Spring flowers at Hughenden

A perfect setting

As soon as you enter the Hughenden grounds you’re treated to the early signs of spring with clumps of pale primroses dotting the driveway. Carry on up the hill to the car park and you’ll see the bluebells just beginning to appear through the trees, by May it’s a stunning sea of blue worthy of a second look. 

Take a stroll around the formal gardens to the parterre and you’ll be presented with the dramatic bedding display. It features patriotic colours this year; white daffodils with red polyanthus and blue forget me nots. Naturalised spring bulbs and primroses are dotted around the pleasure gardens  too, brightening up the odd grey day of spring.

Venture a little further and you’ll be rewarded with a show of early wild flowers including white wood anemones covering the ground in the sunny spots amongst the woodland.

And as the season progresses the pretty pink apple blossom starts to appear in our orchard and walled garden, the perfect place to sit and soak up the welcome spring sunshine.

Flowers to spot as you wander

Benjamin Disraeli loved spring flowers, primroses were his favourite, and so he created pathways  through the trees and walks across the Hughenden estate to enjoy the season’s floral heroes.

In the countryside, our Woodcock Walk is a gentle 1 mile stroll waymarked with blue signs and here you'll see the delicate white flowers of wood sorrel. In April bluebells burst into life, carpeting the woodland floor. The German Forest walk, a slightly longer 1.5 miles, follows the line of the woods and meanders along south-facing banks where pale yellow primroses, white lesser celandines and pink-flowered ground ivy have colonised the warmer soil.

Conservation in action

Our team of gardeners, rangers and volunteers take care of Hughenden's gardens, parklands and woods, some 700 acres. Their work helps to create habitats where nature can thrive, funded by your visits.

Strong winds often result in fallen branches, and occasionally trees, so our volunteer wardens regularly check the paths, armed with strong secateurs and handsaws, to keep the walks clear. If you spot anything when you are out, please let us know.

If you’d like to join us and volunteer some time to help the gardeners and rangers in their conservation work, we’d love to hear from you.