The garden holds a collection of over 80 champion trees, recognized for their significant height or girth.
It was established by Colonel Stephenson R. Clarke, a member of the Royal Geographical Society who sponsored plant-hunting expeditions worldwide.
The estate features a 'Garden of Allah', designed as an exotic, sheltered space for tender Mediterranean plants.
The site includes a significant collection of magnolias and camellias, which were imported from the Himalayas and Asia in the early 1900s.
It is an RHS Partner Garden, recognized for its botanical importance in the United Kingdom.
The parkland includes a lake formed by damming a small stream, providing a natural habitat for waterfowl.
The formal terraces were designed to complement the architecture of the Tudor house, which dates back to the 16th century.
Borde Hill Garden is a Grade II* heritage-listed landscape surrounding a historic Tudor manor in West Sussex. The estate features a series of distinct 'garden rooms' designed with varying planting schemes, ranging from formal rose gardens to exotic woodland glades. It is renowned for its significant collection of champion trees, many sourced from early 20th-century plant-hunting expeditions. The 200-acre parkland encompasses a large lake and provides a habitat for a diverse array of rare shrubs and trees. The garden is divided into the formal area near the house and the more naturalistic surrounding parkland. Its unique microclimate allows for the cultivation of rare species not typically grown in the British climate. The estate has remained under the private ownership of the Stephenson Clarke family since the 1890s. Visitors can access various walking routes that connect the formal gardens to the wider parkland and wildflower meadows.
The view of the Tudor manor from the lower formal lawn, framed by the topiary hedges.
Wear sturdy walking shoes to navigate the varied terrain, including hilly woodland paths and gravel paths.
Bring binoculars if you are interested in birdwatching, as the lake and meadows attract diverse species.
Check the seasonal bloom calendar on their website before visiting to time your trip with the flowering of specific collections like the roses or magnolias.
Attempting to see the entire 200-acre estate in under two hours, as the woodland trails require significant walking time.
Closed during the winter months, typically reopening in early spring and closing in late autumn.
Keep to marked paths to protect the delicate flora; dogs must be kept on short leads throughout the garden and parkland.
