Wakehurst Place |
||||||||||
|
As well as having an exceptionally fine Elizabethan house, Wakehurst Place has some spectacular gardens which are actually managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. A Millennium Seed Bank is being created here to ensure the survival of many species of the plants and so far it has collected ten percent of the world's plants in ten years.
Gorgeous in the autumn, the mansion is set off by the vibrant reds, golds and browns of the trees as the leaves change colour. They are reflected in the many lakes and ponds to give an added dimension to the glorious views around the estate. This is definitely a place to take your camera and capture the many picturesque settings of this secluded Sussex valley garden.
The gardens cover more than 3,000 acres and were the hobby and creation of Gerald Loder, Lord Wakehurst, who spent from 1903 to 1936 working on this ambitious project. With its redwoods, rhododendrons and mature wellingtonias it has year-round colour.
Wakehurst Place was donated to the National Trust in 1964 who then leased it to Kew to manage and use for science-based conservation projects and research.
The gardens seamlessly flow from formal gardens around the Elizabethan house to natural woodland, wetlands and lakes with many undisturbed nature reserves. They are arranged geographically in continents and the way-marked 3.6km (2.3 mile) route meanders through the varied flora at a gentle pace. Taking a guided tour may further broaden your knowledge of these 15,000 plants, some of which are endangered.
The mellow sandstone house makes a beautiful backdrop to the more formal gardens with their clipped yew hedges. Almost every view from the mullioned windows is of water in one form or another. Sweeping manicured lawns, two walled gardens and tree-lined arbors make this a truly enchanting place to discover.
The house itself is open to the public, but the emphasis is mainly on the gardens and seed bank facility. It is mainly used as a venue for weddings as the premises are licensed for civil ceremonies. There is a light and bright gallery within the historic gabled Elizabethan mansion and the wood-panelled dining room makes the perfect setting for family celebrations. There is also a library with its original fireplace which looks out over the formal gardens.
Although much of the established gardens were damaged by the storms of 1987 and 1990, the replanted Asian heath garden now looks as if it has always been there.
Visitors will find refreshments at the on-site licensed restaurant at the Stables and lighter fare served at the Seed Café. There is also a shop and a plant centre which will no doubt prove irresistible to green-fingered visitors, eager to introduce a little piece of Kew to their own garden.
|
Opening Times
|
|
(2010 times)
1st January 2010 - 28th February 2010:Daily 10.00am to 4.30pm 1st March 2010 - 31st October 2010: Daily 10.00am to 6.00pm 1st November 2010 - 31st December 2010: Daily 10.00am to 4.30pm Last admission to Seed Bank and house 90 minutes before closing. Closed 24 and 25 December. Shop closed Easter Sunday. |
|
Admission Charges
|
|
(2010 prices)
Gift Aid Admission (Standard Admission prices in brackets):adult £11.85 (£10.75). Free admission to Children 16 and under. Note: reciprocal organisations do not receive free entry. |
|
Directions
|
|
Bus services Metrobus 81/82 Haywards Heath–Crawley Cycling View local cycle routes on the National Cycle Network website By road On B2028, 1 mile north of Ardingly; 3 miles south of Turners Hill. From M23 exit 10, take A264 towards East Grinstead By train Haywards Heath 6 miles; East Grinstead 6 miles On foot Footpath from Balcombe (4 miles) Ordnance survey reference 187:TQ339314 |
| Show map of Wakehurst Place... |
|
Wakehurst Place Postcode for SatNav: RH17 6TN |
|
National Trust | Estate Agents |
Copyright © 1999-2012 Excelsior Information Systems Limited.
All rights reserved.
Press Room Terms of Use Privacy Link to Us Index Site Map
