​Discover the garden in winter at Blickling Estate

Enjoy winter in the garden

Experience a winter wonderland in Blickling's formal garden, as a layer of frost and striking silhouettes transform the landscape.

Wrap up warm and set out on a crisp morning stroll to the Temple, then the Dell and Orangery, as you take in spectacular views. The lake in winter is also a sight to behold, as the still waters echo an all ecompasing white sky.

Despite the drop in temperature, it's important to have some much needed fresh air. In the early afternoon why not find a secluded spot to sit, huddled with a hot drink and a piece of cake? Collect a good read from our extensive bookshop and find all you need for refreshment in our cafés and restaurant. 

A garden of lights

Saturday 1 - Friday 21 December | 10.30am - 6.30pm

Head out into the spectacular garden of lights and discover Temple Walk, the Parterre and the Walled Garden as you take an enchanting winter stroll. Then warm up with mulled wine and a mince pie as you soak up the magical atmosphere until 6.30pm* in the evening.

*Last entry to the garden is 45 minutes before closing, at 5.45pm. 

Join a garden tour | Daily | 11.30am & 1.30pm

Take part in a garden tour everyday* of the week at either 11.30am or 1.30pm. Check with visitor reception for availability upon arrival. Learn more about Blickling's gardens and the history of its creation.

Enjoy a walk around the walled garden and see what new developments have been made. You might even get a taste of some of our wonderful, seasonal prodcuce.

Don't forget, you can ask our knowledgable garden team all year round for green-fingered tips for your own garden. 

*despite a regular schedule, our garden tours are led by volunteers, so availability may vary throughout the year.

Blickling's walled garden

For four centuries, Blickling’s walled garden supplied enough produce to feed the many families who lived and worked on the five thousand acre estate.  However despite falling into disrepair during the twentieth century, work began in November 2014 to restore the walled garden to its former glory.

The five-year restoration project of the 1930s kitchen garden has been funded by donations from across the estate, with particular thanks to a generous portion from Blickling's second-hand bookshop.

We’re proud that in 2018 our visitors can now reap the rewards of the garden’s restoration. With fruit, vegetables and herbs growing in abundance, visitors can not only explore the walled garden in full splendour, but also enjoy eating much of its produce in our cafés.

Accessibility

Mobility scooters are available from East Wing visitor reception, so that those with limited mobility can explore the garden further. We can also provide you with a mobility map to show you a route that avoids steps and allows you to access a wider experience of the beautiful surroundings. 

Discoveries to make in the garden

Secret spaces & places 

Our garden team have created two secret tunnels in the garden for families to enjoy.  Find the animals of Blickling wood inside or enjoy a game of hide and seek.  The larger tunnel has tree stump seats - perfect for a secret picnic.

The secret garden is a place for quiet contemplation or a good read. It is on the east side of the wilderness, surrounded by beech hedges. The trellis seat was probably put there for Lady Suffield by John Adey Repton.

The acre & parade

Take a stroll on the Acre, watch the birds on the lake, play a game of croquet or wander to the picnic tables on the parade where children can have fun with our giant games.

The lime trees and the turkey oak have been 'stopped' to allow them to spread. The branches of the lime trees have rooted and almost look to be individual trees. 

Parterre 

The planting of the parterre was radically simplified by Norah Lindsay for the 11th Marquess of Lothian in 1932. She retained the yew hedge topiary but replaced the intricacies of the Victorian planting with four large herbaceous plots in cool and hot colours, surrounded by beds of old roses and catmint.

Orangery

The site of the Orangery was chosen in 1781. In 1793 it contained 15 large, 11 young and six dwarf orange trees. Unheated today, it houses hardier citrus trees. The statue of Hercules is probably a Nicholas Stone figure and the majolica plaques, in the style of Luca della Robbia, are 19th-century.

Temple

This building is first mentioned in 1738 but it was probably built some 10 years before. In the frieze the monograms of Sir John Hobart (later 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire) alternate with the Hobart bull. The temple is built in the Doric style and dominates an imposing vista down to the house.

Wilderness

The concept of the 'wilderness' is much more structured than its name implies. It dates from the earliest Jacobean garden.During the 1987 gales many trees were lost overnight. All have now been replaced with new trees planted to fill earlier gaps.

Topiary and yew hedges

The yew hedges line the front drive leading to the house. The annual trimming begins in August with the topiary of the parterre. The great hedges are tackled next. Nowadays, the task is completed in little over a fortnight with mechanical cutters, a cherry picker and constant attention to line and form.