Borde Hill Garden

/ karen

Rhododendrons, azaleas, woodland, sculpture, rare and unusual trees and plants.

We stand still and listen. “There’s a great tit…a chaffinch…a goldfinch…a robin.” I’m writing the names in my notebook, but the list is recounted faster than I can record them.

We are on a tour of Borde Hill Garden. And, what luck, one of our party is an expert on birdsong. The chorus of sound drifts through the trees. Such a beautiful melody, and a wonderful place to be. An English woodland garden on a spring day. Just glorious.

I spot a tree creeper. To my shame, it’s the first time I’ve seen one. A tiny bird, the size of a wren. My first thoughts are that it’s a mouse. Its speckly brown feathers perfectly match the tree bark it’s clinging to. It scurries up a few metres, and then uses its long downward-curving bill to fish out an insect from a crevice. Suddenly it moves to the other side of the trunk. It knows it’s been spotted. Then, making a “see-see-see” call, it flies away. A magical moment- and we’ve only just arrived in this woodland paradise.

We start our tour in the Garden of Allah, a dell created in 1925 where the the owners nurtured many of the species brought back from the great plant hunters of the time. Head gardener Andy Stevens points to a towering Liriodendron chinense (Chinese tulip tree) which was raised from seed collected by Ernest Wilson in central China. Borde Hill bought the tree as a 16ft mature specimen from the famous Veitch’s nursery in 1913. There’s a huge Magnolia fraseri which arrived in the garden as a seedling from the south-eastern USA in 1933. And further into the garden there’s a Davidia involucrata (pocket handkerchief tree).

I can’t decide whether to look up, or down. Up, into the branches of so many rare and unusual trees. Or down, at the ribbons of pure white wild garlic flowing into drifts of bluebells. It’s easy to see why Borde Hill has been described as “unforgettable.”

Leaving the dell, walking past rhododendrons and camellias planted in the 1920s, and magnolias planted as seedlings in the 1930s, we reach Warren Wood and Stephanie’s Glade. It’s here that many of Borde Hill’s fabulous collection of champion trees can be found.

There are many trees I have never seen before. We stop and admire a rare Meliosma Beaniana which is smothered in delicate creamy coloured flowers. Like many of the trees and shrubs at Borde Hill, there’s a fascinating history and story behind them. This tree came via Ernest Wilson who was plant hunting in China in 1908. It was planted at Alderman (now a boarding school) and transplanted at Borde Hill in early 1930s. Records show it flowered for the first time in its new home in 1933.

I found a particularly lovely tree, possibly a type of photinia. It is smothered in white flowers. A magnet for bees and hoverflies.

Borde Hill is famous for rhododendrons and azaleas which are reaching their peak now. I’ve never seen such a striking and colourful display.

Some of the azaleas are scented which adds to their attraction.

Walking out of the woodlands, suddenly you come upon a more formal scene, an Italian garden with topiary flanking a rectangular pond. There’s a statue and waterfall at one end, and large terracotta plant pots each side of the water.

There’s always a surprise around every corner. At the top of the steps, near the sculpture, I found this Peony Mai Fleurie.

Further along the walk, I found more peonies, looking at their best right now.

Tree peonies and perennial forms seem to do very well at Borde Hill and I make a note to plant more in my own garden.

This week sees the start of Borde Hill’s 20th anniversary Sculpture Exhibition (10 May to 30 Sept). Visitors can walk through the 17 acre gardens and enjoy more than 80 pieces by well-known and up-and-coming artists.

I love this one, which I think is Little Owl by Paul Harvey. The labels were being put out on the day of our visit.

And this one, which I’m guessing is Icarus by Nicola Godden. Such a perfect setting in front of the house. Checking the website, I see this winged figure was commissioned for the London 2012 Olympic Village. There’s also a wind sculpture by Will Carr to look out for.

There’s something for everyone at Borde Hill, and all-year-round interest too. But for me, the magic of the place will always be the peaceful walks through those magnificent trees. And the sound of birdsong. The very essence of spring.

Borde Hill: Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1XP, opens from 25 March -3 Nov.

The garden, listed Grade II by English Heritage, is set within 200 acres of parkland.

Special events this year:

Roses. Talk and tour with Michael Marriott from David Austin Roses: 20 June 10.30-2pm

The Rabbit’s Eye View- long term plant performance, landscape masterclass by Noel Kingsbury, 11 Sept 10-4.30.

Practical Pruning – Juliet Sargeant 16 May 10.30-3pm

Designing a Romantic Rose Border – Juliet Sargeant, 11 July 10.30-3pm

Tasty Autumn Talk- Juliet Sargeant, 18 Oct 10.30-12noon.

Many thanks to Eleni and Andrewjohn Stephenson Clarke for hosting our visit, and to Constance Craig Smith and the Garden Media Guild for organising the tour.

Links :

For more information about Borde Hill : https://www.bordehill.co.uk/

More on birdsong : https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/04/identify-bird-song/

RSPB Let Nature Sing: https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/campaigning/let-nature-sing/

25 thoughts on “Borde Hill Garden”

  6. Karen is very happy because you are visiting Borde Hill Garden, with the songs of the birds accompanying you, trees with an incredible back story and wonderful flowers on a magnificent day. A paradise! What beautifully beautiful photos, what fascinating stories of oriental plants brought almost a century ago. Fabulous! Rhododendrons and Camellias planted in the 1920s and Magnolias in the 1930s and still alive and spectacular blooming, I love them. The Edge Hill champion trees have stories behind a century, I love them. I love the topiary with the pond, the statues and the waterfalls. The Peony Mai Fleurie is a jewel. I love other peonies. The Exhibition of Sculptures they are preparing will be fabulous, given the two exceptional examples. Karen has been an unforgettable visit, thank you very much for the photos and for telling her so well. I have enjoyed it very much and you much more that you have lived it live. The links are magnificent: the Edge Hill is wonderful you see the gardens in motion. I love the songs of the birds, thanks for the two links. I hope you come back to Borde Hill Garden at another time of the year to see it again because it is a very special place. Karen love, health, strength and happiness for your whole family and for you. One caress for Grace and one for Meg. Take care and rest. Have a good weekend. Loving greetings from Margarita. 🙂

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    • Thank you so much Margarita. I love reading your summaries of my posts. It’s like re-living the visit- through your eyes. I’m hoping to take my mother in the summer. There’s a very pretty rose garden that should be looking wonderful in June. Thank you for your good wishes and hugs. Much appreciated. Meg is a darling. She’s so good. For a puppy of 10 weeks, she is so wise and biddable. She just seems to want to please us. Have a wonderful weekend. I do hope your father’s leg is improving. Loving greetings. Karen x

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      • Thank you Karen for your interest in my Father. The ulcer is improving and healing, thanks. I hope you go with your dear Mother (give me my regards) to Border Hill to see the roses. Adopted dogs are very grateful to their masters. My brother and his wife adopted a street dog named Coco and can not do enough for them: it’s all love for their masters and that he was an adult when they took him. Meg is going to make you very happy with all your love and sweetness. I’ve already taken care of her. Thank you very much for everything Karen. Happy weekend. Greetings and memories of Margarita. 🙂

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    • Thank you Phao. I took hundreds of photos. I was difficult to edit it down to just a few. I think I’ll have to write some more. It’s such a special place. I’ve always wanted to visit. Thanks for your kind comments 🙂

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    • Thank you Mike. I’ve been tearing photos out of magazines for years, whenever Borde Hill was featured. I’ve always wanted to visit. Now I’ve managed it by train, I’ll take my mum back in the summer to see the roses. Very easy journey by train. Enjoy your weekend 🙂

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  9. Hi, Karen, that peony mai fleurie is magnificent. Pinterest (where I tend to record plant ideas for the future) doesn’t bring up one single reference and there are few google hits so I’m assuming its pretty new. Possibly it was created in France – the French love their peonies. In fact there is a peony flower farm a couple of kilometres away from us which supplies to the flower trade in Holland! Once a year the lorries come for a day or so. Its quite an operation. Anyway, that peony is now firmly on my wishlist! And Borde Hill is definitely a special place for us plantaholics!

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    • Thank you Pauline. Isn’t it fabulous when you’ve wanted to visit somewhere for years, and then the opportunity arises. It exceeded my expectations. Now I’ve worked out how to get there by train, I’ll go again in summer. x

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    • I’m going to see if I can afford that little owl. Fell in love with it, and I have no sculpture at all in my garden. It would suit the wild garden here. X

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    • Thank you Anne. I couldn’t stop smiling all day. I’ve been cutting out magazine articles for Borde Hill for years. Finally, I found a way to visit- via two trains and a taxi. It was worth it, enjoy your weekend. x

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