Things to see and do at The Weir Garden

A serene green space with trees and a path, as a family walks in the distance. — A family exploring the grounds of The Weir Garden, Herefordshire | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Discover the 10-acre site at The Weir Garden, split between the natural riverside garden and the productive walled garden and glasshouse. Here’s what to look out for when you visit, from views over the Wye Valley to an unusual walled garden, as well as the wildlife that visit and call The Weir Garden home.

Autumn and winter wildlife at The Weir Garden

As the seasons change, The Weir Garden becomes a haven for wildlife. With the trees bare, it’s easier to spot birds and animals preparing for the colder months. Finches, thrushes and fieldfares add colour to the landscape, while waterfowl like mallards, goosanders and goldeneye gather on the River Wye. Rooks roost in the treetops, and woodpeckers begin their winter courtship, their rhythmic drumming echoing through the garden.

Otters are known to visit the riverbank and boathouse, leaving behind tiny footprints. Over 70 bird species have been recorded here, including kingfishers, green woodpeckers and bullfinches, making it an excellent spot for birdwatching.

The Boathouse, The Weir Garden, Herefordshire — The Boathouse, The Weir Garden | © National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

Explore the garden's historic features

The riverside garden covers the area between the mansion house and the River Wye. The mansion is now a private nursing home, but the views from the top path take in the broad Wye Valley as it meanders across rural Herefordshire.

The boathouse

Built in 1920, the boathouse is hugely significant at The Weir, being one of only a few to remain alongside the Wye today. The boathouse is constructed from reinforced concrete and was cast in situ, with the retaining wall also built around the same time. Look out for otters that have been visiting the boathouse.

The rockery

Highly fashionable during the 1920s, rockeries were alternative and attractive features for the garden. Many exotic trees were planted around the small pools and the mossy rocks provide a cool, damp setting for nature watching.

Rustic hut

Built by Roger Parr in the 1950s, it was designed as a fisherman’s hut, a sheltered place to sit and enjoy the spectacular views in bad weather. The materials were locally sourced or from the estate and the hut was designed to blend in with the surroundings.

The floor is made up of river cobbles, white quartz and horses’ teeth. Look out for the teeth that were used to form a letter ‘P’ for Parr. The walls are made from rough elm timbers and the seat has been decorated with split birch to give it a truly rustic appearance.

Pumpkins growing in the Walled Garden at The Weir Garden, Herefordshire | © Paul Harris

See what's growing in the walled garden

The walled garden at The Weir was designed by Humphry Repton and is a short walk through the orchard, past the sheep field until you reach the red-brick wall with the wooden door.

Just outside the wall you’ll see the early Georgian cold frames, which have been fully restored, then step through the big wooden door into a secret garden.

Unlike a standard walled garden, this one has just three sides to make the most of the sunshine and to enjoy the views of the River Wye. You can buy the home-grown goods, straight from the garden.

The glasshouse

The crown of the restored walled garden is the 1920s glasshouse. Built in the 19th century by the same company that built Queen Victoria’s glasshouses, Foster & Pearson, it sadly fell into disrepair for over 50 years.

Thanks to our supporters, it was sympathetically restored, but now requires further conservation work so is closed for the time being. Work will continue until late autumn; why not take a look and see the work in action on your next visit? Records show the glasshouse was used all year round to grow mushrooms, asparagus and rhubarb, being forced over winter and the gardeners still plant in the same format today.

Take a stroll through the parkland

Enjoy a mile-long, circular walk around the parkland at The Weir Garden, exploring the rich history of the wider estate, discovering the huge variety of wildlife, and taking in the sweeping views over the Herefordshire countryside. The parkland walk starts near the welcome board in the car park.

Click here for more information about The Weir's parkland walk.

Restoring priority habitats

Thanks to the support of National Highways, we are embarking on a new project to restore over 65 hectares of priority habitat at The Weir Garden. By restoring meadowland, wood pasture, broadleaf woodland, and traditional orchards, we'll create a mosaic of diverse habitats for wildlife.

If you're visiting ask the team about this new project.

Priority habitat restoration

Family walking by the river, surrounded by mist and frost-covered trees.

Discover more at The Weir Garden

Find out how to get to The Weir Garden, where to park, the things to see and do and more.

Plan your visit

Our work at The Weir Garden

The garden at The Weir is managed in a natural way to create a varied habitat for wildlife. You can see many species in the garden - from the otters and fish that live in the river, to the birds that nest here. In the wider estate we are in the process of restoring over 65 hectares of priority habitat.