Explore the garden at Coughton Court

Spring Garden

During the spring months the gardens erupt into a kaleidoscope of colour and sounds of new life for everyone to enjoy. From April thousands of brightly coloured daffodils cover the ground all the way from the stableyard to the orchard.

The apple blossom in the orchard is also worth a look during late spring and don’t forget to visit the bog garden which is fed by fresh water from the spring and host to gunnera the size of elephant ears, hostas and the unusually named skunk cabbage. There are lots of ferns which look amazing when they are unfurling in the spring.

Spring is a great time of year for wild flowers here at Coughton; in the wood you can see swathes of bluebells covering the woodland floor in May like a shimmering carpet. If you're lucky you may even spot some roe and fallow deer as well as lots of squirrels and insects hiding under fallen branches.

Take a gentle stroll by the riverside to spot the ducklings, goslings and maybe a kingfisher and follow the river over to Timms Grove. We are very excited that Otters have just moved in. You may be lucky enough to see them or evidence of their presence.

As you wander through the woodland listen out for the tapping of a great spotted woodpecker hollowing out a tree ready to be used to raise their young. Here at Coughton you can spot birds of all shapes and sizes, from blue tits and nuthatches to buzzards and herons.

Birds are incredibly busy as spring approaches: robins are calling for mates, while blue tits and great tits are busy lining their nests with moss, twigs and feathers to create a cosy nest in which they can lay their eggs and raise their young.

We had swallows nesting last year and as they are creatures of habit we may be lucky enough to see them again this year.

Out in our parkland watch the sheep grazing and you might spot newborn calves over the river bridge past the back lawn.

Explore the orchard

Meander through the orchard and see if you can identify the quince, plum, gage, medlar, damson, cherry and of course apples trees. The best time to visit is either in the spring for the beautiful blossom, or the autumn for the bountiful fruit.

The orchards are comparatively young but contain lots of old varieties. There are two orchards either side of the vegetable garden. The hedge on one side of the vegetable garden consists of apple trees being trained into a diamond formation.

A productive vegetable garden

Step into the veg patch and see what you can spot. It might even give you some inspiration to start your own patch at home.

Visit the bog garden

Fed by fresh water from the spring, the bog garden is home to Gunnera the size of elephant ears, Hostas and the unusually named skunk cabbage. There are lots of ferns which look amazing when they are unfurling in the spring. It’s bursting with life from April to September.

Water features to spot

There are several water features here at Coughton including the expansive Westminster pool, the symmetrical courtyard quatrefoil pool, the marshy bog garden, the River Arrow, the weir stream and the tranquil pool garden set within the walled garden. Take a look at the centre piece of the water feature in the walled garden which has been specially manufactured to match the previous one which had detiorated beyond repair.

An award-winning rose garden

The Throckmorton family rose garden at Coughton Court is recognised as one of the finest in the world and received the Award of Garden Excellence from The World Federation of Rose Societies in 2006 – the first British garden to have done so.

The gardens boast over 200 varieties of roses with a large selection of rambling and climbing roses, including Damasks, Albas, Teas and Noisettes, all releasing a delicate fragrance. These are found not just in the labyrinth but in many other areas as well.

Wildlife to spot at Coughton

Due to the variety of habitats, from woodland to meadow, river to lake and the mature trees dispersed around the well-maintained grounds, the diversity of wildlife at Coughton Court is fantastic.

The ranger and garden teams work hard all year to create habitats where wildlife can thrive. Thanks to their efforts the parkland and gardens are overflowing with wildlife, especially during the summer months, from bees enjoying the nectar, swallows returning for the warmer months and butterflies fluttering through the walled garden.

Woodland wildlife

Over in the bluebell wood there's a variety of animals and wildflowers, including cow parsley lining the pathways and birds calling from above. If you're lucky you may even spot some roe and fallow deer as well as lots of squirrels and insects hiding under fallen branches.

As you wander through the woodland listen out for the tapping of a great spotted woodpecker hollowing out a tree ready to be used to raise their young. Here at Coughton you can spot birds of all shapes and sizes, from blue tits and nuthatches to buzzards and herons. There are also swallows nesting in a variety of places.

Waterside wildlife

Around the lake and riverside, spot the ducklings and goslings as they grow throughout the summer months. If you're very lucky you'll spot the distinctive flash of blue of a kingfisher as they shoot across the top of the water.