A person sits on a blanket on a grassy garden path, helping a child while another child stands nearby. Bright pink rhododendron flowers fill the background, and the scene is surrounded by lush green trees and hedges. — A young family enjoy time together at Hinton Ampner in spring | © James Dobson

Gardens and parks in Hampshire

Our Hampshire gardens are awash with spring colour, on lawns, in walled gardens and orchards. Look out for borders of vibrant tulips, canopies of creamy magnolia and fragrant lilac wisteria, and a mass of ornamental and fruit tree blossom, in shades of pink and white.

The garden at Hinton Ampner

In April thousands of tulips are in flower at Hinton Ampner – violet and pale pink in the sunken garden’s long borders, deep purple and cream in the yew garden, together with rich red wallflowers. The orchard and walled garden are revealing pretty pink and white cherry, apple and pear blossom.

2025 Tulip Displays at the front of Hinton Ampner house in the sunken garden

The garden at Mottisfont

Jewel-coloured tulips pack the parterre at Mottisfont - purple Negrita and yellow Fringed Elegance. And in the kitchen garden there’s a delicious mix of red, orange and white tulips, underplanted with pastel-coloured forget-me-nots. Wander into the walled garden to enjoy wide borders full of spring colour.

Yellow and purple tulips in the parterre at Mottisfont, with the house in the background

The garden at The Vyne

Scented show-stopper, bird cherry, is in full flower in The Vyne’s wild garden. In the walled garden, tulips bloom, revealing elegant apricot-pink, purple and cream petals. In mid-April the orchard’s 40 heritage apple trees are covered in pretty candy pink and white petals. It’s a lovely place to relax and listen to the buzz of visiting bees.

The bluebells are coming out early this year and will probably be looking their best between mid- and late April. The woods at The Vyne and Hinton Ampner are littered with thousands of these violet-blue, delicately scented wildflowers. You’ll find displays in Spearywell woods too, a 15 minute walk or five minute drive from the gardens at Mottisfont.

Bluebell woods at The Vyne

Follow the 1.3 mile Woodland Walk trail, which takes you past The Vyne’s magnificent lake, on which swans and their signets swim. Carpets of native bluebells cover the woodland floor. There are lots of other wildflowers to enjoy too, from early purple orchids to snowy white wood anemones.

Bluebell displays at Hinton Ampner

There are several pretty walks from the Hinton Ampner estate, but the Dutton Estate four mile walk leads to glorious bluebell woods. You’ll also see beautiful displays of scented bluebells in the copse alongside field boundaries when you set out from the gardens.

Path through bluebells in beech woodland, Hinton Ampner, Hampshire

Stretch your legs, run around, enjoy some peace and quiet and take in stunning views.

The estate at Hinton Ampner

Adjoining the gardens are acres of beautiful parkland. Follow the ancient tree trail to discover some of its remarkable gnarled veterans, or simply enjoy soaking up the panoramic vista as you wander. There are several waymarked trails on to the wider estate.