Autumnal view of the 18th century bridge and woodland beyond at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire — Autumn colours in the woodland at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Gardens and landscapes

Learn how the gardens and landscapes in our care have been shaped by history, changing tastes and plant diversity.

Discover more about the history of the plants, garden buildings and garden design at the places in our care.

The Garden House in the Pleasure Grounds at Osterley Park and House, Middlesex

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Garden design through the ages

Explore how changing tastes influenced the style of gardens over the centuries and discover where you can find the best examples from each period at the places we care for.

The south front and formal garden at Mount Stewart, County Down in Northern Ireland.

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Plant collectors and historic gardens

Discover some of the finest historic gardens in our care and how they were shaped by Victorian plant collectors, as they gathered plant species from across the globe.

Interior of a greenhouse with pelargoniums, succulents and other plants potted on a bench, and other larger houseplants on the floor

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A potted history of houseplants

Wander through our collections and gardens to learn the high-society origins of the ferns, orchids and pelargoniums in your home.

Find out more about the designs and methods at the gardens and landscapes in our care.

A stag standing in grassy parkland, with trees and the house at Knole in the background

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What is a deer park?

Status symbol, hunting ground and a source of building materials. Discover the important roles deer parks played in aristocratic and royal society.

A leaf-littered sunken track with banks on both sides in woodland at Leigh Hill, Surrey

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What are sunken lanes?

Sunken lanes are roads or tracks that sit below the general level of the surrounding land, often by several metres. They’re formed by the passage of people, vehicles and animals over time.

The Water Garden at Lyveden New Bield, Peterborough, Northamptonshire.

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What is the picturesque?

Find out more about the picturesque aesthetic style and how it became a fashionable choice for wealthy estates in the 18th century. Discover more about the people who influenced the movement.

A lake at dawn or dusk with a grand house reflected in it, surrounded by tall green reeds and trees

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How to spot a ‘Capability’ Brown landscape

Brown designed landscapes that fitted in seamlessly with the surrounding countryside. So how do you spot the designs of one of the greatest gardeners of all time?

Castlerigg Stone Circle in winter, Borrowdale, Cumbria. Surrounded by the fells of Skiddaw and Blencathra to its north and Castlerigg Fell, High Rigg and Clough Head to its south, this ring of 38 stones, set within a ring of mountains, has stood at Castlerigg for about 4,500 years since it was created by Neolithic farming communities.

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What was the open space movement?

By preserving the countryside for recreation, the open space movement inspired the National Trust in the work we do till this day.

The Palladian Bridge at Stowe, Buckinghamshire, spanning the Octagon Lake which is created to look like a river. The arches of the bridge are reflected in the water with a backdrop of green trees. It is one of only four Palladian Bridges in the world and the only one which allowed a carriage to be driven over.

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How has the English landscape garden developed?

The history of the English landscape garden is infused with political meaning. Learn the history and political stories behind this garden style characterised by structured informality.

Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey, North Wales

Gardens with a view at Plas Newydd

Plas Newydd in Wales boasts dramatic views of Snowdonia and the Menai Strait and the gardens are designed to make the most of the surrounding landscape. This video will take you on a tour of ornate courtyards, a vibrant rhododendron garden and a tree house. The gardens at Plas Newydd are only open at weekends during the winter.