Visiting the garden at East Riddlesden Hall

Visitors on a bench in the garden at East Riddlesden Hall, Yorkshire, on a rainy summer day, with red roses blooming in the forground — In the garden at East Riddlesden Hall, Yorkshire | © National Trust Images/Trevor Ray Hart

Take a spring stroll through the intimate gardens at East Riddlesden Hall, relax on the formal lawns and watch the wildlife at work.

Summer in the garden

The gardens at East Riddlesden Hall are ever changing – but summer is one of the best times to enjoy them at their very best. Green lawns are surrounded by colourful borders and the smell of sweetly-scented roses fills the air. Pull up a picnic blanket or relax in a deck chair with a good book and enjoy this peaceful space.

The garden through the seasons

The gardens at East Riddlesden hall are ever changing, find out what you could see during your next visit.

A bench in the colourful formal garden at East Riddlesden Hall — The gardens are filled with colour during the summer months | © National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

Early summer

This is the perfect time to appreciate the formal gardens, with borders bursting with colour. Look out for geraniums, delphiniums and verbascums growing tall amongst the borders. Spot the roses growing on the walls and take in their beautiful summer scents.

Perennial sunflowers in the garden, East Riddlesden Hall, West Yorkshire | © National Trust Images/ Ellen Glover

Late summer

In the borders, you’ll find a selection of perennials which burst into bloom at different times throughout the season – putting on a different show each time you come to visit the garden. During the later summer months you can enjoy the bright yellows of the perennial sunflowers, which can last almost until autumn. See if you can spot the showy dahlia during your visit.

Autumn

Wander along garden pathways under canopies of deep red, burnt orange and bright yellows. If we're lucky, the perennial sunflowers will have lasted until the early autumn months, their tall yellow flowers giving the gardens a pop of colour during colder months. Look out for apples and pears growing ripe on the trees lining the central pathway in the formal garden.

Snowdrops carpeting the grounds at East Riddlesden Hall, Yorkshire — Snowdrops are a sure sign that spring is on the way | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Early spring

At this time of year, the wild garden is coming to life. With daffodils, snowdrops and crocuses brightening the garden after the winter months. Look out for the Snakeshead Fritillary appearing in the long grasses here. Delicate blossoms will start to appear on the fruit trees that line the central path in the formal gardens.

Large light pink blooms with yellow centres grow up a wall — A show-stopping waterfall of pink flowers blooms in late spring | © National Trust Images/ Sophie Fawcett

Late spring

The formal gardens start to awaken, with alliums and peonies appearing, keep an eye out for the clemitas blooming. This show stopper growing on an ornamental cherry tree is over 40ft tall, the waterfall of pale pink flowers is a real feature while it lasts. The wild garden is a sea of blue from the camassia, in Mollies garden our raised beds for cut flowers will be putting on a colourful display - each year the flowers that grow here are changed.

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Make sure you take it all in

The formal garden

This main part of the garden was designed in 1972. Herbacious borders surround the green lawns, which are lovingly tended to by our amazing garden volunteers.

In the borders, you’ll find a selection of perennials which burst into bloom at different times throughout the season.The garden walls are covered in climbing plants and ivy.

Mollie's Garden

At the back of the garden, head through the ivy archway and you’ll find another secret spot. In Mollie’s Garden, you’ll see a variety of homes for our little garden wildlife as well as beds for cut flowers. You’ll also find one of the most important parts of our garden – the compost area. Here is where we make all the compost in the gardens, from garden waste collected throughout the year.

The wild garden

The wild garden provides the perfect contrast to the main garden. Here you’ll find a variety of wildflowers, taking their turn to take centre stage.

This peaceful, wild spot is a favourite place for our garden wildlife. The central lime tree makes this the perfect spot to find some shade on sunny days. Bugs can be found crawling through the grass, butterflies flutter between the flowers and birds can be heard singing loudly in the treetops.

The herb border

Wander down by the side of the house and you’ll be greeted by our herb border. Here you’ll find a variety of herbs, all of which can be found in Culpeper’s Herbal. Listen to the buzzing of bees and watch the butterflies darting about this colourful space. Taste, touch and smell the different herbs growing in the borders and see if you can work out what they would be used for.

Fields and meadows

Enjoy a local walk along the lower fields, looking for wildlife on the banks of the River Aire. This open space is a great place to enjoy some peace and quiet on your doorstep, with plenty of room for little ones to charge about and to stretch your legs on the riverside path.

If you’re visiting with your four-legged friend, please be mindful of livestock grazing in nearby fields. Please do keep your dogs under close control and help us care for this special place by removing any waste and using the bins provided.