Things to do in the garden and parkland at Dyrham Park

Winter highlights in the garden at Dyrham Park

The garden offers a spectacular scene in winter with hints of colour peeking out through the trees. It's a great time to spot birds on the bare branches with black caps, red wings, goldcrests, robins and long-tailed tits regularly seen here.

Dyrham is home to more than half a dozen types of snowdrop. They sometimes pop up as early as Christmas and New Year and, by January, can be admired in front of the 17th-century house, in the terraces and in the garden.

The West Garden

Inspired by key historical documents including an engraving of Dyrham Park from the 17th century, the gardeners are transforming the West Garden into a vibrant 21st-century garden with flavours of the past. The borders and lawn of the Avenue represents the historic west entrance to the estate, looking up towards the house and a watchful statue of Mercury. The planting and designs bring your attention towards this view, guiding the eyes through a tunnel-like shape of manicured lawns and long, rectangular flower beds.

Cider apple trees are being trained on attractive purpose-built iron frames along the Avenue's edges in the espalier design of the 17th century thanks to a recent gift in a will by a generous local donor. At the end of the Avenue are historic gates which would have been the main entrance to the house in years gone by.

Perry orchard

On the south side of the garden is Nichol's perry pear orchard. Take a wander along the paths around the orchard. It’s just like a scene from a Christmas card looking back towards St Peter’s Church. This area is dormant over winter as the wildflowers have spread their seeds waiting to recharge through the grasses come spring.

Pool gardens

The pool gardens with its gentle cascade is a relaxing place to wander round with a looser, wilder style of planting. Follow the serpentine path alongside the ponds back towards the courtyard garden. The lower pond is surrounded by plants that reflect the Victorian pleasure grounds, constructed of meandering pathways, lawns and reveals. Small trees give height and shade and plants give all year-round reflections in the water. Look out for the fiery red dogwood framing the pools, at its best in winter.

Fountain Court

By the house, the courtyard garden known as Fountain Court is presented as a 17th-century herb garden, with wall trained fruit trees and a variety of herbs.

The Greenhouse  

Discover the Greenhouse which is attached to the house. The Greenhouse was converted in the 19th century with a glass roof for year-round planting. When cold outside it was full of delicate plants on large shelving. In the summer the plants moved outside, and the room became an enormous conservatory, with cane chairs and the walls decorated with maps and sculpture. Unusually the Greenhouse always had direct access from some of the best rooms in the house.