Discover more at Nunnington Hall
Find out when Nunnington Hall is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
The garden at Nunnington Hall
The organic gardens at Nunnington Hall are the perfect place to enjoy some peace and quiet. Peaceful hidden spots, colourful peacocks and colourful flowers offer a great day out.
The garden in summer
The meadows continue providing interest through the summer with meadow flowers, grasses and insects. The summer sees the transition in the meadows from a sea of buttercups in early summer, to a carpet of ox-eye daises as the summer progresses. The orchards trees begin swelling their young fruits of apples, pears and plums, in anticipation of the bountiful autumn harvests yet to come.
After the long cold winter and gentle spring, the summer sees the borders at their fullest, many shrubs and herbaceous flowers are creating ever-changing textures and colour as we work our way through the hotter months. From Alliums and Iris to Geraniums and Dahlias, there is always something different to see; as we enjoy the garden through the summertime.
Our gardeners are hard at work in the kitchen garden, growing broad beans, potatoes, salads, herbs, soft fruits such as raspberries, blackcurrants, and gooseberries which will be used in our tea-room recipes.
Nature and wildlife
If you are lucky, you may catch sight of a Kingfisher or Otter as you make your way over the river on the footbridge. Spotted fly-catchers are a summer highlight in the garden and they can be seen catching flies around the orchard areas. The pollinator border attracts not only bees, but butterflies and moths too, with occasional sightings of the fantastic hummingbird hawk-moth.
Redesigning the Iris Garden
A new project is underway at Nunnington Hall to reimagine the Iris Garden, one of the few historical gardens remaining at the property
To discover more, visit the dedicated web page on the National Trust website and keep an eye on progress.
Living organically
The garden has been managed fully organically since 2002, reviving traditional horticultural methods while also embracing modern techniques and technology. You can see much of this work in practice as you explore the garden. This includes such things as a four-bay composting system, a wormery, fruit cages and an organic vegetable patch.
Each year sheep fleece is packed around the base of young fruit trees which acts as an organic mulch. Not only does it suppress the weed growth and help the soil to retain moisture, but slowly releases nutrients directly to the tree roots as the fleece decays. Additionally, the birds, mice and bumblebees enjoy the opportunity of collecting luxurious bedding for their nests.
Relax by the river
The garden sits alongside the River Rye which plays host to much wildlife. Spend a while by the river and you may just catch a glimpse of brown trout, otters, kingfishers and swans.
Accessible for all
The garden is fully accessible for all visitors with gravelled paths and grassed slopes.
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