The Official Tourism Website for Herefordshire

Explore Glorious Gardens with the National Trust

Explore glorious gardens with the National Trust in Herefordshire

Visitors are invited to fill their lungs with fresh air at National Trust places in Herefordshire as summer takes over the gardens. At Berrington Hall, Brockhampton, Croft Castle and The Weir Garden families can take in the sights, smells, sounds and colours of the season throughout walled gardens, orchards, pleasure grounds and riversides.

At Berrington Hall, near Leominster, families can make memories this summer as they become one of the first to discover Berrington’s newly opened curved walled garden. This curved garden is Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s final masterpiece and one of only two left surviving of its kind. From Saturday 6 July, visitors can discover this secret garden which has been closed for over 120 years. It will be the only one of its kind open to the public and visitors can discover creative horticultural displays which tell the story of the space both as a working kitchen garden and then as a farmyard using sub-tropical plants, vegetables, hay-bale planters and more. There are plenty of activities families can join in with this summer at Berrington, including live music, garden games and children’s trails. Visitors can relax in a deckchair in the orchard, admire the towering foxgloves and vivid alliums in the flower borders and hone green fingers with exclusive gardening workshops with the Senior Gardener. Families can also spend some quality time together and stay to enjoy the gardens after-hours as Berrington’s grounds stay open for late night opening on Saturdays in August.

At Brockhampton, near Bromyard, visitors can journey into the past, away from the modern world and head down into Lower Brockhampton to discover the medieval manor house that lies there. Visitors can then explore and discover all that the historic orchards have to offer at this time of year. Bursting with life, Brockhampton’s grounds come alive with butterflies and the fields are taken over by wildflowers. On selected days, visitors can learn more about the traditional estate and the orchards that surround it, with an ‘Orchard Walk’ with Brockhampton’s Ranger. Visitors can also learn all about Brockhampton’s ‘Reimagining Orchards Project’, which aims to reinstate Brockhampton’s two lost orchards. Families are invited to bring a picnic, find a shaded spot in the orchard and absorb the sights and sounds of this hidden Tudor manor.

At Croft Castle, near Leominster, visitors can reconnect with nature in the gardens as birds busily whistle between the trees and bees collect pollen from the beautiful blooms which burst boldly from the flower borders. Families can try and spot the frogs in the pond, or be amongst the few to see the rare peacock butterflies. Blue globe thistles, yellow giant scabious, white Shasta daisies and purple acanthus all put on a spectacular show, following on from the old fashioned rose cultivars such as ‘Ludlow Castle’, ‘sweet Juliet’ and ‘Zephrine Drouaine.’ Visitors can also pick up a fresh ice-cream, lay out a picnic blanket, take in the gardens and enjoy outdoor events throughout the summer. As well as exploring the gardens, visitors can pop on their walking boots and stride out into Fishpool Valley to discover how the team at Croft are restoring this once Picturesque landscape.

At The Weir Garden, near Hereford, families can take in lungs full of fresh air as the gardens begin to burst with life. Visitors can discover a whole host of different colours, sights, sounds and smells as flowers run riot over the river bank and the wildlife comes alive. Visitors can also uncover a new installation by students from Hereford College of Arts, ‘Craft on the Outside’. Taking inspiration from The Weir and its rich history, Hereford College of Arts BA (Hons) Contemporary Design Crafts and Jewellery design students have created individual pieces that reflect the garden and its stories. Now, as the gardens come to life around them, visitors can explore the student’s interpretations of the gardens and what The Weir has inspired them to create.

More details about opening times, accessibility, events and all other activities Berrington Hall, Brockhampton, Croft Castle and The Weir Garden have planned can be found by visiting: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/herefordshire