Things to see in the garden in winter
Crammed with plants for winter interest, winter walk is just the place to enjoy subtly colourful flowers such as Hellebores and Pulmonaria and the heady scent of Witch Hazels and Daphnes.
The heather garden puts on a wonderful winter display from December onwards. Planted in large drifts for more impact, huge beds of heather burst into colour and brighten up the shortest days of the year.
A dusting of snowdrops and snowflakes can be found in both the top garden and wall garden. Conditions for this year’s flowers haven’t been ideal, with flooded ground, but you can still spot scatterings of the elegant little flower throughout the garden.
The conifer collection in the Pinetum is home to a collection of colourful conifers. On clear days, stunning views can be seen from the temple out towards the South Downs.
A lot of our more rare and unusual plants can be found in the wild garden. In winter the scent of witch hazel fills the air and early Rhododendrons are a feast for the eyes. This wonderfully informal part of Nymans will leave you enchanted.
Although modest in size, the winter borders pack a punch with electric blue Pulmonaria, colourful Hellebores, Daphnes, Witch Hazels and Chimonanthus. Take in both wonderful colours and scents as you walk along the pathways.
The lawn in front of the house offers the best spot for views across the surrounding countryside, with spectacular ruins and topiary yew hedging on one side and the South Downs on the other. Chanctonbury ring can be seen perched on the Downs through the trees to the south-west. The centrepiece is the fabulous 160-year-old Cedar of Lebanon.
Throughout the garden you'll find examples of both formal and creatively shaped topiary. From the yew globes around the fountain in the wall garden, with topiary lions guarding the entrance, to birds on the terrace in front of the house.
Year round evergreen bamboos, colourful canes and a boardwalk made from wood sourced in the woodlands - the boardwalk is accessible for everyone – all year round .
Garden Compost
We're passionate about composting and have a well-established system. Winter is a great time to learn how to compost at home and by the spring you're ready to go. Look round our compost zone and find out more about how to create a great compost system at home.
Keep up to date with all our news by reading the garden team's blog. Updated every couple of weeks you can read more about our current projects and gardening plans.