Garden conservation

It takes more than just gardening to care for some of the UK's most important gardens. Behind the scenes our experts provide the specialist conservation skills needed for the long-term future of these special places

Snake's head fritillaries and primroses among the wildflowers growing in the garden at Godolphin in Cornwall — Snake's-head fritillaries and primroses among the wildflowers growing in the garden at Godolphin in Cornwall

Clipped box spheres create a hedge below espaliered fruit trees dividing the kitchen garden from the orchard at The Courts in Wiltshire — Fresh spring growth on box spheres below the espaliered fruit trees dividing the kitchen garden from the orchard at The Courts Garden in Wiltshire

Flowering tulips planted on the grass bank by the croquet lawn at Standen, West Sussex

Sunlight catches the golden-yellow petals of late flowering 'Barri Conspicuus' daffodils, a very old hybrid, seen here naturalised in long grass at Wimpole in Cambridgeshire

Discovering daffodils: stories behind our favourite spring flower

Explore the history and fascinating stories behind our favourite spring flower, the daffodil.

Rose flowerbed in front of the yew avenue at Erddig, Wrexham, Wales

Help protect the gardens that bring us joy

Support our work to grow and protect the hundreds of unique gardens and historic parklands in our care. With your help, we can continue to protect the gardens that bring us joy.

Conservation in action

Himalayan blue poppies (Meconopsis betonicifolia) growing in the walled garden at Rowallane

Plant conservation

Just as grand buildings and stunning collections can tell the tales of changing tastes and the rise (and fall) of fortunes, so too can the exotic plants in their gardens. With more than 200 gardens to look after, discover how we ensure their beauty lasts forever, for everyone.

Protecting our horticultural heritage

Great women gardeners

Women gardeners harvesting chard in the kitchen garden at Knightshayes

Meet five inspirational women gardeners

From gardening apprentices learning the ropes to plant 'detectives' painstakingly identifying unknown varieties, meet five of the inspirational women gardeners helping to keep history alive at the places we look after.

Oil painting on canvas, Victoria (Vita) Mary Sackville-West, Lady Nicolson (1892-1962) by Philip Alexius de László de Lombos

Great women gardeners

From wealthy socialites to horticultural pioneers, journey through the gardens of time and discover seven of history's most inspirational women gardeners.