South East

There are many gardens in this region, including a number that are world-famous.

They are on acidic, neutral and calcareous soils. Many are in close juxtaposition to rich natural habitats such as woodland. It is almost certain that many of these gardens are of great significance for wildlife.

If you spot something that you want to tell us about, email: gardenswildlifesurvey@nationaltrust.org.uk with details of what, where and when...

Here are some of the highlights of the region:

Claremont Landscape Gardens
Claremont Landscape Garden, Surrey
© NTPL / John Bethell

A garden and ornamental lake, boasting a large collection of water fowl. The grassland is heavily used and needs to be hard-wearing, but there are some areas of acid grassland.

Insects

Butterflies include Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Green-veined White and Orange Tip, and breeding colonies of Brown Argus and Common Blue.
Roesel’s Bush-cricket occurs.
Some interesting bees and wasps have recently been recorded: Dolichovespula saxonica, Crabro cribarius, Harpactus tumidus and the sandy heathland specialists Nomada rufipes and Lindenius panzeri.
The dragonfly fauna appears to be poor.

Polesden Lacey

© NTPL / Nick Meers

A varied garden, with lovely herbaceous borders, a rambling shrubbery and an old orchard over former downland. This garden is situated on a sunny sheltered slope on the Surrey Downs, which is one of the best areas for butterflies in Britain. The garden includes vestiges of chalk downland, which is overall the richest habitat for butterflies. It is also close to ancient woodland, and so attracts woodland butterflies in to visit flowers for nectar.

Butterflies

The garden supports strong colonies of Common Blue and Brown Argus, breeding in the orchard and on banks around the old croquet lawn.
In July, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Gatekeeper butterflies abound in the orchard, particularly visiting Knapweed and Marjoram flowers.
Chalkhill Blues and Small Coppers are also regularly seen, and the oak trees support colonies of the elusive Purple Hairstreak.
Holly Blue butterflies lay eggs on the hollies in spring and ivy flowers in August.
The herbaceous borders, and a giant buddleia in the lower shrubbery, attract a huge variety of butterflies, including woodland specialists like the White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary.
Even rarities like the Purple Emperor wander through from time to time, along with migrants like the Clouded Yellow.
The common Cabbage Whites breed in the vegetable garden.
It is quite possible to see 24 species of butterfly here at the best time of year, late July to early August.

Insects

Other insects include Long-winged Conehead, Roesel’s Bush-cricket, the scarce hoverflies Cheilosia soror and Chrysotoxum festivum, the scarce potter wasp Ancistocerus nigricornis, Wool-carder Bee, and the local mining bee Lasioglossum pauxillum.

Nymans Garden

© NTPL / Stephen Robson

A good garden for wildlife, with trees, borders and areas of wildflower meadowland. The grasslands are particularly important to wildlife.

Insects

A rich bee fauna discovered in 2003, including Andrena denticulata, Colletes daviesanus, Lasioglossum pauxillum and Bombus jonellus, and the wasps Dolichovespula saxonica and Crossocerus distinguendus. These are all associated with the flowery grasslands, as is the hoverfly Xanthogramma pedissequum.
The butterfly fauna is also quite good, notably Common Blue, Small Copper, Marbled White, Ringlet and Large Skipper.

Fungi

17 CHEG species discovered in 2005 including the very rare Hygrocybe ingrate - which is associated with ancient grasslands, although the Nymans grasslands are fairly recent origin.

Scotney Castle
Scotney Castle, Kent
© NTPL / Stephen Robson

Dragonflies

The wooden bridge over the old castle moat is an excellent place for watching dragonflies.
Some scarce species can be seen here, notably Downy Emerald, Ruddy Darter, White-legged Damselfly and Red-eyed Damselfly. In addition, the rare Brilliant Emerald breeds in Colliers Pond in the wood to the west, and is sometimes seen in the garden.

Flora

The Old Tennis Court is part of a larger Scotney SSSI, for its species-rich grassland.
Special flowers on this area of lawn include Adder’s Tongue fern, Autumn Ladies Tresses and Green-winged Orchid.
The lawns are probably of national importance for waxcap fungi: 20 Hygrocybe species were recorded here in 2005, notably H. phaeococcinea (plus 6 other CHEG species including Clavaria straminea).

Mammals

Dormouse is well established in the woods and in the garden, where it feeds on fruiting trees and bushes.
There is a large roost of Long-eared Bat in the Clock Tower, Noctule bat also occurs, and Daubenton’s bats feed over the Moat.
Other mammals include colonies of Stoat and Weasel.

Reptile

Great Crested Newt is common in the garden and Smooth Newt also occurs.
Grass-snake breeds in the compost heaps, and Common Lizard, Adder and Slow-worm also occur.

Insects

Bees and wasps include a large colony of the scarce bee Macropis europea, which visits Yellow Loosestrife flowers along the Moat edge, and the local wasp Crossocerus distinguendus.
Hornet and Wool-carder Bee.
The garden is good for the standard garden butterflies, including a good colony of Holly Blue.

St John’s Jerusalem
St John's Jerusalem
© National Trust

A small garden and park alongside the River Darent. All three habitats are rich in wildlife.

The Garden

The garden includes two native Black Poplars.
Dormouse visits the Nuttery.
Insects are good, and include the Wool Carder-bee Anthidium manicatum and Roesel’s Bush Cricket.
The bat fauna needs further investigation but seems to include Natterers and Brown Long-eared.

Water and surrounding habitat

The moat is frequented by Water Voles and Ruddy Darter dragonfly breeds there and in the Darent, along with Banded Demoiselle.
Bullheads breed in the River, which also supports quite a rich aquatic flora.
The presence of White-clawed Crayfish needs to be determined.
Kingfishers regularly flashes past.
Other birds include Stock Dove, Mistle Thrush and Green Woodpecker.

The park

The park supports Common Blue and Small Copper butterflies, and one old Ash tree supports a rare beetle, Prionychus ater.

Ightham Mote

© NTPL / Andrew Butler

The house

The old house is important for bats, notably Serotine, pipistrelles, Brown Long-eared and probably Natterer’s.

The lakes

The lakes provide useful wetland habitats.
Common dragonflies occur and Kingfishers visit regularly.
Glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca occurs along the northern lake banks.
Long-winged Conehead and Roesel’s Bush-cricket occur in the marginal vegetation.

Insects

The old ivy growths are an important nectar source for autumn insects – butterflies like Red Admiral and wasps such as the Hornet.
The scarce hornet-mimic hoverfly Volucella inanis has recently been found.
Mining bees include the local Lasioglossum Pauxillum.

Emmett's Garden

© NTPL / Jerry Harpur

The lawns are very important for waxcap and other CHEG fungi: 24 of these species were found in 2005, including 15 Hygrocybe species.
A reasonable range of insects occur, many of which wander in from the adjoining woodland.
Regular birds include Great Spotted Woodpecker and Spotted Flycatcher.

Chartwell
The garden at Chartwell
© NTPL / Ian Shaw

Butterflies

Winston Churchill liked butterflies, and actually bred them for release into the garden.
It remains a good butterfly garden, for standard garden butterflies such as Gatekeeper, Small Tortoiseshell and Holly Blue.
Common Blue breeds in the lawn leading down to the lakes.
Purple Hairstreak breeds on the surrounding oaks.
A good range of other insects occur, including Hornet and Red-eyed Damselfly.

Other fauna

The bats are good and Great Crested Newt breeds in one of the valley ponds, and often appears in the dog’s drinking basin outside the restaurant!

Batemans
The garden at Bateman's
© NTPL / Stephen Robson

Riverside garden adjoining old fashioned farmland, and including a natural garden area by the river. The river has been known to flood the garden.

Birds

Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail are regularly seen.
Mistle Thrush breeds in the valley.

Insects

A good range of butterflies, including Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Common Blue, Small Copper and Comma.
An interesting range of solitary bees and wasps, notably the Bee Wolf Philanthes triangulum, breeding mainly in earthy banks.
The scarce ant Lasius fuliginosus breeds in an old yew tree.

Newts

Great Crested Newt breeds in the mill pond system.

One of the most famous gardens in the world – and seriously good for wildlife. The dawn chorus – of standard garden and hedgerow birds – is stunning, as anyone who B&Bs in spring at Sissinghurst Farmhouse will readily discover.

Dragonflies

The ponds outside the garden support a wide range of species, including Ruddy Darter, Downy Emerald and Red-eyed Damselfly. Some of these hunt over the gardens.

Birds

An excellent garden for Blackbird, Song Thrush and Dunnock.
Spotted Flycatcher breeds.

Butterflies

A visit in late July – early August will reveal an impressive array of butterflies taking nectar in the garden. Some have wandered out of the woods.
It is a good garden for Comma, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, the Cabbage Whites and Brimstone.
Essex Skipper, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and Ringlet also occur, along with Hummingbird Hawk moth.

Other insects

An impressive range of solitary bees and wasps has been recorded, including Bombus jonellus and Chelostoma campanularum, which visits Campanula flowers.
The walls are excellent for the mason bee Osmia rufa.

Hit list

Smallhythe, Clandon (gardens only), Winkworth Arboretum, Standen and Wakehurst Place.

The turf amphitheatre with the lake in foreground at Claremont Landscape Garden.

The National Trust

South East