As a garden designer, I am really lucky to live at Borde Hill Garden on the outskirts of Haywards Heath. I regularly use this garden as a source of inspiration for my designs.

It’s great to be able to see how the garden evolves throughout the year. In terms of design Borde Hill Garden is interesting because it was created as a series of garden rooms: the Italian garden, the Mediterranean garden, the Rose garden… As a visitor you can experience the different atmospheres and pick up many ideas. There is a great variety of plants that you could reuse in your garden.

The history of Borde Hill garden

The garden was created by Colonel Stephenson Clarke. He purchased Borde Hill property in
1893. As a keen naturalist, he extended the planting from the garden to the woodlands and
parkland. As Nymans and others historic gardens in the West Sussex area at this time, many of the trees were collected by the great plant hunters of the 19 th and 20 th centuries.

I particularly recommend:

    • The outstanding views on the Ouse Valley on the north side of the garden. In some
      places you will be able to see the Ouse Valley Viaduct.
    • Warren Wood (from April to June). Most visitors don’t visit it but it’s a great
      woodland to enjoy the famous bluebells in Spring. Don’t miss out the Handkerchief
      tree (Davidia involucrata).
    • A really nice specimen of Cornus kousa on the Azalea ring.
    • The spectacular Magolia obovata with large leaves and very flagrant flowers in May
      in the garden of Allah.
  • The serenity of the Italian Garden. It was originally the family’s tennis court but was
    converted in 1980 by Robert Stephenson Clarke.

Garden information:

The garden is open from March to October. Free Entry for RHS members in July and
September only.
There is a plant shop selling herbaceous perennials, rhododendrons, azaleas and David
Austin roses that are flowering in the main Garden. The plants are normally good value for
money. Around £6 for a 2 litre pot and £4 for a 1 litre pot (prices in June 2018)
For more information you can visit the official website.