Exploring the grounds at Lyveden
Walk through the Elizabethan garden design at Lyveden, find out more about Sir Thomas's life and ideas for his garden lodge. See if you can spot red kites flying above you and Purple Emperor butterflies in our woodland.
Things to see in the garden
Sir Thomas Tresham designed the garden at Lyveden as a journey of discovery. Starting in the valley bottom at Lyveden Manor House (the Old Bield), guests would have made the half-mile walk up through the garden, culminating on the ridge at the garden lodge (the New Bield).
Each element of the garden through which his guests would have passed was meticulously planned and designed and imbued with religious significance.
The orchard
Lyveden’s garden includes Sir Thomas Tresham’s orchard which was described as ‘one of the fairest orchards that is in England’ before its premature abandonment in 1605. Tresham’s pleasure garden was never completed after he died in 1605, but evidence suggests the orchard was planted.
Records show that Lady Tresham sold a large number of fruit trees to Robert Cecil, Secretary of State to King James I, in 1609, which were probably dug up from this orchard. The orchard you see today has been replanted by the National Trust and features over 300 trees of 19 different varieties planted in formal avenues.
The labyrinth
An aerial photograph from 1944 (re-discovered in 2003) shows clear traces of the original planting. Within the square created by the moats were 10 large concentric rings or borders – also described in a letter from Tresham of 1604 as 10 circular beds. These may have formed a labyrinth, with a single path winding to the centre.
Using the aerial photo as a guide a labyrinth has been cut into the long grass that lies between the moats. This is best viewed in the spring and early summer before the late summer cutting of the meadow. The labyrinth path is over a mile long.
Wander through the garden
Lyveden's garden is among the oldest in the country. Ascend the spiral mounds, stroll the banks of the moat, visit the orchard and take in the beauty of one of the country's finest surviving examples of Elizabethan garden design.
Explore the Lodge
A great opportunity to strip back the layers of a traditional country house, Lyveden is home to an unfinished garden lodge that lets you see the inner structure of what was intended to be a fully functioning country residence, but was never completed.
Walking further afield
To enjoy more of the surrounding countryside why not walk the Lyveden Way? This approximately 10-mile route offers a true taste of Northamptonshire, including sheltered woodland, open fields, attractive wildlife and pretty villages.
Beginning at the Fermyn Woods Country Park which is home to many varieties of butterfly and fallow deer, the walk, which opened in 2005 as part of the 400th anniversary of Lyveden New Bield, passes Lyveden as part of the route.
Please take clear directions, an Ordnance Survey map, sturdy footwear, water and warm clothing with you on the Lyveden Way. Take care when crossing or walking on roads. You can download the Lyveden Way map below.
Summer highlights at Lyveden
Lyveden is home to flourishes of colourful plant life and a multitude of wildlife, differing throughout the seasons. As you explore the gardens, woodland and orchard, keep an eye out for the different flora and fauna that call Lyveden home.
Wildflower meadows
The gardens at Lyveden aren’t traditional, formal gardens, instead made up of mounts, moats and orchard trees – but in summer, the perennial wildflower meadows take centre stage, providing a colourful backdrop for Tresham’s unfinished garden lodge.
Look out for ox-eye daisies and cowslips, which provide food for an abundance of bees, butterflies and other bugs in summer.
Bright blooms
From the orchard to the spiral mounts, there are plenty of places to spot colourful flowers this summer. Look out for fruit among the orchard flowers, and discover orchids, primrose and yellow flag iris blooming in the woodland.
Summer wildlife
With plenty of wildflowers to feast upon, Lyveden is home to an array of damselflies, dragonflies and butterflies in summer, with 14 species recorded in the area. A rare species to look out for is the Purple Emperor, with its iridescent purple wings.
Keen birdwatchers should keep their eyes peeled for skylark and swallows, and if you’re lucky you may even spot a red kite catching thermals above Lyveden. These distinctive birds of prey can be identified by their reddish-brown bodies and forked tails.
Wildlife highlights at Lyveden
Whatever the weather or season, Lyveden is a hub of nature. You're bound to spot something interesting when you visit.
Birdwatching
Bring you binoculars to spot an array of birdlife in the grounds throughout the year. See if you can hear a cuckoo or woodpecker in the trees, or look for herons and moor hens on the moat. See if you can see our resident owl near the carpark - and the red kites will be flying overhead - will you spot them diving?
Top tips for spotting wildlife
There's so much to see at any time of year, so make the most of this beautiful corner of the Warwickshire countryside and follow our top tips.
- Bring binoculars – you’ll often see young deer or birds if you keep your distance.
- Bring a magnifying glass – bugs, flowers and lichen are just as interesting as the big things. Be careful on sunny days, magnifying the sun’s rays can harm wildlife.
- Bring a camera or notebook and pencil - keep a record of what you see and research on the web or at your local library. Share your pictures on social media, we’d love to see them.
- Don't be seen – bright clothing can alert animals to your presence; even your shadow can disturb bugs and insects.
- Stay quiet and calm – waterproof clothing can be noisy, so you may need to keep still for a while before creatures are brave enough to show themselves.
- Scents and smells – some perfumes and suntan lotions can be strong, you may find an unscented type is better.
- Get comfy – bring a chair or rug, some visitors wait for hours to see a purple emperor butterfly.
Eating and drinking at Lyveden
Visit the Grade I-listed Manor to find the recently opened café serving light meals, sandwiches, drinks and cakes.