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

Lupins and foxgloves in the Long Borders at Hidcote, Gloucestershire, in June
Plants and Morris and Co. patterns displayed in the conservatory at Standen

How nature and gardens inspired Morris 

More than any other British decorative arts designer, William Morris drew on countryside and hedgerow plants to populate his patterns and old-fashioned garden flowers to inform his creations. To mark the new Morris & Co. Inspired by Nature exhibition at Standen, we look closer at his designs, their connection to nature and his lasting legacy.

Explore Morris's inspiration
The fragrant yellow shrub rose, Rosa Graham Thomas

Graham Thomas, who saved our gardens 

Discover the life of Graham Thomas, the man who saved and restored many National Trust gardens and created one of the most celebrated rose gardens in the world.

The gardeners at Tyntesfield are kept busy mowing the lawns in summer

Looking after Tyntesfield in summer 

Enjoy the beautiful summer garden at Tyntesfield in Somerset, a remarkable Victorian estate, little changed in 150 years. Follow the gardens team behind-the-scenes over the course of a gardening year.

Orchard House at Cragside

Gardens through the ages 

Learn about medieval, Tudor, Stuart, Georgian, Victorian and 20th-century gardens, and where to see our finest examples.

Learn about garden history
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.

Meet the gardeners
Conservation in action
Westbury Court Engraving by Johannes Kip 1707

Duck islands return to Westbury Court after 300 years 

For the last fifty years, gardeners at Westbury Court have been reviving the UK's last remaining Dutch-style water garden from dereliction. The latest project sees the return of duck islands to the canal, offering a safe haven for nesting waterfowl.

Gardener cutting the 14m high yew hedge from hydraulic cherry picker. Powis Castle and Garden, Powys, Wales

Heroic gardening feats 

From abseiling gardeners to horse-powered pond dredging, discover some of the unusual gardening techniques needed to keep your favourite historic gardens looking picture-perfect all year round.

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
Palm House

Five plants that changed Britain's gardens 

Adventurous 'plant-hunters' of the 18th and 19th centuries scoured the land in search of exotic and unusual trees and flowers. While they may not seem out of the ordinary today, these five plants have transformed British gardens.

Follow the plant hunters

For garden lovers...

The oriental inspired Water Garden at Cliveden, Buckinghamshire

Listen to our garden podcast series 

Now in its third series, catch up on the highlights from the last year, when we travelled to some of our most important historic gardens and meet the staff and volunteers who help to care for them.

close up aerial view of maze

Get some garden inspiration 

Want to discover more than 200 gardens, or pick up horticultural tips from our green-fingered experts? Browse all of our gardening content in one place to find your next inspiration.

Thank you

We couldn't do it without you

Thanks to you, we're able to protect our glorious gardens for ever, for everyone