Borde Hill

Borde Hill is a Grade II* listed English Heritage Garden set within 383 acres of woodland and parkland, with magnificent views across the Ouse Valley viaduct. It has been referred to by The Daily Telegraph as “planted with passion” and by Country Life as “one of the country’s truly great gardens”.

It was created by Colonel Stephenson Robert Clarke from seeds gathered by the great plant hunters of the early 1900s. It was his philosophy that plants need to be placed in the right place.

Borde Hill is renowned for its astonishing collection of unusual trees and shrubs. It’s one of four private gardens of national importance and its exotic trees are recorded at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It is the origin of many hybrid plants including Camellia x williamsii ‘Donation’ and Alstroemeria ‘Walter Fleming’.

The garden has distinct ‘rooms’, each with its own unique style and character. In the last 30 years many areas have been greatly enhanced and restored including the sub-tropical Round Dell, the sophisticated Rose Garden and romantic Italian Garden. Paradise Walk and the Italian Garden have recently been replanted using new design schemes by garden designer Chris Beardshaw.

An abundance of spring magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons give way to exuberant summer borders of roses and herbaceous plants followed by mellow autumn colour.