Things to see and do in the gardens and parkland

A sea of daffodils against blue skies at Hanbury Hall — Spring in the garden at Hanbury Hall | © Mike Dixon

Hanbury Hall is the very essence of a countryside retreat; impressive yet intimate and welcoming. It owes much of that feeling to its beautiful, recreated eighteenth-century garden, and 400 acres of Grade II listed parkland. With three way-marked routes to choose from, there’s plenty of opportunity to find the perfect walk for you to stretch your legs and admire the surrounding Worcestershire countryside.

Signs of spring

The first signs of spring come with the appearance of swathes of snowdrops around the gardens. Typically the best display is lining Cedar Walk from the Great Garden all the way down to the Ice House. Daffodils typically follow in March and April - quintessential sign of spring with their bright-coloured blooms; see them at their finest down in Kytes Orchard.

Elsewhere, look out for the signs of the Parterre’s ribbon border returning to life. The explosions of stunning, bright colour are carefully planned with thousands of bulbs planted every autumn ready for the following spring. With a colourful array of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths the parterre is sure to be filled with impressive colour and scent.

The lovely old Walled Orchard is also a must see, here our gardeners grow 56 varieties of apples including golden pippin, howgate wonder and the traditional bramley. In spring, we’re always assured a stunning display of pink-tinged apple blossom on the branches. Be sure to stop and take a look at the trees heavy and leaden with blossom in May.

Spring wildlife

It’s a great time for wildlife watching too. Hanbury provides the ideal habitat for birds, insects and a whole host of other animals and is a great place to watch the wildlife go by.

After the long winter, migrating birds return to spend summer in our garden. The return of the birdsong dawn chorus is a sure sign that spring is on the way. Spot chiffchaffs from mid-March, swallows and house martins from mid-April and swifts in late April or early May.

Also, look closely and you may spot a small brown bird blending in with the bark of a tree - as it creeps upwards, reaching the treetop canopy before flying back down again, know that you've spied a treecreeper.

One of our favourite sights in the spring is the new ducklings. They’re frequently seen down at the Mirror Pool or following mum around the gardens and Stableyard.

A blossom tree in the gardens at Hanbury Hall with the Hall behind — Blossom at Hanbury Hall | © Niamh Canning / National Trust Images

Spring Highlights

Spring flowers begin popping up around the gardens from mid-February onwards. From the early snowdrops along Cedar Walk to the later carpet of Daffodils over in Kytes Orchard and finally the beautiful display of bluebells out in the park.
Stroll through the parterre and see the ribbon border beginning to bloom. Throughout the spring, daffodils, hyacinths and tulips fill the parterre with colour and scent.
Keep your eyes peeled for the first signs of our new lambs, ducklings and baby moorhens. They’re usually visible around the park and gardens from March onwards.
Later in the spring, visit the orchards and see the branches of our apple and pear trees heavy with blossom.

Explore the parkland

Explore Hanbury Hall’s historic parkland on an winter walk and admire the beautiful Worcestershire countryside. Enjoy routes that lead you through the remains of an ancient forest, past impressive early eighteenth-century design features including the Semi-Circle, Long Walk and Lime Tree Walk designed by George London.

Download our parkland walks map here.

View of the parkland at Hanbury Hall — The parkland at Hanbury Hall | © Michelle Hill

Guided Parkland Walks

Join us for a walk around our parkland with one of our experienced garden guides. Find out about the history of the park and the ongoing work to restore some of the original features.

Every Saturday from January the 10th to March the 28th at 11am.

Walk length: 1.5 hours

Meeting point: In front of the forecourt gates

Please note, this route has steep terrain in places and is not accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs. We advise you to wear suitable footwear. All walks are weather dependent.

Normal admission charges apply, free for National Trust members.

Branches of bare trees with greenery in the background. — Tree 4: Megaliths | © Paul Ligas

Ghost Tree Trail

Pick up a free trail and find out more about the ghost trees that can be found in the parkland at Hanbury Hall.

Ghost trees are trees that have been harmed or killed (due to drought, flooding, pollution, pests, and diseases), but their trunks and branches remain upright. The parkland here at Hanbury Hall is home to many ghost trees, which are mostly Sweet Chestnut trees around 200 years old. They died when exposed to a waterborne disease called Phytophthora.

Take a trail on your walk around the parkland and see if you can find all the ghost trees, and learn more about these eerie but beautiful silhouettes in the landscape. A child friendly version of the trail with activities is also available.

Snowdrop at Dunham Massey, Cheshire | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Snowdrops

Signs of spring are appearing in the Hanbury Hall gardens with the arrival of snowdrops. You’ll find clusters of these delicate white flowers tucked away along Cedar Walk and in Kyte’s Orchard. Enjoy the crisp, winter air on a peaceful stroll as you look out for new shoots peeking through the frost covered ground.