Discover the garden at Blickling

The Parterre Garden viewed from the Long Gallery at Blickling Estate, Norfolk — The Parterre Garden viewed from the Long Gallery at Blickling Estate | © National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

The Blickling Estate garden has something for every season. Take a stroll to the Temple, before looking back to admire spectacular views of the house and Parterre; wander the wilderness, discover the Walled Garden or take time out by the lake.

Explore the sights, sounds and smells of spring at Blickling. From the golden daffodils in early spring to the carpets of blue in May. Take a look at our spring garden highlights.

Daffodils

Golden daffodils line the pathways in the garden as well as the grass bank near to the Temple. These glorious flowers can be seen from March to April.

Azaleas and Rhododendrons

Azaleas and rhododendrons can best be found on the walk up to the temple. Marvel at the beautiful colours and enjoy their different scents. These beautiful bushes are at their best in May.

Magnolia

Watch the soft pinks and whites of the magnolia trees dotted around the garden flourish into their spring beauty.

Bluebells in the garden

Stunning carpets of blue fill the garden and great wood from mid-April. These delicate flowers grow in two different varieties on the estate and can be enjoyed come rain or shine.

In the 1930s, thousands of bluebell bulbs were taken from the great wood and planted in Blickling's formal garden. Follow Temple Walk and see areas of dense blue along the tree lined avenues. You can also find stunning carpets of blue under the plane trees in the garden. With a beautiful, sweeping views of the house and lake, this is a perfect spot for your bluebell photos.

Bluebells at Blickling Estate, Norfolk | © National Trust Images/Rob Coleman

What to see in the Blickling Estate garden

The Acre and Parade

Take a stroll on the Acre and enjoy spectacular views across the lake, home to an abundance of wildlife. The lime trees and turkey oak are highlights, with twisting branches and unique character. The Parade is a perfect spot to sit and read a book or enjoy a picnic.

The Parterre

The planting of the Parterre was radically simplified in 1932 by the renowned garden designer Norah Lindsay, for the 11th Marquess of Lothian. Lindsay 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 roses and catmint.

The Temple

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

The Orangery

The site of the Orangery was chosen in 1781. By 1793, it contained large, young and dwarf orange trees, but as it's now unheated it houses much hardier citrus trees. The statue of Hercules is probably a Nicholas Stone figure, while the majolica plaques, in the style of Luca della Robbia, were crafted in the 19th century.

Topiary and yew hedges

The yew hedges line the front drive leading to the house. The annual trimming begins in August with the topiary in the Parterre, followed by the ancient yew hedges. Previously, this used to be a laborious task, but today it's completed in little over a fortnight with mechanical cutters, a cherry picker, and constant attention to line and form.

Wilderness

The concept of the 'wilderness' is much more structured than its name implies, and 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.

The Walled Garden

For four centuries, the Walled Garden at Blickling supplied enough produce to feed the many families that lived and worked on the 5,000-acre estate. However, with the garden falling into disrepair during the 20th century, a restoration project began in November 2014 to restore it to its former glory.

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 the National Trust cafés - or take some home with them from our donation station at the Estate Barn.