Things to see and do in the gardens and parkland

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.

The Parterre

Winter is the perfect time of year to see the bare bones of the Parterre and the geometric design that defines this formal garden.

Winter conservation in action

As the first frosts begin to settle, winter is the ideal time for the gardeners to begin their conservation work. Look out for coddled topiaries in the formal fruit garden, all wrapped up to protect them from the harsh weather, and watch the gardeners pruning the laurel hedges by hand to maintain those nice clean lines.

You may also see the gardeners making repairs to the garden furniture, including the traditional Versailles cases, and giving everything a fresh coat of paint ready for spring.

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.