plant them to roughly twice their depth to prevent eelworms from attacking them. With its narrow blade and marked depths, our Transplanting Trowel is perfect. When the bulbs have finished flowering, let them die down naturally for 4–6 weeks to replenish the nutrients.
Why not pop into the shop when you visit a garden to see what great tools and accessories you can pick up?
Top tips to makeyour garden morewildlife friendly
34 35
For ever,for everyoneThe National Trust is a charity that looksafter special places so everyone can enjoythem for ever. We’re only able to care for the places in this guide (as well as hundreds of others) thanks to the support you give us.
There are many ways you can help keep these places special. Membership, volunteering and donating all make a big difference. Why not start exploring one of the places we lookafter and take it from there?
Discover gardens
nationaltrust.org.uk/gardens-lse
36
National Trust Images/Paul Harris/Stephen Robson/Chris Lacey/Paul Wakefield/Andrew Butler/David Sellman/ Arnhel de Serra/Hugh Mothersole/James Dobson/Rod Edwards/Vera Collingwood/John Miller/Clive Nichols/ CharlieWaite/Ian Shaw/Robert Morris/John Millar/ MeganTaylor/William Shaw/Polly Ingham-Watts/Nina Elliot-Newman.
Please recycle this leaflet after use.
If you’d like this information in an alternative format please call 0344 800 1895 or [email protected]
Image credits
37 38
Our gardens on your doorstep.
© National Trust 2017. Registered charity number 205846
Start exploring today
nationaltrust.org.uk/gardens-lse
