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Discover the garden at Ormesby Hall

Summer garden view of the hall
Summer garden view of the hall | © ©National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Explore the garden at Ormesby Hall, to discover a green oasis in the heart of industrial Middlesbrough. Enjoy the seasonal delights of this colourful Victorian formal garden and embrace the family fun on the woodland walk and natural play area.

Ormesby Hall garden in summer

The highlight for June is the wisteria cloaking the dining room window, and in late June the foxgloves will return with their impressive displays along the Holly-walk. In July the formal garden will be full of seasonal colour including a fabulous display of roses. In late summer a second wave of delphiniums along with one of Ruth Pennyman’s favourites, the agapanthus will be in full bloom. There will once again be a display of tropical flowers; yukkas, dahlias and flowering annuals from late June and in bloom for the rest of the summer.

Seasonal flowers at Ormesby:

Alliums

This Ornamental Onion flower boldly stands amongst other herbaceous perennials in the formal borders. Alliums are amongst the hundreds of species of monocotyledonous flowering plants that include garlic and onion, which could explain their onion-like shape.

At their best: early summer

Foxgloves

Make sure you look out for the foxgloves as you venture down the woodland path. In this previously evergreen space the foxgloves will bring some height and colour to this area of the garden.

At their best: early July

Delphiniums

The delphiniums return every year and thrive when the sun shines. The tall flower spikes have single or double flowers, in shades of blue and purple.

At their best: July and August

Agapanthus

The striking blue and white flowers of the agapanthus can be found in the formal borders and in troughs on the cafe terrace. With their strong stems and large, radiant heads the Agapanthus, also known as African Lily, create a stunning display in the garden.

At their best: July and August

Hydrangea

Summer sees the hydrangeas compete for centre stage and there are a range of colours to be seen, most commonly purples and pinks. The acidity of the soil can influence the colour of the flowers, which last into autumn with their flower heads providing structural interest throughout the winter.

At their best: July – September

Roses

Roses have always been an important presence within the garden, with different species of rose adorning the walls of the Georgian mansion and greeting visitors as they step through the garden gate.

At their best: June and August

Lavender

Surrounding the rose garden and cafe terrace the scented lavender is a hive of activity for bees and other pollinators. This richly fragrant flower offers a delight for your senses as the air is filled with the sweet smell of lavender.

At their best: July and August

Bear's breeches

Acanthus mollis, commonly known as Bear's breeches, is a flowering perennial found in the herbaceous borders. Rising above the foliage the deeply cut, dark green leaves give an elegance to the plant, with the spiky, dusky purple flowers acting as a hood over the smaller white flowers, growing as tall as 3.5 feet.

At their best: midsummer

Cartwheel dahlia

The dahlias reside in the tropical themed formal borders in the centre of the garden. There are a variety of dahlias planted, with most offering a showy double form. One of the species is the cartwheel dahlia with its unusual fan-shaped flowers, beloved for their pollen by bees. Dahlias continue their show into autumn and until the first frost.

Amaranthus

Amaranthus is an annual perennial, also known as love-lies bleeding or tassel flower. The fascinating cascade of colour also gives off the shape of a bushy foxtail and is mesmerising to look at. Each of these deep purple tassels is a colony of tightly packed, tiny flowers, which can remain in full bloom for weeks.

At their best: August

Gladioli

The gladioli add structure and elegance to any summer garden as they tower over some of the smaller summer flowers. They are often known as sword lilies due to their long, pointed leaves.

At their best: July and August

Colourful annuals in the garden in July at Ormesby Hall, North Yorkshire
Colourful annuals in the garden in July at Ormesby Hall, North Yorkshire | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Wildflowers

At Ormesby Hall we are gardening with nature in mind, the wildflower meadows are increasing their diversity year on year. The meadow adds beautiful colour and creates a relaxing space, attracting insects like bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths.

Nature at Ormesby Hall

Keep an eye out for Nuthatches and Treecreepers which you can often be seen on our mature trees around the garden and estate.

The meadow orchard is a great place to spend some time enjoying nature in the calm tranquil and atmosphere of this newly established part of the gardens.

The pond will be alive with native pond plants and a host of water loving creatures such as pond skaters on the water and dragonflies flying above.
Visitors can help by keeping dogs under close control as they can cause issues for a variety of wildlife and farm animals.

Exploring further afield

The Ormesby estate has 240 acres of woodlands, crop fields, running streams and open fields to explore, so stretch your legs, get the little ones out in nature, walk your four-legged friends and enjoy the parkland. 

There are three waymarked walks across the estate, each 1.2–1.5 miles in length and taking in woodlands, St Cuthbert’s Church, local farms and a mini waterfall. Speak to the team on arrival for information on where to start the walks. 

Many of the walks take you past our tenant farmer’s fields, where you may see sheep with the spring lambs and horses grazing. Please follow the countryside code whilst walking on the estate.

A view across the rear garden towards Ormesby Hall, North Yorkshire

Discover more at Ormesby Hall

Find out when Ormesby Hall is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.

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