Explore the garden at Mottistone Gardens and Estate

Image of Mottistone Gardens and Manor in spring time — Mottistone Gardens in the spring time. | © Paul Harris

The tranquil garden at Mottistone is well known for its colourful borders but there's far more to explore. Banks covered with wildflowers in the spring shelter the garden and unusual drought-resistant plants thrive without watering. With a multitude of different spaces to discover, and sea views from the higher areas, this garden is not to be missed.

Spring highlights at Mottistone Gardens

As spring unfolds at Mottistone Gardens, the landscape comes to life with vibrant colour and fresh new growth. The garden is full of seasonal beauty - a peaceful place to pause and enjoy nature’s changing rhythm.

A vibrant landscape

This season, enjoy colourful borders, open lawns, and shady glades perfect for relaxing. Whether it’s unwinding with sea views, enjoying a picnic, or exploring the meadow and orchard, there’s plenty of space to soak up the spring air.

The gardens, shaped by generations of gardeners, are a living work of art, influenced by past garden makers, such as Lady Nicholson’s 1960s planting schemes and the 1980s creation of the Monicote border.

Seely and Paget’s shack: A unique garden room

A standout feature of Mottistone is Seely and Paget’s Shack – thought to be an early example of a modern garden room, or even a ‘tiny home’. Originally located near the Golf Club House at Freshwater Bay before being moved to Mottistone for personal reasons, this innovative space offers a fascinating glimpse into early 20th-century ideas about creativity, outdoor living and the blending of work and nature.

A garden with global significance

Mottistone is located within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and it plays an important role in local conservation. The garden’s blend of Sicilian and Isle of Wight native plants, alongside the UK’s only National Trust olive grove, gives it a unique character. Sustainable gardening techniques, such as scything instead of strimming, help support wildlife and promote biodiversity.

New growth in the kitchen and tea gardens

The kitchen garden is entering an exciting new phase, with plans to introduce coastal varieties such as spaghetti squash, sea kale and samphire. Meanwhile, the tea garden – once a tennis court – will be transformed with acid-loving plants like camellias and rhododendrons, alongside traditional favourites including stocks (Matthiola incana 'Alba'), tobacco plants (Nicotiana sylvestris), pinks (Dianthus) and pineapples (Ananas comosus). Many of these cultivars, popular in the 1950s, reflect the historic plantings captured in the Long Room’s newly displayed wall hangings, offering visitors a living connection between the garden and the house.

Explore beyond the gardens

Take a stroll to the coastal downs or the sea, where panoramic views stretch across the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. With the gardens bursting into colour, spring is the perfect time to visit and experience Mottistone’s beauty in full bloom.