Things to see in the garden at Arlington Court

Winter in the Garden

Growth in the garden slows over the winter months, but there is still plenty going on as the team prepares the garden for the year ahead.

Winter-flowering plants and shrubs such as hellebores, dogwoods, witch hazel, Christmas box and magnolias bring colour to the quieter months. Early in the year, snowdrops begin to appear, a sign that spring is not far away.

This is one of the busiest times for the gardeners, with essential jobs including pruning fruit trees, soft fruit bushes, wisteria and roses, along with mulching, planting, strimming and planning for the seasons to come.

The Walled Kitchen Garden 

The one-acre Walled Kitchen Garden was first recorded on the Tithe map of 1842 and would have been used to grow vegetables, fruit and flowers for the Chichester family.

Like many walled gardens, it fell into disuse during the latter years of Miss Rosalie Chichester’s life when there was little need for such a large productive garden. It was gradually restored during the late 1990s and early 2000s with cruciform paths, glasshouse and central dipping pool.

Today it’s used to grow a variety of vegetables and fruit for the tearoom and flowers for arrangements in the house.

The Victorian Garden 

This garden was developed in the early 19th century to replace the old garden enclosures of the Tudor house. The original layout of informal shrubbery beds was later altered by Sir Bruce  Chichester to the more formal Victorian setting that is reflected today, with formal terraces, axial path, circular pond and a pair of monkey puzzles. 

A range of glasshouses once spanned the entire north wall, providing a protected environment for the growing of palms, fruit and exotic ornamentals. Like much of the garden it deteriorated during the early 20th century and all that remains today is the low brick supporting wall on the top terrace.