Explore the garden at Lyme

Daffodils in the Italian Garden at Lyme, Cheshire | © National Trust Images/Robert Morris

The historical garden at Lyme offers variation throughout the seasons so it’s always a good time to visit. Nestled on the edge of the Peak District, Lyme's garden is the second highest in the National Trust which means flowers often bloom later and last longer at Lyme. With frosty mornings and a windswept moorland backdrop, the views of Lyme from the garden terrace are dramatic and ever changing during the colder months.

A garden for all seasons

Visiting the garden at Lyme is an ever changing experience and no two visits are the same. Under the care of Head Gardener Stefan with the garden team, the garden transforms seasonally with no two scheme exactly the same.

Blossom at Lyme

Each autumn the formal beds outside the orangery are planted with over 4000 bulbs. The daffodils will be the first to flower followed by hyacinths and then tulips, giving a continuous display of fabulous colour throughout the season. See our monthly highlights in spring below:

Two adults, one holding a baby, walk inside the Orangery surrounded by plants at Lyme Park, Cheshire — Exploring inside the Orangery at Lyme Park, Cheshire | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Early interest in the Orangery

Spring starts first in this year-round oasis. Shelter from the elements in the Grade II listed orangery next to the luscious red blooms of two Camellias which are over 150 years old.

1 of 3

Blossom at Lyme

20 – 27 April

In spring nature puts on a dazzling display – and blossom trees are the star of the show. From ornamental Cherry blossom in the garden to hawthorn scattered across the estate, blossom is a symbol of hope and renewal as we welcome Spring. Join us for a week in Spring when the colours and scents of blossom take centre stage here at Lyme. Blossom is often at its best in April, but nobody tells nature what to do – so keep your eyes peeled.

We recommend making your way to the Vicary Gibbs area of the garden, named after the famous horticulturalist and close friend of Thomas Legh who brought exotic flowering trees from Asia to Lyme at the turn of the 20th century. Pull up a deck chair and bathe under the Japanese Mt. Fuji cherry tree (Prunus ‘Shirotae’) or sit under the Chinese crab apple (Malus hupehensis), renowned for its cloak of immaculate white blossoms. Throughout the season, we hope to turn the spotlight on the different beautiful blossoms both here in the garden and around Lyme to help you see it at its best.

Share your visit

Don’t forget to tag us on your photos on social media using #BlossomWatch

Family fun in the garden

Follow the winding paths to dicover what's growing in the garden this season. Put on your wellies and splash through muddy puddles and let your imagination run wild in the play area on the West Terrace. There are lots of buggy-friendly paths in the garden – ask at the Ticket Office for more information.

'50 things to do before you're 11 3/4'

You can complete many of the '50 things' in the garden at Lyme. Here's some of our favourites -

No. 1 Get to know a tree - head to the Top Lawn
No. 6 Go welly wandering - pull on your wellington boots and explore. Splash around in puddles, squelch through some mud or crunch your way through icy grass on your next welly wander.
No. 15 - Wintry adventures don't always require snow, although there are endless fun activities you can do with the stuff: sledging, snowball fights, snow-angel making or snowman building. If it's not snowing but it's really freezing, you could try blowing bubbles and watching them freeze into beautiful, glassy globes. And when you've finished your adventure, why not warm up with a hot chocolate at the house café.

More family fun this way