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Set in a beautiful part of West Sussex, Woolbeding Gardens covers some 26 acres and comprises formal gardens surrounding the house (not open to the general public) and a landscape garden beyond.
Given to the Trust in 1957 by the Lascelles family, the house and garden was leased in 1972 to a private tenant who restored the Grade II listed manor house and started what was to become a lengthy project to create and develop the gardens.
Lanning Roper, a notable journalist and garden designer, was initially invited to help with extending the existing gardens viewed from the house.
The borders were developed further to create a luxuriant array of colour lasting from Spring to Autumn and a series of garden rooms, each with its own theme extended into a walled garden.
A swimming pool with orangery designed by Philip Jebb is undoubtedly the most formal area of the garden but the outstanding feature has to be the Italian fountain, said to be attributed to Benedetto da Rovezzano, that dominates the fountain garden.
A prolific potager, herb garden and well garden all vie for second place.
In the landscape garden rhododendrons once provided the backdrop to a gothic summerhouse and small pond, but with garden designers Julian and Isabel Bannerman planning was quickly underway to extend the pond into a lake with waterfall.
Extensive planting accompanied the various structures built to create a “fantasy garden”. Approaching this part of the garden a ruined abbey deceives the visitor into thinking it has been there for hundreds of years, whilst a walk around the lake reveals a hermit’s hut elaborately constructed from natural materials, a Chinese bridge, grotto with river god and stumpery.
A bird hide added earlier this year has proved enormously popular both with birds and visitors alike.
No visit to Woolbeding is complete without marvelling at the reflections in the magnificent William Pye water sculpture whilst the views across the River Rother never cease to provide the perfect backdrop to these wonderful gardens.
Woolbeding Gardens, Woolbeding, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 9RR. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/woolbeding-gardens .
All visits must be pre-booked by calling 01730 811960. No parking on site except limited disabled parking, a free minibus service from Midhurst transports visitors
to and from the gardens.
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