Biddulph Grange and Heligan Gardens – Two British Victorian Gardens

A rainy afternoon yesterday created the perfect atmosphere for some armchair garden travel with the Hazlet Garden Club.

Julie Dickerson and I were in Hazlet to give a presentation on British Victorian Gardens. An era of gardening characterized by remarkable invention and one many describe  as  the ‘golden age of gardening ‘

Our armchair tour saw the group visit Biddulph Grange in the Midlands and Heligan Gardens in Cornwall. These are two of my favorite British gardens – quintessentially British and Victorian in their ingenuity, gracefulness, elaborate plantings, and immaculate maintenance.  The Brits have a great sense of fun and are unafraid to let it show in their gardens. Both Biddulph and Heligan’s quirky surprises makes visiting these garden pure delight!

Kirsty's photos from Biddulph Grange:


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Biddulph Grange, at only 15 acres, is a powerhouse of Victorian Mixed Style.This popular style, showcasing buildings and plants from around the world, reflects the success of plant collectors who bought home new and exotic plants from far flung corners of the expanding British Empire.

Italian Garden steps leading away from the house

Visiting Biddulph is a graphic reminded of how far these plant hunters travelled in the quest for new garden species. There’s an Egyptian Garden – complete with sphinx, a formal Italian Garden, a Rhododendron Walk bursting with color in May from plants which were at the time, new arrivals from the Himalayas. An American Garden with a stunning avenue of Giant Redwoods (Wellingtonias) , huge Monkey Puzzle trees (Araucarias) from Chile tower in the Pinetum amongst other global conifers and gorgeous cut leaf maples shine in the spectacular  Chinese Garden which features an imitation of the Great Wall.  It is an extraordinary accomplishment and one of Britain’s more exciting gardens. A ‘not to be missed’ garden destination in the English Midlands! Take a look at their website to see more photos and visiting information. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/biddulph-grange-garden/   

The Egyptian Garden



The Chinese Garden

Check in next week for my post about Heligan Gardens!

Sickles on The Road is going to England in 2014 to visit some of the countries finest gardens. Send me an email  kdougherty@sicklesmarket.com  to receive the latest tour updates!

~Kirsty Dougherty