Hergest Croft Gardens

The Banks family, all keen plantsmen and collectors, have owned Hergest Croft for three generations.

Work on the construction of the house began in 1896 and the oldest trees in the garden date from that time.

Each generation has continued the tree-planting tradition and there is now an outstanding collection of rare and exotic trees and shrubs.

Over 59 Champion trees and shrubs grow here in one of the finest collections in Britain.

Hergest Croft also holds the National Collections of maples, birches and zelkovas.

Park Wood is a hidden valley where rhododendrons grown up to 30 feet tall.

The garden is full of interest throughout the year.

The orchards of espaliered apple trees are carpeted with bulbs in the spring and these are followed by spectacular displays of magnolias, azaleas and rhododendrons. In the summer the orchards provide a backdrop to herbaceous perennials and old roses. From August onwards the garden is bright with the vivid foliage colours of the maples and birches.

The old-fashioned kitchen gardens have spring and summer borders and beautifully kept vegetable plots.