Summer gardens in and around the South Downs

With the long, refreshing days of summer to look forward to, it’s time to make the most of nature – and what better way to celebrate nature’s delights than with a visit to a garden in the South Downs. The Capability Brown landscapes at Sheffield Park and Petworth, contemporary garden at Woolbeding and charming cottage garden at Alfriston Clergy House are all yours to explore.

The mansion house at Woolbeding Gardens

Woolbeding Gardens 

Discover delights at every turn with distinctive garden rooms set against thoughtfully composed borders. Formal gardens merge into the rural landscape of the River Rother, a perfect backdrop for the many sculptures and follies. A masterpiece of colour and design, you’ll lose hours exploring this carefully cultivated garden.

Discover a garden of design
Alfriston clergy house vegetable garden in summer

Alfriston Clergy House 

The garden at the Clergy House has been designed and developed within the principals of the Arts and Crafts cottage garden style, and contains many plants at their best in the summer months.

Floral summer highlights
Enjoy breathtaking views towards the South Downs

Petworth 

The majestic 700-acre park at Petworth is one of the finest surviving unspoilt examples of an English landscape designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Explore this historic park wandering in the footsteps of artists, encountering herds of deer and sweeping away cobwebs with our walking trails.

Find a spot to stop and admire
Pink roses growing up the side of a greenhouse

Roses all summer at Hinton Ampner 

Over 90 varieties of rose burst in bloom between June and August at Hinton Ampner. A highly scented collection, many are repeat flowering, giving delicious fragrance and colour well into August: Look out for 100 ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ roses near the pond - Head Gardener John Wood's favourite.

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Verbascum olympicum in July at Hinton Ampner

Hinton Ampner 

In early summer swathes of elegant irises take centre stage at Hinton Ampner, in cool blues, whites, reds and purples. Over 90 varieties of repeat-flowering roses produce delicious fragrance into August and in the walled garden leafy salads mingle with delphiniums, alstroemeria and sweetpeas. From high summer, exotically-coloured dahlias create dramatic impact across the gardens.

Summer splendour at Hinton Ampner