Gardens and Parks in Sussex
Here is our list of gardens and parks in Sussex:
East Sussex
Sheffield Park & Garden
Photo: Sheffield Park photo credit: © saga.co.ukAddress: Sheffield Park, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 3QX
The parkland dates back many centuries, and it’s used as a deer park and a Second World War camp. Sheffield Park is home to a natural woodland in Ringwood Toll. The landscape design has influences of ‘Capability’ Brown and Humphry Repton. The River Ouse runs at the bottom of the parkland and the original meanders. The location is wildlife heaven including a diverse range of species including kingfishers, birds of prey, butterflies and dragonflies. Four lakes are leading from the centre of the garden with paths through the valleys and wooded areas.
The landscape is still mostly unchanged for the last 100 years. When you go for a walk, you can hear the sound of the steam trains approaching Bluebell Railway. Explore the natural play and discover Skyglade with the best views of the parkland. Come to enjoy a family picnic, fly kites, climb trees and play in streams. Then follow free art trail across the parkland to the wooden bridges over the River Ouse. Local schools and artists created this trail from local materials.
If you would like to explore the park entirely, follow a 3-mile trail taking in all the views and landmarks across the parkland. This walk might take about 90 minutes. Dogs are welcome to join on short leads.
Bateman’s
Photo: Bateman’s Gardens photo credit: © historyextra.com Address: Bateman’s Lane, Burwash, East Sussex, England, TN19 7DS.
The Mulberry Garden offers an annual display of flowers and vegetables which can be enjoyed in the Mulberry tea room. You can also find here apple varieties, including Worcester Pearmain, Devonshire Quarrenden and Laxton’s Fortune. The vegetable garden is a residue from the Second World War when the garden was helping feeding hungry people. You can also buy here home-grown plants and a fusion of flowers, vegetable and salads.
Relax in a tranquil Kipling’s garden and enjoy a wild garden full of native flower species. Then take a boat out of the pond where you can see a dazzling array of dragonflies and damselflies. The lily pond and rose garden were designed by Kipling after were awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
House at Batmen’s was built in the 17th century and bought by Rudyard Kipling and his wife. The interior of the house is panelled with a robust 17th century oak staircase. The house was opened to the public by Elsie Kipling in the second half of the 20th century as a memorial to her husband, and she ensured that visitors could see the original setting of the house. In the exhibition room, you can find all the keepsakes and memories. If you would like to hear one of the famous quotations of Rudyard Kipling select a station on the 1930s radio.
West Sussex
Woolbeding Gardens
Photo: Woolbeding Gardens photo credit: © greatbritishgardens.co.ukAddress: Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9RR
Woolbeding Gardens are situated in a tranquil corner of West Sussex, offering colourful planting. Once you arrive, you’ll be welcomed into the Entrance Garden, which has a Mediterranean feel with water pools surrounded by olive trees and African lilies. The West Borders in the centre of the garden feature roses, tulips, and forget me knots. The walls have climbing roses and the borders are bursting with bloom during the season.
Explore the combined tones, textures and shapes of the leaves that make up the four box hedged beds surrounding the Italian well. The Well Garden also consist of collector items such as Schefflera from Taiwan or Oreopanax from Mexico. Whereas in the Herb Garden you can find topiary balls alongside English apples and during the season the beds have thyme, lavender and plenty of seasonings for the kitchen. They discover a hidden gem, the Fountain Garden, where you can see that each corner of the garden is laid out in a colour wheel of blue, pink, orange with many flowers.
If you would like to view the luxurious pool garden with potted citrus and conservatory plants visit the Orangery designed by Philipp Jebb in the 1970s. There is also New Greenhouse Garden which is an exotic jungle-like collection of plants and ferns. In the main house is the Vegetable Garden, which is home to the ornamental Potager made up of around 1,200 lettuces.
Formal garden rooms are thoughtfully laid out by garden designers Laning Roper in the 1980s and the Bannermans in the late 1990s.
A short walk across field gets you to a ruined Abbey with a Gothic window overseeing a lake and a woodland called the Long Walk. The Long Walk was designed over several years by Simon Sainsbury and Stewart Grimshaw. The planting of the Long Walk features Philadelphus, Hydrangeas, rhododendrons, Gunnera manicata, candelabra, Osmunda regalis, Primulas, Iris sibirica, Pulmanorias and Hostas. Trees including Taxodium distichum, Abies grandis and Sequoia sempervirens.
Petworth Deer Park
Photo: Pethworth House Garden photo credit: © gardenvisit.comAddress: Petworth House and Park, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 9LR
Petworth Park is one of the most beautiful unspoilt parks with the majestic 700-acre, which is 14 miles long. It was designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. The grounds are managed sustainably for wildlife and are protected.
The park is open to the public from 8 am to 8 pm during summer and 6 pm during winter.
This historical park is a great place to escape the crowds, take a bracing walk and let the children run wild. During the ‘Golden Age’ of Petworth, artist JMW Turner – English Romantic painter was invited to the park to take inspiration for his collection. When you take a walk around the park, you can discover the views that inspired Turner on his visits.
The Deer Park and the Pleasure Grounds allow dog walking under close supervision. Short leads are available to borrow from the reception.
Nymans
Photo: Nymans photo credit: © visitheritage.co.ukAddress: Staplefield Road, Handcross, Haywards Heath RH17 6EB
Nymans is a garden lover’s delight with many international plant heritage collections. It was created in the late 19th century by Ludwig Messel. You can find here plants from China, Chile and Tasmania. The garden consists of 13 hectares of the most comprehensive collection of Chilean and Argentinian species cultivated in the British Isles.
You can enjoy a guided walk around the gardens, endeavour into the wild or join a workshop, where you can discover various arts and crafts. Explore ancient woods with the tallest tree in Sussex and birdlife on the lake.
After a nice walk come to refuel to the café, where all food is made from delicious, locally sourced ingredients. The Pavilion café is located at the top of the garden, offering hot meals, children’s lunchboxes, cakes and snacks.
Standen House and Garden
Photo: Standen House & Gardens photo credit : © letsgowiththechildren.co.ukAddress: West Hoathly, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4NE.
Standen House is a family home with arts and crafts and Morris & Co. interiors, located in a beautiful hillside garden. It’s an ideal location with a view across the Sussex countryside. Philip Webb designed the house, and it’s the most excellent example of Arts & Crafts artistry.
The walking footpaths lead into the woodlands and Ashdown Forrest. Walking with dogs is allowed in the formal gardens.
Uppark House & Garden
Photo: Uppark House & Garden photo credit : © britiansfinest.co.ukAddress: South Harting, Petersfield, West Sussex, GU31 5QR.
Uppark House is a peaceful 17th-century house situated within intimate gardens and woodland. Come to enjoy spectacular views from the South Downs to the English Channel. Outside the gardens is plenty of space to play and relax with a picnic. The woodlands are vast for exploring and kids can create their dens. Meadow Walk is very popular and is a little less strenuous. It starts from the entrance of the house, and it can lead as far as the Isle of Wight.
