Stroll in Attingham's Walled Garden

A view of the Glass Houses and Bothy inside the Walled Garden — The glasshouses in the Walled Garden frameyard at Attingham.

Soak up the sights, sounds and scents of Attingham's restored Walled Garden and Orchard. The garden is open from 9am and closes at 5pm.

Over the past decade we've been bringing this important part of the estate back to life, and production. Originally created in the 1780s; after falling into disrepair, and having different uses in the 20th century, this Georgian kitchen garden is both beautiful and bountiful today.

Two orange pumpkins growing in the Walled Garden — Autumn produce in the Walled Garden

From flowers in the Mansion to the produce used in recipes in the Cafe, the garden once again supplies the estate all year round.

A garden for all seasons

Spring

Spring is an important time of year in the garden as it’s when we start seeds off early in the glasshouses. We prepare the vegetable beds for planting and sow annual cut flowers. As the weather warms, we transplant seedlings into the main garden, constantly weeding as everything starts to grow. We grow a variety of fruit, vegetables and flowers.

During spring the numberous fruit trees and shrubs in the garden and orchard put on a colourful display of blossom, and are a welcome sign that warmer weather is on the way!

Espalier pear blossom in the Walled Garden at Attingham — Espalier pear blossom before it bursts into flower in the Walled Garden at Attingham.

Summer

The main task during the summer is usually to harvest our produce to use in the cafe and if we have surplus produce it will be available in the shop. We need to water the salad crops in the glasshouses, as well as prune our various fruit trees. Look out for the lavender that lines the beds in the Walled Garden - it's a haven for bees and butterflies during the warmer months. The fourth quarter of the garden is yet to be brough back into production, this grass rectangle is the perfect place to relax - look out for the deckchairs in the summer!

Autumn

September, October and November usually see the continuing harvesting of our produce for the cafe and shop. We also begin clearing the main vegetable and frameyard beds as plants die back. The orchard needs harvesting, as 37 varieties of apple require picking, pressing and juicing.

Winter

Towards the end of the year we start digging new beds ready for the following year. We replenish the soil in our glasshouse beds and prune the apple trees in the orchard. Pots need cleaning, labels need sorting and seeds have to be ordered as we prepare for the coming spring, and our yearly cycle starts over again.

Small plant pots sit inside a glass house at Attingham. Seeds have been planted in the pot in preparation for next year — Throughout winter, the Walled Garden prepares for the following year

The Bothy

The Bothy is currently closed, there is a display about the wildlife of Attingham inside that is designed to be seen through the windows and doors.

Historically, this is where the unmarried gardeners would have lived.

The Bothy in the Walled Garden at Attingham Park, Shropshire — The Bothy in the Walled Garden at Attingham Park

Enjoy a taste of the Walled Garden

Our seasonal fresh produce is used here on site in the recipes on the menu in our cafe. When available, surplus produce is available to purchase in the Stables Shop.

A volunteer washing a handful of asparagus under a hose in the Walled Garden — Throughout the year gardeners grow and harvest produce in the Walled Garden.

Marking 10 years of restoration in the Walled Garden

Work on restoring the Walled Garden as a production garden began in 2008. Find out more about the work we've done so far, and what we're working on next.