Borde Hill Garden

Surrounded by rolling woodland in an area of outstanding beauty in Sussex, Borde Hill has been home to the Stephenson Clarke family for 5 generations. With a deep love of plants, Colonel Stephenson Robert Clarke bought the estate in 1893 in order to create a magnificent garden. He started sponsoring many plant-hunting trips by Ernest Wilson and George Forrest to China, Japan and Myanmar, thus gathering a vast collection of plants. These are now dotted around the garden, planted where specific microclimates would be suitable for them to thrive. In Spring, these create a wonderful display with Magnolias such as Magnolia 'Ruth', 'Milky Way' and 'Mags Pirouette' as well as Camellias 'St Ewe' 'Eugene Lize' and 'Sylva' in full bloom. Many azaleas and rhododendrons are also flowering and Borde Hill holds a national collection for the latter. The garden is divided into various garden rooms to create a more intimate feel. These include a rose garden, the garden of Allah, the Paradise Walk (designed by Chris Beardshaw) and the Italian garden with its panoramic views across the surrounding landscape. The formal lily pool is surrounded by large terracotta pots, whilst clipped box parterres are filled with Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra', spheres of Pittosporum 'Tom Thumb' as well as Magnolia stellata and a flowering cherry tree.