Woodland New Forest garden marks 100 years with special events
One of the UK’s finest woodland gardens, famed for its rhododendrons, marked a special anniversary in 2019 – Exbury Gardens’ centenary. Created by Lionel de Rothschild in 1919, the year was celebrated with the opening of a ‘secret’ garden and a display at RHS Chelsea. Exbury has become a stunning garden filled with rare plants, shrubs and trees.
Thanks to its rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, it is famed for spring colour, as well as mature, rare trees. The Hampshire garden has been expanded recently, with areas designed for summer and autumn blooms. The 1½-mile Rhododendron Line steam railway has also been extended.
Exbury Gardens’ centenary events
- A ‘secret’ centenary garden: Designed by Lionel’s great-granddaughter and RHS gold medal award-winning designer, Marie-Louise Agius. This was planted in 2017 and was hidden from public view until 2019.
- A stream of spring bulbs: 100,000 yellow and blue (the Rothschild family colours) bulbs growing in the lawns, including daffodils, crocus and bluebells.
- RHS Chelsea: The rhododendrons appeared in the Great Pavilion in a collaboration with Millais Nurseries to conserve rare and threatened hybrids.
- An official book: On the garden’s history.
‘Golden age of woodland gardening’
Head gardener Thomas Clarke said: “The 1920s were the golden age of woodland gardening. Exbury, under the careful eye of Lionel de Rothschild and his staff, was at the cutting edge. The location, climate, existing oak woodland and acid soil all allowed for the creation of one of the finest gardens of its kind in the UK.
“Combine this with the legacy of the great plant hunters, and the extensive plant breeding programme at Exbury, and we are fortunate enough to have inherited a truly wonderful garden packed full of horticultural treasures.”
What to look out for during Exbury Gardens’ centenary
The gardens are at their peak in April/May with rhododendrons and azaleas. The season starts in March with spring colour in the daffodil meadow, camellias, magnolias and heather.
Summer months see iris, wisteria, dogwoods, primulas, hydrangeas and the herbaceous borders in bloom. In autumn, watch out for dahlias, salvias, fuchsias, dogwoods, maples and the magnificent Nyssa.
Home Wood
A contemporary herbaceous garden leads to The Glade, which stretches down from the neo-Palladian Exbury House that Lionel de Rothschild built around the smaller 18th-century house, marked by Cedars of Lebanon, planted in 1738, and a very tall giant redwood.
Many Exbury hybrids line the way to St Mary’s Spring, where ‘Mrs Lionel’s Seat’ overlooks bog primulas, ferns, Gunnera and Pieris. A stream from the spring passes under the Japanese Bridge to Top Pond, surrounded by Exbury and Solent deciduous azaleas. A small waterfall splashes into pools, beside which grow Japanese maples, candelabra primulas and hostas.
The Azalea Bowl has a fine display of evergreen azaleas, which extends around the Lower Pond. From here you can reach the Winter Garden with large-leaved macabeanum and sinogrande hybrids. You also connect with the Camellia Walk with a viewpoint towards the Solent and Arromanches Plaque. See the Daffodil Meadow and the Sundial Garden, a small formal herbaceous garden enclosed by high yew hedges.
Witcher’s Wood
Named after a family of charcoal-burners who used to live there, it contains many fine specimens of ornamental trees. Lover’s Lane, leading towards the Beaulieu River, has banks of the Solent with deciduous azaleas. This is one of the least formal areas, with huge mature rhododendrons.
Straying from the main path, small grassy paths provide the visitor with glimpses of some of the taller and most beautiful rhododendrons.
Exbury Gardens’ centenary – Yard Wood
It derives its name from the many yew trees growing there, which formed the bows of medieval archers. Folklore has it that one of these trees was mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Watch out for:
- The Boardwalk, planted with tree ferns, bamboo, Gunnera and Wollemi pine
- The Nyssa collection
- Rock Garden, the largest man-made in Europe
- American Garden with a comprehensive collection of rhododendrons from the USA
- Bog Garden
- Hydrangea Walk
- Azalea Drive.
Steam Train
A 12¼” railway runs along a 1½ mile track. A 20-minute journey passes through the Summer Lane Garden. Now reaching maturity, it has huge swathes of colourful perennials, flowering grasses, a pool and maturing trees. Passengers are encouraged to visit the Engine Shed. Graphics, videos and memorabilia line the walls, recalling steam’s heyday and the construction of the railway.
Read more about Exbury’s rhododendrons. For details on opening hours and ticket prices, visit www.exbury.co.uk.
